Factory Manager - Chocolate & Confectionery Production

About the role

A Factory Manager is sought to lead all aspects of daily production at a facility in Egypt, ensuring efficient, safe and cost-effective manufacturing of premium chocolate and confectionery products. The role combines deep technical knowledge of chocolate processing with strong leadership and a proven record of driving operational performance.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to hit production targets with maximum efficiency and consistent quality.
• Develop and manage production schedules aligned with sales forecasts, seasonal demand and inventory levels.
• Manage packaging lines so presentation, accuracy and output meet premium standards.
• Track, analyse and report factory KPIs such as OEE, yield, waste and downtime, and lead continuous improvement.
• Plan labour resources and shift structures to optimise productivity and control labour costs.
• Oversee inventory of raw materials, packaging materials and finished goods, including ordering and supplier coordination.
• Drive cost control across production, materials, energy and maintenance budgets.
• Ensure quality control from raw material intake to finished product, and maintain compliance with food safety regulations including HACCP and ISO 22000, leading internal and external audits.
• Lead, coach and develop production supervisors and factory teams, and work with quality, maintenance, supply chain and commercial teams.

Required profile

• Minimum of 10 years of manufacturing and leadership experience in food, beverage or hospitality.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Industrial Engineering or Hospitality.
• Proven experience tracking and improving factory KPIs (OEE, yield, waste, downtime).
• Strong leadership, people management, analytical and organisational skills; fluency in Arabic and English preferred.

Required skills

• Hands-on knowledge of chocolate processing: tempering, crystallisation, viscosity control, cooling, moulding and enrobing.
• Production planning, inventory management and cost control.
• HACCP, ISO 22000 and food safety audit preparation.