Packaging Team Leader

Dreaming big is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company. It’s our culture. It’s our heritage. And more than ever, it’s our future. A future where we’re always looking forward. Always serving up new ways to meet life’s moments. A future where we keep dreaming bigger. We look for people with passion, talent, and curiosity, and provide them with the teammates, resources and opportunities to unleash their full potential. The power we create together – when we combine your strengths with ours – is unstoppable. Are you ready to join a team that dreams as big as you do?

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Safety & Environmental Leadership Outcome: Everyone goes home safe; the workplace is audit‑ready at all times. Own and enforce SHE standards, PPE compliance, SAM (Safety Access to Machines), LOTOTO, Permit‑to‑Work (PTW), machine guarding, and safe work procedures. Conduct safety observations, toolbox talks, risk assessments, and layered audits; correct deviations immediately. Ensure incident and near‑miss reporting, investigation, and close‑out with effective corrective and preventive actions. Maintain 5S/housekeeping and ensure safe isolations during maintenance or breakdowns. Proactively manage environmental compliance (spills, waste streams, energy/water discipline) with zero non‑compliances as the target.

Quality Assurance & Process Control Outcome: Right‑first‑time product, zero consumer risk, stable processes. Ensure all process and product checks are completed at prescribed frequency and properly recorded (SPC charts, MES / VPO systems). Verify and trend quality data; respond early to drift; trigger reaction plans; contain, correct, and refrain per standards. Lead/trigger QFR, 5 Why, and Abnormality Report events according to defined triggers; ensure actions are assigned, closed, and verified for effectiveness. Safeguard traceability, material and batch control, and non‑conformance management. Partner with Quality Lab for escalations; complete start‑up and post‑maintenance quality verifications.

Cost & Resource Management Outcome: Deliver the plan within budget, reducing losses and waste. Manage and track line losses (speed, minor stops, breakdowns, rework, start‑up losses, material waste) and drive loss elimination using VPO tools. Control material usage (caps, closures, labels, film, pallets, glue), GLY/OSE, utilities, and scrap; uphold FEFO/traceability practices. Optimize manpower deployment, overtime, and planned activities (cleaning days, maintenance days) to minimize cost per hectolitre. Apply basic financial discipline: adherence to budgets, approval matrices, and accurate administrative records.

Operations & Production Management Outcome: Plan attainment through stable, reliable, and efficient operations. Interpret and execute the daily/weekly production plan (changeovers); balance resources against SKU mix and constraints; coordinate with Planning and Logistics. Monitor OSE (Availability, Performance, Quality) in real time; act on losses and abnormalities; call in specialist resources when triggers are met. Ensure the team completes Autonomous Operations steps (cleaning, inspection, lubrication, tightening, basic adjustments); validate defect tagging and closure. Support artisans during breakdowns: safe stop, initial troubleshooting, fault isolation, documentation, and post‑repair validation (ramp‑up, checks, early loss detection). Operate equipment when needed to protect the schedule and coach correct standards on the floor. Ensure robust shift handover (leader‑to‑leader and operator‑to‑operator): machine status, quality status, defects, material constraints, planned interventions. Ensure compliance with SOPs, work instructions, VPO standards audits, and documentation requirements. Complete accurate end‑of‑shift reports (results, losses, quality, materials, safety, 5S); ensure robust leader handover.

Leadership & People Development Outcome: A motivated, autonomous team that can self‑manage and solve problems. Lead people towards a shared dream; communicate vision, purpose, and standards clearly; celebrate successes visibly and often. Build team autonomy: enable operators to detect, contain, and correct abnormalities; coach on VPO methods, 5 Why, reaction plans, and standard work. Conduct one‑on‑ones, and hold regular performance and team target reviews, Training Needs Analysis (TNA), and competency assessments (e.g., SKAP); facilitate planned training and cross‑skilling. Manage attendance, timekeeping, and workforce issues on shift; uphold people policies and a healthy IR climates.

Minimum Requirements:

National Diploma or equivalent in Engineering (Elec, Mech, Industrial, Instrumental) (Bachelor’s degree in Engineering will be an added advantage)

Minimum 2-5 years FMCG / Manufacturing industries experience

Completed Packaging Traineeship, ABInBev Leadership, or Artisan Training (Planning experience will be an added advantage)

3–5 years of factory production experience

Proven shift production expertise, and a strong performance record marked by discipline, problem‑solving skills, and a drive for continuous improvement

Additional Information:

BAND: VIII. SAB/ABInBev is an equal opportunity employer, and all appointments will be made in line with SAB/ABInBev employment equity plan and talent requirements. The South African Breweries (SAB) has reimagined what a beer company can be and has anchored this in a powerful brand purpose – We Dream Big to Create a Future With More Cheers – which articulates who we are and where we are going. At SAB it’s always about more than the beer. We are driven by our passion to demonstrate the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. Since our inception over a century ago, SAB has grown to become South Africa's largest brewer, a powerful economic contributor, a leader in sustainability, and a champion of responsible consumption. SAB is one of South Africa’s admired companies and corporate brands. The company has 7 breweries and 42 depots in South Africa, a total workforce of approximately 5000, and supports a beer economy ‘from seed to sip’ of over 250 000 jobs. Its portfolio of beer brands meets the needs of a wide range of consumers and includes leading brands in beer and beyond such as Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Corona, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish.

#J-18808-Ljbffr
Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...