Production Lead

Production Lead - Finished Goods at Watchmaker Genomics Location: Cape Town, South Africa. Position Type: Full time, permanent. Department: Finished Goods. Reports to Director of Operations. This role manages the Finished Goods team, ensuring daily departmental activities, compliance with QA and ISO 13485, and the smooth operation of manufacturing activities. Responsibilities Maintain compliance with QA and ISO 13485 requirements. Coordinate the Finished Goods team daily by setting priorities, troubleshooting issues, and leading manufacturing activities. Support Formulation, Filling, Labelling and Inspection activities Motivate, support, and provide guidance to production staff. Support HR in hiring and onboarding production operators to meet manufacturing needs. Ensure all safety and health standards are met. Communicate regularly with upper management regarding issues impacting production. Evaluate equipment and resources to ensure continued production and minimal downtime. Establish a balance between increased productivity and reduced manufacturing costs. Set and track productivity goals and KPIs to support departmental and quality objectives. Ensure adequate scheduling and allocation of staff. Lead the execution of manufacturing strategies aligned with departmental growth goals. Establish and monitor departmental goals to support robust and continuously improving manufacturing processes. Develop and manage the manufacturing schedule in collaboration with other departments. Manage inventory requirements to ensure smooth execution of the production plan. Respond to and escalation operational, process, equipment, and maintenance problems to the appropriate manager or SME. Participate in final stages of process development, formalization of work instructions, and technology transfer to the production team. Collaborate with QA and process development to update and implement work instructions. Verify accuracy and completeness of manufacturing records (e.g., in Qualio). Possess strong technical understanding of manufacturing methods and participate in production activities when needed. Promote a culture of high performance, execution, safety, and quality. Develop goals and objectives for team members aligned with departmental KPIs. Oversee onboarding, training (including 30‑60‑90 day plans), and ensure adherence to training logs and ISO operational standards. Actively train, mentor, and support the career development of the Finished Goods team. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications and Skills BSc in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline. At least five years of relevant industry experience in a manufacturing environment. Broad technical knowledge of life science reagents, enzyme production, or genomics is a plus. Exceptional leadership and cross‑functional team‑building skills. Skilled at building and managing schedules, timelines, and resource allocation. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to read, write, and edit technical documents. Experience within an ISO 13485 environment. Strong technical understanding of manufacturing methods. Education Bachelor's degree in a relevant life science discipline. Minimum of (5+) years in biotech/pharmaceutical or related industry, including positions with broad functional scope across manufacturing, quality, and project management. Application Requirements Letter of motivation in PDF (upload where it says cover letter). Resume or Curriculum vitae highlighting relevant qualifications and experience. Applicants must be South African or eligible to work in South Africa and have necessary permits or visas, or be able to obtain them before responding to this vacancy. Please submit your application by 3 December 2025. NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE SOUTH AFRICA - WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law. All applicants will be asked if they are currently eligible to work in South Africa. South African citizens are preferred. This position may be subject to pre‑employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening, and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre‑employment checks will comply with all applicable laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr