Louis Trichardt: Feed Operations Manager

Minimum requirements for the role: Must have a tertiary qualification in Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Feed Technology, Food Science/Technology, or a related field Minimum 35 years’ proven experience in feed mill / feed factory management, TMR production, or animal feed processing, preferably in a dairy or livestock farming environment Demonstrated knowledge of dairy cattle nutrition, TMR formulation principles, raw material quality assessment, and feed safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, R158, or equivalent standards) Strong operational management experience, including team supervision, inventory control, procurement, and cost management in a production setting Effective communicator and team player able to work collaboratively across departments (feed, dairy, farm management) Hands-on leader with strong problem-solving skills and a practical approach to farm-based operations Excellent command of English (spoken and written), high computer literacy (Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel for reporting/inventory) High attention to detail, organizational ability, and commitment to safety and quality Self-motivated, resilient, and comfortable in a rural, agricultural environment with potential variable hours during peak seasons Must have a valid drivers license The successful candidate will be responsible for: Managing day-to-day operations of the on-farm feed mill and TMR mixing facility, ensuring efficient, safe, and uninterrupted production schedules. Overseeing procurement of raw materials (grains, forages, concentrates, additives, minerals), including sourcing, supplier negotiations, quality checks, and cost optimization. Maintaining accurate inventory control for raw materials, finished feeds, and consumables, implementing stock rotation, minimizing waste, and preventing shortages or overstocking. Supervising the formulation, mixing, and production of high-quality TMR and supplementary feeds in strict adherence to nutritional specifications, recipes, and dairy herd requirements. Implementing and enforcing comprehensive quality control procedures, including sampling, testing, record-keeping, and corrective actions to ensure feed meets nutritional, hygiene, and safety standards. Leading, training, motivating, and supervising feed mill staff (operators, mixers, maintenance, loaders), including scheduling, performance management, safety training, and compliance with labour regulations. Collaborating closely with the Dairy Manager to align feed production with herd nutritional plans, milk yield targets, reproduction goals, and seasonal variations in forage availability. Monitoring production costs and efficiency metrics (e.g., milling losses, energy use, throughput) while implementing continuous improvement initiatives to reduce expenses and maintain quality. Ensuring full compliance with health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including occupational safety, waste management, feed hygiene standards, and biosecurity protocols. Preparing regular reports on production output, inventory status, cost variances, quality results, and operational performance for senior management, troubleshooting issues, and recommending upgrades or process improvements. Please note that subsequent to the screening and shortlisting process, all further communication will be entered into only with the shortlisted candidates. If you do not receive any feedback from us within 2 weeks of applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.