Artisan Chief Grade A Production Jobs in South Africa

The Government Printing Works has two Artisan Chief Grade A: Production posts in Pretoria, in its Security Printing and Commercial Printing directorates. This is a senior artisan leadership role for a trade-tested printing professional who can run production to quality, output and turnaround targets.

About the department and the work

The Government Printing Works produces secure documents and commercial printed material for government. Production work ranges from automated and semi-automated finishing to manual binding and packaging, and it must meet strict quality, confidentiality and safety standards. The Artisan Chief will coordinate that work on the floor, keeping production moving while protecting product integrity.

Role details and duties

The successful candidate will plan and coordinate production to meet quality, output and turnaround targets. Duties include overseeing automated, semi-automated and manual finishing, binding and packaging processes, and managing examination packaging, hardcover binding, thread-sewn books, book-cover printing, collating, numbering, pasting, drilling and stapling.

The role also covers controlling wastage, protecting confidential and security products, verifying production and packaging quantities, monitoring defects and implementing corrective actions, and ensuring compliance with ISO standards where applicable. The Artisan Chief will maintain production records, analyse productivity trends, prepare reports and approve completed batches for dispatch.

Other duties include ensuring equipment is cleaned, calibrated, maintained and repaired through preventative maintenance, with Engineering support, managing safety, health, environment, risk and quality in the division, conducting risk assessments and incident investigations, and promoting PPE use and safety talks. The role involves supervising staff, allocating work, monitoring performance, managing attendance and discipline, conducting performance reviews, training and developing learners, artisans and printer assistants, and developing policies, strategies, production procedures, continuous improvement measures and standard operating procedures.

Requirements

• Grade 10 or equivalent qualification plus a completed apprenticeship in Craft Bookbinding, Mechanised Bookbinding or Packaging, with an appropriate Printing Trade Test Certificate.
• Grade 12 and computer literacy will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of applicable processes and equipment is required.
• A valid driver’s licence will be an added advantage.

Where to find and apply safely

Use the Apply button on this page, which links to the original Government Printing Works section of DPSA Circular 39 of 2026. Read the full original advertisement before applying, and use only the application route stated there. Never pay for a government job, and never share banking details or passwords with anyone offering to speed up an application.

Practical tips

Highlight your trade test, apprenticeship field and hands-on production leadership, with examples of quality control, wastage reduction and safe working. Make sure your application shows the specific bookbinding or packaging experience the advertisement asks for.

How the process works

Applications are assessed against the stated requirements, and shortlisted candidates may be invited to further assessment or interview. Only shortlisted candidates are normally contacted, so keep your contact details up to date.

Important information

This page is informational only and is not the employer. The closing date stated in the source is 17 November 2026, with the walk-in time given as 16:00 and the online time as 23:59. The reference number is GPW 26/013, for two posts, and the Circular 39 post number is 39/36. The centre is Pretoria, and the salary is R499 470 per annum, OSD. Confirm the closing date and reference number in the original advertisement before applying.

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