A leading food packaging and recycling company is looking for an experienced PET Wash Plant & Decontamination Manager to oversee their high-tech recycling facility in Cape Town. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically proficient and operationally focused leader to manage the end to end processing of post-consumer PET into food-grade recycled flakes. The ideal candidate will drive efficiency across sorting, washing, and decontamination lines while maintaining strict control over raw material procurement, quality compliance, and inventory accuracy. If you have extensive experience in industrial recycling operations and a commitment to sustainability and food safety standards, we want to hear from you!

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 labour, chemicals, and utility costs.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing production, maintenance, and quality teams.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma to drive yield and throughput improvements.

Contact Hire Resolve for your next career-changing move.

• Our client is offering a highly competitive salary for this role based on experience.
• Apply for this role today, contact Adrienne Steyn at Hire Resolve on [email protected] or on LinkedIn
• You can also visit the Hire Resolve website: hireresolve.us or email us your CV: [email protected]

We will contact you telephonically in 3 days should you be suitable for this vacancy. If you are not suitable, we will put your CV on file and contact you regarding any future vacancies that arise.