Production Manager

Company description

Maagrace Garment Industries Limited (MGIL) is an apparel manufacturer in Koforidua, Ghana, with around 1,000 workers and capacity to double it by the end of 2027. We make heavy and light weight garments (fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, schoolwear, dancewear), mainly for large USA and European brands with strict quality and compliance requirements.

Our vision is to build a model factory in Africa that is ethical, efficient and high quality, with the empowerment of our workforce, especially women, and the growth of strong local leadership at its heart. MGIL works in strategic partnership with Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), a sourcing company raising technical and ethical standards across West Africa.

Position overview

MGIL runs two full shifts, each led by its own Production Manager. This Production Manager will deliver output and quality to the same standards as the other. Reporting to the Technical Director and working closely with the other shift's Production Manager and with EAA, this person must be able to build, empower and develop local teams, not only manage output.

Responsibilities

Production and shift management

Review production plans with the Assistant Planning Manager, the Technical Director and the other shift's Production Manager against factory and line performance.

Deliver the plan on time at colour, style and PO level, with no rejects at AQL, within agreed working hours and overtime limits.

Lead production with full ownership of output, quality, people and safety on that shift, and be able to cover the other shift when needed.

Run a clear, documented handover with the other shift's Production Manager covering targets, WIP, quality, machine status and people issues, and apply the same standards and ways of working on both shifts.

Keep lines balanced and fed: monitor input and WIP with cutting so no line is idle, and plan manpower and skills cover across shifts, including for absenteeism.

Coach supervisors to hit efficiency and quality targets, run each line's daily planning meeting, and keep the efficiency bonus scheme understood and motivating.

Data and reporting

Track output from hourly to quarterly and drive improvement plans with the IE team.

Document damaged and wasted units with the Quality Manager and report production outcomes to management.

Complete daily size wise reconciliation of cut to pack production and packing reports.

Quality

Own the principle that quality is 100% right first time: attend the PPM for every style, and make sure no line starts bulk production before the first out is approved by the Quality team.

Review DHU, rework and 7/0 score card results daily with the Quality team, act first on the lines with the highest defect rates, and close agreed corrective actions on time.

Respect quality decisions: lots on hold are released only by the Quality Manager, and AQL results are never challenged to meet a shipment date.

Make sure rework and rejects are recorded, the efficiency bonus counts only good pieces passed at the endline, and broken needle and metal detection procedures are applied on every line.

Technical oversight

Direct the Sewing Technician Managers and the mechanic team so machines are correctly set up and calibrated for each operation and fabric, working through the team rather than personally, and build a constructive, respectful working relationship with technicians and mechanics.

Work with the CAD room and product development to implement garment specifications, and support training on difficult operations and style changeovers.

People leadership and local capacity building

Role model calm, respectful leadership that builds trust and a strong workplace culture across expatriate and local teams.

Build relationships with the local team, take shared ownership of problems rather than blaming others, and stay composed under pressure.

Communicate clearly, confidently and early: keep the Technical Director, the other shift's Production Manager, HR and Quality informed, escalate problems before they become crises, and give supervisors direct and respectful feedback.

Prioritise local talent: coach supervisors and operators, close skill gaps, and develop local successors so the factory relies less on expatriate staff over time.

Manage supervisor performance fairly, hold teams accountable for attendance, and work with HR on recruitment, grievances, discipline and absenteeism in line with policy.

Train supervisors to read tech packs, take measurements, balance lines and manage basic machine issues when mechanics are absent.

Compliance, health and safety

Enforce all company policies on every shift, especially the non-negotiable anti-harassment, anti-abuse and anti-forced labour policies.

Maintain the same health, safety and housekeeping standards on both shifts (guards, hanged trimmers, PPE, clear lanes and extinguishers), apply the heat stress procedures, and oversee overtime per policy.

Support the Compliance team in passing customer and third-party social and environmental audits, including customer onboarding.

Qualifications and attributes

Excellent spoken and written English, with a clear communication style that operators, supervisors and international teams understand easily.

7 to 10 years of hands-on production experience, preferably in a developing country and ideally in Africa.

Proven experience leading a full shift of several hundred operators independently, in a factory running two full shifts.

A track record of building and empowering local teams and developing local successors, not only delivering output.

Calm and composed under pressure, even during production crises: gives and receives feedback well, communicates confidently upward and across teams, and resolves conflict without blaming.

Strong problem solver who gets to the root cause of issues rather than treating symptoms, and thinks strategically about line planning: moving styles, people and machines between lines to protect output, quality and delivery dates.

Expertise across several product types (knit or woven underwear, sleepwear, sweats, outerwear) for USA and European customers, comfortable with frequent style changes on a varied product mix, and solid knowledge of stitch and seam types and the machines used.

Good working knowledge of quality systems (PPM, first-out approval, DHU, AQL, needle and metal control).

Experience running practical training, strong cross functional collaboration, and clear communication across cultures.

Confident with Excel and reporting, self directed and entrepreneurial, resilient, and able to thrive under pressure with integrity.

Benefits

Salary level depends on candidate experience and profile.

International medical and repatriation insurance.

Accommodation and transportation to and from the factory.

25 days of annual leave in addition to Ghana national holidays.

The opportunity to join a key department of an award winning, dynamic and mission driven organization that welcomes strategic input from all members.

How to apply

This position will start in January 2027, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

• Please send a resume and a specific cover letter for the position to
• [email removed - click apply for more details]

with the reference "Prod Mngr 27" in the subject line.

Only completed applications with the accurate reference will be considered, and only the most qualified candidates shortlisted for interview.

MGIL is dedicated to equal opportunities in employment, welcoming talents from Africa and around the world. We strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.