Factory Manager (Bakery Operation) at Elizabeth Maddeux

Job Overview

• We are seeking a proactive and seasoned Factory Manager to lead end-to-end operations of our client’s bakery plant in Abuja.
• The ideal candidate must be able to seamlessly coordinate production, people, marketing support, logistics, financial controls, quality assurance, and general administration in a high-speed, high-volume environment.
• This individual will be the strategic and operational backbone of our manufacturing facility, driving performance, compliance, innovation, and profitability.

Key Responsibility
Production & Operational Management:

• Oversee daily bakery production processes, including mixing, baking, packaging, storage, and dispatch.
• Maintain optimal production efficiency by aligning labor, machines, and materials with demand and sales forecasts.
• Introduce and implement continuous improvement methodologies (Kaizen, Lean) to reduce waste and enhance productivity.
• Monitor production KPIs, downtime, batch yields, and daily output, ensuring adherence to defined targets.

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Collaborate with senior management to define and execute long-term operational strategies.
• Identify growth opportunities, drive factory expansion, and implement new production lines or processes.

People Management:

• Lead a diverse team of production staff, shift supervisors, quality controllers, and drivers.
• Design and implement performance reviews, skills development programs, and conflict resolution processes.
• Foster a productive, safe, and inclusive work environment.
• Enforce discipline and ensure compliance with labor laws and union expectations, if applicable.

Financial Oversight & Cost Management:

• Prepare and manage factory operating budgets, track overheads, and optimize cost per unit.
• Authorize expenditure, control production-related costs, and ensure proper documentation of financial processes.
• Collaborate with finance and procurement to control raw material usage and reconcile variances.

Resource Planning & Inventory Management:

• Supervise procurement planning, inventory levels, stock rotation, and spoilage controls.
• Ensure accurate records of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
• Introduce stock movement tracking systems for real-time insights.

Marketing Support & Sales Alignment:

• Coordinate with the marketing team to forecast production based on promotions and seasonal trends.
• Provide insights on marketable packaging, pricing, and product innovations to align with customer demands.

Vendor, Fleet & Maintenance Management:

• Maintain strong vendor relationships for raw material, packaging, and equipment procurement.
• Oversee factory maintenance schedules, ensure preventive maintenance and emergency repairs are conducted promptly.
• Supervise fleet operations, including daily route planning, driver compliance, and vehicle servicing.

Facility & General Office Administration:

• Supervise the daily administration of the factory premises, including security, sanitation, visitor protocols, and record-keeping.
• Coordinate third-party services such as cleaning, security, waste management, etc.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety laws, fire protocols, and factory regulations.

Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure factory operations are aligned with NAFDAC, SON, HACCP, and other food safety standards.
• Investigate quality issues and establish preventive measures.

Reporting & Process Development:

• Design, document, and standardize production processes and SOPs for all operational areas.
• Submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly operational reports with actionable insights to management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in a factory/ plant management role in the FMCG industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing a factory workforce, operations budget, and production lifecycle.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and analytical thinking abilities.
• Familiarity with ERP or production software is an added advantage.