Operations/production Manager Food Brand

**Operations & Production Manager - Interim**

**Artisanal Food Brand**

Cape Town | **Type**: Part-time (with pathway to full-time)

**AVAILABLE NOW**

**Salary**: R10 000/month on 3 days/week basis

**Leo’s Little Jars** is a fast-growing artisanal jam company, proudly handmade in Cape Town.

We are seeking a **highly organized and proactive Operations & Production Manager** to join our team as the right-hand to the founder. This is not a corporate desk job; it’s a hands-on, dynamic role where your love for food, people, and detail come together.

**The Role**

This is a **unique opportunity** to step into a leadership role in a growing artisanal food brand.

Our ops manager is currently away. We’re therefore looking for someone who can **join immediately on a part-time basis (3 days/week)** to oversee production and operations.

**About us**:We’re a small but mighty, **fully women-run team**, creating jams that are bold, joyful, and made with care.
- Our founder, **Léonore (“Léo”)**, is French (so yes, there’s always a touch of Parisian accent in our kitchen (and occasionally croissants for breakfast)).
- We believe in **sustainability, ethics, and empowerment**: from the way we source fruit, to the way we treat our team, to the joy we want every jar to bring.
- Our workspace is **lively, collaborative, and supportive**. We take our craft seriously, but we also laugh a lot, celebrate each season’s fruit, and value each person’s contribution.

If you’re looking for a role where your work has **meaning**, your ideas are **heard**, and you’re part of a team with **heart**, you’ll feel at **home** with us. Allez, let’s chat

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Production & Quality**
- Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure output, quality, and consistency.
- Monitor and uphold food safety and hygiene protocols.
- Plan and manage production schedules according to seasonality of fruit.
- Maintain close attention to detail across recipes, labeling, and final product quality.
- Support with new product development.

**Operations & Procurement**
- Manage procurement of fruit, jars, and supplies; liaise with suppliers.
- Track stock and inventory, ensuring accurate records in Excel and accounting systems.
- Coordinate market refills and occasional deliveries.
- Optimize workflow, resources, and costs

**Team Leadership**
- Motivate, guide, and uplift a growing team of women.
- Foster a culture of fairness, accountability, and growth.
- Provide training and feedback while ensuring high performance standards.

**Client & Brand Engagement**
- Occasionally represent the brand at weekend markets (selling directly to customers).
- Build strong relationships with suppliers and clients.
- Support the founder with ideas and initiatives to grow the business.
- **Right Hand to the Founder**:

- Support the founder with initiatives to grow the business.
- Not just “ticking the to-do list” but bringing ideas and solutions.
- Be ready to step up and take the reins if needed.

**REQUIREMENTS**

**Education & Experience**
- Culinary / food production / hospitality background **mandatory**.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in food production, hospitality, or operations.
- Proven experience leading or supervising small teams.

**Skills & Competencies**
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Detail-oriented, accurate, and comfortable with Excel and digital systems.
- Comfortable with high pressure seasonality
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to motivate and manage staff with kindness and firmness.
- Problem-solving mindset and initiative to improve processes.
- Valid driver’s license and own car (**essential**).

**WHAT WE OFFER**
- Salary**:R10 000 month**:

- Flexible working hours: 3 days per week - **Mon, Wed, Fri, 8am-5.30pm** (with occasional additional weekend market work).
- A role where you’re not just an employee, but a **key part of the brand’s growth**.
- A positive, creative, women-led workplace.

**How to Apply**

**Job Types**: Part-time, Temp to perm, Learnership
Contract length: 6 months

Pay: R10 000,00 per month

Expected hours: 30 per week

Application Question(s):

- Are you available immediately ?

**Experience**:

- management : 2 years (required)

License/Certification:

- Drivers License (required)

Work Location: In person