Cape Town: PET Wash Plant & Decontamination Manager posted by Hire Resolve

About the Role

A leading food packaging and recycling company is seeking an experienced PET Wash Plant & Decontamination Manager to oversee their high-tech recycling facility in Cape Town. This role involves managing the end-to-end processing of post-consumer PET into food-grade recycled flakes, with a focus on efficiency, quality compliance, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations including sorting, grinding, hot washing, friction washing, drying, and decontamination.
• Ensure optimal throughput, yield, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Align production schedules with sales forecasts and raw material availability.
• Minimize downtime through structured preventive and predictive maintenance coordination.
• Manage the sourcing of post-consumer PET bottles and thermoforms.
• Implement strict incoming bale inspection, grading protocols, and contamination tolerance thresholds.
• Maintain accurate inventory records for incoming bales, work-in-progress material, and finished rPET flakes.
• Conduct monthly physical stock counts and investigate any variances.
• Optimize working capital tied up in raw material inventory.
• Ensure decontamination processes meet food-grade regulatory requirements and export regulations.
• Maintain full batch traceability from bale intake to finished flake.
• Oversee laboratory testing protocols for IV levels, moisture control, and contamination.
• Manage effluent treatment, water recycling systems, and environmental permits.
• Manage the operational budget, including labor, chemicals, utilities, and maintenance costs.
• Track and improve material yield from bale to flake while reducing energy and chemical consumption.
• Lead and develop supervisors, operators, maintenance, and quality personnel.
• Drive a strict safety culture and ensure compliance with OHS regulations.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma initiatives to drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Extensive experience managing PET wash plants and decontamination facilities.
• Proven track record in processing post-consumer PET into food-grade and non-food-grade rPET flakes.
• Strong technical knowledge of sorting, grinding, hot washing, and decontamination reactors.
• Experience in raw material procurement, bale grading, and contamination management.
• Demonstrated ability in inventory control, batch traceability, and ERP system accuracy.
• In-depth understanding of food-grade regulatory requirements and export safety standards.
• Experience overseeing laboratory testing for IV levels, moisture, and quality KPIs.
• Knowledge of environmental compliance, effluent treatment, and water recycling systems.
• Ability to manage operational budgets, including labor, chemicals, and utility costs.

Salary & Benefits

Salary will be based on experience.