Interim Plant Operations & Quality Lead – Juice Extraction
On-Site Requirement: 1–2 weeks per month in Cairo Industry: Food & Beverage – Juice Extraction & Processing Reporting to: General Manager / Ownership / Regional Operations
Role Purpose
The Interim Plant Operations & Quality Lead will support the scale-up, stabilization, and professionalization of a juice extraction and processing plant serving the Greater Cairo region.
This is a time-bound, high-impact assignment, combining periodic on-site leadership with remote follow-up, aimed at upgrading production performance, quality systems, food safety, and operational discipline to international standards.
The role is designed for a senior industrial operator with strong experience in food manufacturing transformation, capable of delivering tangible results within a 6-month horizon.
Assignment Structure• Duration: 6 months• On-site presence: 1–2 weeks per month in Greater Cairo• Remote support: Ongoing between visits• Mandate: Diagnose → Stabilize → Professionalize → Enable local ownership
Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence & Production• Lead and coordinate improvements in juice extraction, processing, and plant efficiency.• Improve yields, throughput, line reliability, and cost control.• Standardize production practices through clear, practical SOPs.• Establish production planning and daily management routines.
Quality, Food Safety & Compliance• Implement and reinforce food safety and quality systems aligned with HACCP / ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000.• Strengthen in-process controls, hygiene standards, and documentation.• Prepare the plant for external audits and certifications.• Reduce quality deviations, rework, and customer complaints.
Scale-Up & Plant Professionalization• Structure the plant from a growing operation into a process-driven industrial site.• Define and track core KPIs (safety, quality, service, cost, people).• Support decisions on equipment upgrades, layout optimization, and automation.• Improve maintenance practices and operational reliability.
People & Capability Development• Coach plant leadership, supervisors, and key operators.• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision rights.• Build a culture of accountability, food safety ownership, and continuous improvement.• Ensure knowledge transfer to the local team to sustain results post-assignment.
Governance & Reporting• Provide structured updates to senior management.• Deliver clear documentation, roadmaps, and implementation tracking.• Support transition to a permanent operations or plant leadership structure if required.
Key Deliverables (6-Month Horizon)• Operational and quality baseline assessment.• Fully implemented core SOPs and KPIs.• Improved production stability, yield, and quality performance.• Audit-ready food safety framework.• 12-month post-interim operational roadmap.• Embedded local ownership and execution capability.
Ideal Profile
Experience• 10+ years in food or beverage manufacturing operations (juice, fruit processing, dairy, liquid foods).• Demonstrated experience in plant scale-up, turnaround, or professionalization.• Strong background in quality systems and food safety leadership.• Previous interim, consulting, or transformation roles preferred.
Skills & Attributes• Hands-on, structured, and execution-driven.• Strong diagnostic and prioritization capabilities.• Comfortable leading change with limited on-site time.• High cultural awareness and adaptability.
Language & Mobility• Fluent English required (Arabic a strong advantage).• Willingness to travel to Cairo 1–2 weeks per month.