General Manager: Operations – Citrus Packing Facility

Gqeberha, South AfricaFull-timeExecutiveOn-sitePosted 28 Oct 2026

Job Overview

Patensie Citrus Limited (PSB), a 98-year-old grower, packer and exporter of premium citrus under the globally recognised Patensie brands in the Gamtoos Valley, Eastern Cape (about an hour from Gqeberha), is appointing a General Manager: Operations for its Patensie packing facility (Careers24 2395984; posted 27 October 2026; applications by 20 November 2026; start by 1 February 2027). The company is growing well above the industry norm: the Patensie facility is close to maximum capacity and a second facility is planned for the Gqeberha region.

Reporting directly to the CEO, with the potential to develop into Chief Operating Officer across multiple sites, the General Manager is accountable for the overall performance of the site and leads the site management team – building and running everything around the packing line so production can focus on fruit, throughput and quality: inbound fruit and packaging supply chain and outbound logistics, a large unionised seasonal workforce, maintenance, engineering and utilities, quality, food-safety and export compliance, and site budgets and cost control. Packhouse or citrus experience is not required.

Key Responsibilities

Own overall performance of the Patensie packing site and lead the site management team, including the Production ManagerRun supply chain end to end – inbound fruit and bin flow, packaging procurement and stockholding, outbound logistics and dispatch

Lead a large seasonal workforce: recruitment, HR, transport, industrial and union relations and management-team development

Oversee site services – maintenance and engineering support, utilities and infrastructure

Own quality control, food safety and export compliance systems, audits, certification and health and safety

Manage site budgets, costs and the systems, processes and disciplines that keep a high-volume plant predictable under seasonal pressure

Be visible on the floor, address deviations early and support expansion to a second facility in the Gqeberha region

Required Qualifications

Applicable Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, business or similarAt least 10 years’ experience in food processing, manufacturing, production or FMCG, a substantial part in senior site or plant management

Proven experience managing a large shift-based or seasonal workforce in a unionised environment

Ownership of procurement or supply chain for consumables and materials into a production plant

Experience in an audit-driven quality and food-safety compliance environment and full budget/cost-centre accountability

Working knowledge of the OHS Act (machinery and floor safety); fresh produce, agri-processing, export logistics or plant commissioning exposure beneficial

Skills & Requirements

Site General ManagementPlant OperationsAgri-ProcessingSupply Chain ManagementFood Safety ComplianceExport LogisticsIndustrial RelationsSeasonal Workforce ManagementBudget & Cost ControlOHS ActMaintenance ManagementOperational Excellence