Company: RCL Foods
Location: Pretoria West, Gauteng, South Africa
Job Type: Permanent
Industry: FMCG / Food Production / Engineering
Experience Level: Senior Management
Department: Engineering & Maintenance
Date Posted: 17 October 2025
Closing Date: 27 October 2025
Reference Number: RCL251017-2
Reporting To: Engineering Manager
About RCL Foods
RCL Foods is one of South Africa’s leading food manufacturers, committed to delivering high-quality, affordable, and sustainable food products to millions of consumers nationwide. With a diversified portfolio spanning across baking, milling, and consumer brands, RCL Foods continues to lead innovation within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.
Working at RCL Foods means joining a dynamic team dedicated to excellence, continuous improvement, and operational innovation. The company places strong emphasis on developing people, enhancing productivity, and driving technical advancements across its operations.
Explore more engineering and technical management opportunities at Jobs and Career Opportunities South Africa.
Position Overview
RCL Foods is seeking a highly skilled and systems-driven Maintenance Manager to join its Pretoria West facility. This role requires a technically competent and results-oriented leader with a solid background in reliability engineering, preventative maintenance, and plant efficiency management.
The Maintenance Manager will oversee all maintenance operations, drive engineering excellence, and implement sustainable maintenance systems that ensure asset reliability, operational safety, and cost efficiency.
The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation in electrical, mechanical, and automation systems, coupled with proven leadership capabilities to develop teams and optimize processes in a fast-paced food production environment.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Reliability Engineering
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Lead the maintenance department to ensure reliability, uptime, and optimal equipment performance.
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Apply reliability engineering principles to improve maintenance practices and reduce downtime.
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Oversee high-speed automated packaging lines and ensure consistent performance.
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Demonstrate strong understanding of electrical, mechanical, and automation systems.
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Experience with Siemens systems and ability to interpret PLC logic highly advantageous.
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Manage and maintain the plant’s high-power infrastructure (8–10 megawatts).
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Drive standardization and innovation in maintenance processes to enhance efficiency.
System Implementation & Maintenance Management
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Lead the implementation of practical maintenance systems and performance improvement strategies.
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Manage Pragma CMMS or similar platforms such as Syspro or Microsoft-based Maintenance Management Systems.
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Develop and execute preventative maintenance plans, ensuring adherence to schedules and standards.
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Ensure all activities align with food safety, statutory, and ISO compliance standards.
Operational & Team Leadership
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Supervise and mentor a multidisciplinary team, including four direct foremen and technical artisans.
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Plan and manage weekly inspections, maintenance schedules, and team performance reviews.
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Act as GMR 2.1 and Fire Marshal when required.
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Drive continuous improvement initiatives in operations, productivity, and system performance.
Risk, Safety & Compliance
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Champion SHEQ compliance and enforce health and safety regulations.
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Investigate incidents and implement corrective and preventive actions.
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Ensure engineering operations meet all legal, risk, and safety standards.
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Promote a safety-conscious culture and lead audits and inspections.
Strategic Engineering Management
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Formulate and execute engineering strategies to optimize asset utilization and cost efficiency.
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Ensure readiness for internal and external audits.
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Manage capital projects, renovations, and maintenance upgrades.
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Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability of systems and operations.
Financial & Asset Management
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Develop and manage engineering budgets and monitor expenditure.
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Drive cost-saving initiatives and optimize spares inventory.
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Collaborate with procurement on CAPEX proposals and supplier negotiations.
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Ensure financial accountability and asset tracking across the maintenance division.
People Development & Culture
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Lead, mentor, and develop the maintenance team through training, coaching, and succession planning.
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Foster a culture of performance excellence, accountability, and engagement.
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Ensure Employment Equity and transformation goals are met.
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Conduct appraisals and performance reviews to build a high-performing maintenance team.
Minimum Requirements
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Bachelor’s degree (BSc, BEng, or BTech) in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
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Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a leadership role within engineering or maintenance.
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Proven reliability engineering and systems management experience.
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Experience in FMCG or food processing environments (preferred).
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Background managing high-speed automated packaging lines.
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Strong knowledge of electrical, mechanical, and automation systems.
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Experience using Pragma CMMS or equivalent platforms.
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GCC Factories certification advantageous due to dust explosion risk and high-power infrastructure.
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Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
Core Competencies
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Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
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Excellent leadership, mentoring, and communication abilities.
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Deep understanding of engineering systems, processes, and standards.
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Ability to drive results and manage multiple priorities.
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Passion for continuous improvement and technical innovation.
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Sound knowledge of budget management, safety compliance, and risk control.
Why Join RCL Foods?
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Be part of one of South Africa’s top FMCG brands driving operational innovation.
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Opportunity to lead and develop a high-performing technical team.
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Gain exposure to cutting-edge automation and reliability systems.
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Work within a culture of safety, accountability, and technical excellence.
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Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and professional development support.
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Contribute to a brand that champions quality, integrity, and sustainable growth.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are encouraged to apply before 27 October 2025, via the official RCL Foods Careers Portal or through Jobs and Career Opportunities South Africa.
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