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Grade: D4 

Department: Management & Administration 

Line Manager: Sven Thieme 

Purpose of the Position

Leads and manages all Farmer's Meat abattoir operations to ensure world-class standards in compliance, quality, safety, productivity and operational efficiency. Oversees the full slaughter and processing value chain from livestock receiving, slaughtering and carcass handling to chilling, inspection and dispatch — with full accountability for acquiring and managing export orders and for building and maintaining strong relationships with Farmers and international clients to grow Farmer’s Meat lamb exports to key markets. Ensures strict adherence to international export requirements, HACCP, Halal, DVS and Meat Board standards, while driving operational excellence through compliance management, internal maintenance control, and process optimisation across all functions.

Minimum Requirements

• 3-year Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Operations, Agriculture, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, Business Management or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in abattoir or meat-processing operations.
• At least 2 years at senior management level within a similar operational or export-driven environment.
• Proven experience in export market engagement, supply-chain management, operational leadership and supplier (including Farmer’s) and customer relationship management.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Extensive knowledge of meat and meat-processing procedures, including export standards, DVS, Halal, and Meat Board requirements.
• Strong understanding of customer and supplier relations within the livestock and meat value chain.

Key Responsibilities & Outputs

• Co-create, align and execute the Farmer’s Meat strategy to achieve operational, commercial and growth objectives.
• Lead daily abattoir operations to meet production schedules, yield, quality, cost and on-time delivery targets.
• Coordinate production with procurement, engineering, maintenance and quality to ensure seamless operations.
• Engage farmers and feedlots to secure accurate, high-quality and consistent livestock supply.
• Own and manage overall profitability and financial performance of the Farmer’s Meat brand.
• Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting and cost management process to meet/exceed revenue, COGS, OPEX and CapEx targets.
• Develop and drive export-led commercial growth strategies into new and existing high-value international markets.
• Identify, pursue, negotiate and secure contracts with international buyers, agents and distributors.
• Adapt pricing strategies based on global market trends, competitive analysis and cost optimisation to maximise margins.
• Represent Farmer’s Meat at international trade fairs and industry events to grow market reach and strengthen relationships.
• Drive collaboration with Sales and Marketing to align market positioning and commercial strategy.
• Oversee the full supply chain from livestock acquisition to final export delivery, ensuring efficiency and timely global shipments.
• Strengthen supplier relationships and negotiate favourable procurement terms to support margin optimisation.
• Ensure strict compliance with all export regulations, HACCP, DVS, Halal and Meat Board standards.
• Drive timely certification processes and ensure all products meet international quality and safety requirements.
• Identify and mitigate commercial and operational risks, especially within export markets.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with farmers, international clients, distributors and regulatory bodies.
• Engage with the Meat Board and other authorities to remain aligned with industry developments.
• Lead, coach and develop teams to achieve high performance, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Embed O&L Persona values and drive Great Place to Work initiatives to achieve people and culture goals.
• Prepare accurate and timely reporting for daily, monthly and annual performance cycles.
• Compile sales data, operational insights, BLR inputs, Board Pack contributions and annual people/CapEx plans.

O&L - a Great Place to Work.

Applicants meeting our requirements are invited to apply. O&L Group of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.