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Network Power<100 people
Roles
✨75%
Business Owner
🧑💼75%
C-level Executive
🧨75%
Consulting
Geos
🇿🇦75%
South Africa
🇺🇸25%
United States
Work Background
First Port Produce (Pty) Ltd and Gai Yamu (Pty) LtdGeneral and Key Account Manager
Jan. 2023 - May. 2024South Africa, RiversdaleOffers a valued offering in that we have the experience, skills, qualifications, commitment, network, and relationships to grow and supply quality fresh produce products. We look forward to including and collaborating with our clients and stakeholders to sustain our value offering and to thrive collectively. We are a start-up venture, an emerging grower, and fresh produce supplier. We, however, are not starting from zero base. Our team has been part of other ventures that have achieved and thrived over the past years, and our venture is an extension of that experience and knowledge:
• Turning a loss business into a breakeven business within 18 months.
• Obtained HACCP accreditation without any major findings for two years.
• Improving on Farming for the Future scorecard for two consecutive years.
• Improving SMETA SEDEX accreditation from red tier to silver tier.
• Reduce staff turnover to almost zero and establish a core workforce from rural communities.
• Increased production efficiencies with 40% within three years.
• Mentored and developed ground level Packhouse workers to supervisors and junior managers. Now extend this experience to farm level. Will put our experience, grit, resourcefulness, and skills towards growing products to provide a 360° solutions to our clients. We will be operating from a farm right next to Riversdale on a major supply route to Cape Town. Riversdale is also close to the fast-growing economic hubs in the Western Cape. We will also collaborate with other growers and suppliers in the South Cape area; with whom we have established good relations in the past years. Growing and expanding to be a recognized supplier of garden peas, sugar snaps, mange tout, baby corn, herbs, micro greens, leeks, etc. We want to grow good food and contribute to the industry through mentorship and development; ensure that the fresh produce industry remains healthy and sustainable through people having a passion for it and looking after it.
Southern Cape Veggies (Pty) LtdGeneral Manager, HR Officer and Section 24 Manager
Nov. 2017 - Jan. 2023In general responsible for 105 staff members at fresh produce packhouse. Have seven direct reports; department heads. Company turnover about R 30 million per annum.
Noted Achievements
Took over as acting GM in April 2020; with the onset of the Covid first wave. Company at this point was struggling financially and emotionally. Worked with current senior team and turned the company profitable May 2020 (first time since September 2018). Appointed as GM in August 2020, full time. Delivered best financial standing in 7 years of company been established. Working close with team, re-aligning processes, procedures and disciplines and been keeping the company in the green. Responsible for getting company certified for Farming for the Future, raised Sedex accreditation from Red to Silver, lead technical team to get recertification for HACCP 2022. Expanded market base/distribution channels. Develop and onboard grower base.
Established Employment Equity within management team and supervisor level.
Improved production efficiencies with 40%.
Reduced cost and overheads against inflation.
Ramped up preventative maintenance; effective cold chain & less down time.
Drive Health and Safety.
Aligned product costings with actual cost and reduced Cost of Sales to improve gross profit.
Led intern programme andearnerships through Foodbev Seta.
In previous roles as Production and Human Resource Manager within SCV:
Initiated, developed, maintain and monitor all human and labour relations policies at the packhouse. Created the company HR and Staff manuals.
Created and implemented all employment contracts, addendums, extensions, disciplinary code, warning system and disciplinary hearing procedures. Focus is on education within discipline.
Decreased staff turnover from five months to three years.
Started the Production department in 2014. Developed the production planning and scheduling that is still used. In my role as GM assisted to improve on this with the current production team.
Blue Kebab Job and Workplace Solutions (Pty) LtdProfessional Profiler, Coach, HR & Labor Legislation Compliance & SEDEX compliance.
Jun. 2016South AfricaBlue Kebab Job and Work Place Solutions is an intuitive, resourceful and tenacious company that is dedicated in the exceptional growth and prosperity of our clients; should it be the career professional, a work team and/or a business as a whole. Blue Kebab JWS is a consultancy service grown from experience, continuous scrutiny and adaptation of best world practices, networking and communication. We offer services in professional profiling, coaching, talent sourcing, labour legislation compliance and efficiency improvement. At Blue Kebab Job and Workplace Solutions we love what we do and we have a passion for how we do it. In the words of Donald O. Clifton, who is the father of the strength assessment we use for our coaching:
“What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at the right time.”
Everyone that works or are associated with Blue Kebab Job and Workplace Solutions know their strengths and works to it. We have a strong identity for what we are good at and what we excel at and have crafted our service offering according to this identity.
Southern Cape BerriesProduction, HR, Section 24 and SHEQ Manager
Dec. 2014 - May. 2016South CapeCompany within the retail foods industry; soft fruit and vegetables.
Workforce 160 to 220 workers depending on the season. Spear headed the production department at company. Handed it over to new production manager. Still responsible for Production efficiency measurement and improvement. Maintaining and analysis of production statistics.
Full HR and IR Function - Worker contracts, implementation of company policies and procedures, relevant training, progressive disciplinary action, disciplinary hearings with labour consultants, strategic HR planning, recruitment, liaison with union (FAWU), etc.
Section 24 Manager - Development and Implementation of Employment Equity Plan and Work Skills Plan.
SHEQ Management - Development and implementation of Safety Plan.
New business venture and responsible for the implementation of business systems and integration of man power within these systems to ensure optimum efficiency, development of workers, business sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Independent ConsultantCoach (Career, Interview and Strength)
May. 2012 - Dec. 2014Gauteng, South AfricaRecruitment Partner and Head Hunter
I am contracted through companies where I assist them in sourcing relevant candidates for various roles. I work closely with HR to ensure good profile fit and sustainable candidate development within the business. I advertise and also contact key people directly to invite them to apply. I assist with the whole process; sourcing, vetting, interviewing, referencing, setting up appointments, contract negotiation, after sales service, etc. I pride myself in finding "technically" fitted candidates as in an excellent fit for a specific position. I also provide the company with market information and assist them in making more informed decisions. Another service is that I provide them with Recruitment Management Software and Database building activities to grow own recruitment database and systems. Coach (Career, Interview and Strength)
Assist professional individuals with career trajectory planning, career building decision making, to prepare for an interview, making the most of your interview, strength theme awareness, strength theme development, long term professional and individual growth, etc)
In addition to this I also assist companies with team development on hand of strength assessment and coaching.
The Talent HubSenior Consultant: Management and Recruitment
Feb. 2011 - Apr. 2013Technical Recruitment specialist: Engineering, Finance, IT, Quality Management and Operations.
Strategic HR services
Performance Management
Business Process Redesign
Hubbab CCGeneral Manager
Sep. 2004 - Feb. 2011Gauteng, South AfricaStart up business. Was responsible to develop new business models. Did this successfully within the Recruitment and Management Consultancy Industry. Developed business from zero base to an annual turnover of R 800k. Enjoyed developing business processes with the relevant HR and IT support to offer quality service. Managed the day to day running of the business and also was solely responsible for the business development throughout all aspects.
J&H Educational Books and Publishing CCGeneral Manager
Mar. 2000 - Sep. 2004Centurion, Gauteng, South AfricaStart up family business and we developed the business from zero base to an annual turn over of R 3 Million. My function was the overall day to day operations management and financial management of the business. Also were responsible for a large account establishing a mailing order department for the Southern Business School. Had two staff members to report to me.
Thomson LearningSales Representative
Jan. 1997 - Dec. 2000
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