Planning and Operations Manager

About the job

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where ,Health for all, Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

Planning and Operations Manager

Role Overview:

The purpose of this position is to manage all aspects of seed processing and associated processing plant operations to deliver production volume and quality objectives, including machine and equipment operational efficiency, raw seed warehousing and sourcing of consumables in order to meet the seed availability-, profit- and quality standards required. Implement and monitor activities related to process and site maintenance, capital projects and equipment process controls. Coordination of Product Supply System (onePSS) implementation and sustainability at site in close collaboration with Site Leadership Team. Ensures the efficient use of human resources, equipment and materials, identification and mitigation of operational and other risks.

Compliance to requite legal procedures and policies including those relating to HSE – ISO45001, mechanical and electrical.

The Planning and Operations Manager is accountable for plant operations mission in Malawi.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Promote an actively caring culture for safety among all personnel, contractors and visitors.
• Drive HSE & Quality operational improvements, metrics tracking, and implementation of best practices through team members and peers.
• Realize E2E Operational efficiency through proactive planning and organization of plant operations including Offloading, storage, raw product preservation, sorting, conditioning, packaging, re-bagging.
• In liaison with Site Lead, Warehousing teams and Scheduler, ensure a smooth transition and flow of product from the field through the different stages of the plant process to final warehouse to timeously supply the budgeted sales volume.
• Ensure accurate inventory control and management of packaging, labels, treatment chemicals.
• Coordinate the Quality Management System in Plant Operation and Maintenance of operational records as required by ISO9001:2015 with the focus on continual improvement.
• Maintain operational and site records as required by the Bayer Quality Management Systems with the focus on continuous improvement.
• Responsible for budget control, minimize cost of goods in conjunction of supply reliability, quality and speed to market/seed availability objectives.
• Responsible for consumable planning, purchasing and stock level controls.
• Manage facility personnel to ensure excellence in plant maintenance (preventative, shutdown, corrective) and Site housekeeping (5S).
• Ensure that all equipment in the factory including mobile equipment are calibrated, serviced and operations complies with local legislation.
• Assign and review goals, training needs and assessment reviews for Seed Technicians and other direct reports.
• Manage plant operations through the lean production system by supporting the implementation of advanced manufacturing and lean processes such as onePSS and Visual management in processing, raw warehouse and asset care to track important KPI.
• Support Supply sharevison and value by utilizing advanced technologies of a visual plant, data analytics, Master Data maintenance, SAP seed Process order creation, Confirmation and Tecoing.
• Support Continuous improvement projects and CAPA culture to drive cost saving and OEE.
• Collaborate with country functional leads on general management matters to deliver on cross-functional business objectives including team engagement, risk management and compliance, financial efficiency, asset management, and external relations.
• Plan and execute the capital plan for plant operations in line with the established long-range plan.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in engineering or agricultural sciences.
• At least 8 years of experience in plant operations, with 4 years hands-on supervisory role in agriculture produce processing facility or similar.
• Strong people management skills.
• Strong analytical skills, discipline and operational excellence.
• Ability to work under limited supervision, results oriented with passion to establish clear direction and making decision on a timely manner.
• Strong teamwork (flexibility to work across the areas and positively influencing others).
• Ability to solve complex problems and lead with creative and effective solutions.
• Excellent organizational skills, results oriented, adaptable to changing business environment.
• Strong written and oral communication (Chichewa language would be an added advantage).

Advertising Period: 05 June – 18 June 2026

Employment type: Permanent

Position Grade: VS1.2

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

//////////////// Science for a better Life

Bayer welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, union membership, religion, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any unlawful criterion under applicable law. We are committed to treating all applicants fairly and avoiding discrimination.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we want to ensure persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected]

Location:

Kenya : Kenya : Nairobi || Cote d'Ivoire : Abengourou : Abengourou || Cote d'Ivoire : Abidjan : Abidjan || Cote d'Ivoire : Daloa : Daloa || Cote d'Ivoire : Divo : Divo || Cote d'Ivoire : Korhogo : Korhogo || Cote d'Ivoire : Other : Other || Cote d'Ivoire : San Pedro : San Pedro || Cote d'Ivoire : Yamoussoukro : Yamoussoukro || Malawi : Malawi : Lilongwe || Malawi : Malawi : Malawi || Mozambique : Mozambique : Maputo || Mozambique : Mozambique : Mozambique || Nigeria : Abudja : Abudja || Nigeria : Lagos : Lagos || South Africa : Eastern Cape : East London || South Africa : Eastern Cape : Eastern Cape || South Africa : Eastern Cape : Knysna || South Africa : Eastern Cape : Plettenburg Bay || South Africa : Eastern Cape : Port Elizabeth || South Africa : Free State : Bloemfontein || South Africa : Free State : Bultfontein || South Africa : Free State : Free State || South Africa : Free State : Hoopstad || South Africa : Free State : Kroonstad || South Africa : Free State : Rietz || South Africa : Gauteng : Gauteng || South Africa : Gauteng : Germiston || South Africa : Gauteng : Midrand || South Africa : Gauteng : Nigel || South Africa : Gauteng : Petit || South Africa : Kwazulu/Natal : Durban || South Africa : Kwazulu/Natal : Kwazulu/Natal || South Africa : Kwazulu/Natal : Pietermaritzburg || South Africa : Limpopo : Groblersdal || South Africa : Limpopo : Limpopo || South Africa : Mpumalanga : Ermelo || South Africa : Mpumalanga : Malelane || South Africa : Mpumalanga : Middelburg || South Africa : Mpumalanga : Mpumalanga || South Africa : Mpumalanga : Standerton || South Africa : North West : Brits || South Africa : North West : Lichtenburg || South Africa : North West : North West || South Africa : North West : Potchefstroom || South Africa : Northern Cape : Northern Cape || South Africa : Western Cape : Cape Town || South Africa : Western Cape : Paarl || South Africa : Western Cape : Western Cape || Zambia : Zambia : Chimoio || Zambia : Zambia : Chokwe || Zambia : Zambia : Kabwe || Zambia : Zambia : Lusaka || Zambia : Zambia : Mazabuka || Zambia : Zambia : Mkushi || Zambia : Zambia : Zambia || Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe : Harare || Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe

Division:

Crop Science

Reference Code:

869575

Bayer welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, union membership, religion, family status and pregnancy. We are committed to treating all applicants fairly and avoiding discrimination.