RCL Foods Hiring Now | Production Manager Jobs Gauteng | Sorghum Milling Management | Food Manufacturing Vacancies Randfontein 2026
RCL Foods, one of South Africa’s leading food manufacturers, is recruiting a Unit Manager – Sorghum based at their production plant in Randfontein, Gauteng. This permanent management position is a significant opportunity for an experienced milling and food production professional to take full operational ownership of the Sorghum Production Department — driving efficiency, quality, yields, and people performance at one of South Africa’s most respected FMCG food manufacturing facilities.
🌾 Permanent Management Position | RCL Foods | Randfontein Gauteng | Closing Date 19 March 2026 — Apply Now.
Unit Manager – Sorghum Job Overview – RCL Foods Randfontein
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Unit Manager – Sorghum |
| Company | RCL Foods |
| Job Reference | RCL260309-3 |
| Function | Operations / Manufacturing |
| Job Type | Permanent |
| Location | Randfontein, Gauteng |
| Reports To | Plant Manager |
| Closing Date | 19 March 2026 |
| Application Status | ✅ Open – Apply Now |
About RCL Foods
RCL Foods is one of South Africa’s most prominent food manufacturers, producing and marketing a portfolio of trusted consumer brands across chicken, sugar, beverages, animal feeds, and milling products. With a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and people development, RCL Foods operates large-scale production facilities across South Africa and is a cornerstone of the country’s food manufacturing sector.
RCL Foods believes in growing what matters — nourishing people with quality food products while developing its employees and contributing positively to South African communities. Joining the RCL Foods milling team at Randfontein means becoming part of a company that takes both its products and its people seriously.
Purpose of the Role
The Unit Manager – Sorghum is responsible for the complete management of the Sorghum Production Department — including people, products, raw materials, and quality. The core objective is to produce a consistent quality product at minimum cost that meets customer expectations and complies with all food safety, occupational health, and manufacturing standards.
This is a senior production management role requiring strong milling expertise, financial accountability, people leadership, and a rigorous commitment to food safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities – Unit Manager (Sorghum)
Day-to-Day Plant Management
- Take full responsibility for the daily management of the sorghum production plant in terms of productivity, capacity, yields, quality, and maintenance.
- Monitor and drive plant performance against key production metrics — man-hours per tonnage, throughput rates, yield percentages, and downtime targets.
- Ensure all production requirements are consistently met at the best man-hourly per tonnage efficiency.
- Identify and address operational bottlenecks, equipment inefficiencies, and process deviations that impact plant performance.
- Attend and actively contribute to weekly and monthly meetings focused on health and safety, production performance, and yield management.
Production Staff Management & Training
- Lead, manage, and develop the sorghum production team, including setting performance standards, conducting reviews, and implementing development plans.
- Manage and train production staff to ensure all employees are competent, motivated, and aligned to plant performance requirements.
- Manage employee relations within a unionised workforce — applying fair, consistent, and legally compliant people management practices in line with the Labour Relations Act.
- Build a positive, safety-conscious, and high-performance production culture within the sorghum department.
- Identify succession candidates and build a talent pipeline within the production team.
Quality, Yields & Productivity Management
- Manage and continuously improve productivity and yields across the sorghum production process.
- Oversee stock control and maintain the quality of all raw materials and finished sorghum products.
- Implement and monitor quality assurance procedures during and after the completion of food production to ensure consistent product standards.
- Analyse yield data, identify deviation root causes, and implement corrective and preventative actions to close performance gaps.
- Drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to maximise plant efficiency and reduce waste.
Planned Preventative Maintenance
- Operate and control an effective Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) programme across all sorghum production equipment and infrastructure.
- Liaise with the maintenance team to ensure equipment is serviced, repaired, and maintained in line with the PPM schedule.
- Monitor equipment performance and escalate any reliability concerns that could impact production continuity or food safety.
- Implement policies and procedures to manage, maintain, and protect all plant facilities and assets.
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements including OHS (Occupational Health and Safety Act), HACCP, and FSSC 22000 food safety management system standards.
- Maintain the food safety and occupational safety systems within the sorghum plant, ensuring all certifications are current and all requirements are consistently met.
- Drive a safety-first culture across the production team, ensuring all staff are trained, equipped, and accountable for safety compliance.
- Lead internal and external food safety audits, supporting evidence preparation and corrective action implementation.
- Implement all relevant policies and procedures required to maintain food safety certification and regulatory compliance.
Budget Management & Financial Reporting
- Take ownership of the sorghum department budget, managing costs within approved parameters and driving productivity to maximise cost efficiency.
- Monitor all production-related costs including raw materials, labour, utilities, maintenance, and consumables.
- Prepare and present accurate monthly production and financial reports to the Plant Manager.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement efficiency improvements to improve the department’s cost-per-tonne performance.
Minimum Requirements – Unit Manager (Sorghum)
Educational Qualifications
- NDip or Degree in Milling, Food Production, or a related field — required
- Milling Trade Test — advantageous
Work Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a milling food production environment — essential
- Demonstrated experience in the management of a unionised workforce — essential
- Sorghum, maize, or grain milling experience is strongly preferred
Technical Knowledge
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- Sound knowledge of HACCP, FSSC 22000, and OHS Act requirements in a food manufacturing environment
- Understanding of Planned Preventative Maintenance systems and practices
Skills & Competencies Required
⚙️ Milling & Production Management Expertise
Deep, hands-on knowledge of milling processes, grain handling, yield management, and food production operations — specifically within a sorghum, maize, or grain milling environment — is the core technical requirement of this role.
👥 People Leadership in a Unionised Environment
Proven ability to manage, develop, and performance-manage production teams within a unionised workforce — with the interpersonal skill and legal knowledge to navigate employee relations effectively and fairly.
🛡️ Food Safety & Compliance Knowledge
A thorough understanding of HACCP, FSSC 22000, and OHS Act requirements — with a demonstrated track record of maintaining food safety certification in a production environment — is non-negotiable.
💰 Budget & Cost Management
The ability to manage a production department budget, track cost-per-tonne performance, identify savings opportunities, and report accurately on financial variances to plant management.
📊 Data Analysis & Reporting
Strong analytical ability to interpret production data, identify yield and efficiency trends, and prepare clear, accurate monthly reports for the Plant Manager and senior management.
🔧 Maintenance & Asset Management
Operational understanding of planned preventative maintenance, equipment reliability, and asset management in a high-throughput food production environment.
🎯 Continuous Improvement Mindset
A drive to continuously challenge the status quo, improve processes, reduce waste, and raise production standards — with the initiative to implement improvements without waiting to be directed.
💬 Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Clear, professional communication with production staff, the plant management team, food safety auditors, and cross-functional stakeholders is essential throughout the role.
Why Join RCL Foods as Unit Manager – Sorghum?
- Nationally Recognised Brand — Work for one of South Africa’s most established and respected food manufacturers, with a portfolio of trusted household brands and a strong commitment to quality
- Full Departmental Ownership — Lead an entire production department with real authority and accountability for people, product, quality, and budget
- Strategic Location — Randfontein is well-located within the Gauteng West Rand region, with easy access from Johannesburg and the broader Gauteng metro area
- Career Growth — RCL Foods actively develops its production management talent, with clear advancement pathways into senior plant management and operations director roles
- Food Safety Excellence — Work within a FSSC 22000-certified production environment that holds its people and processes to the highest international food safety standards
- Innovation-Driven Culture — RCL Foods invests in continuous improvement, sustainability, and employee development — offering a dynamic and forward-thinking manufacturing environment
Career Growth Path – Food Production & Milling Management
The Unit Manager – Sorghum role is a strong platform for advancement within RCL Foods and the broader food manufacturing sector:
- Unit Manager → Senior Unit Manager / Production Manager
- Production Manager → Plant Manager
- Plant Manager → Operations Director
- Operations Director → General Manager / Managing Director
Experienced milling production managers with FSSC 22000, HACCP, and unionised workforce management experience are among the most in-demand professionals in South Africa’s food manufacturing, FMCG, and agro-processing sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions – Unit Manager Milling Jobs South Africa
What is sorghum milling and why is it important? Sorghum is one of South Africa’s most important indigenous grain crops, used to produce traditional beverages, porridges, and food products. Sorghum milling involves processing raw sorghum grain into consumer-ready products through cleaning, dehulling, milling, and packaging — a technically demanding food production process requiring specialised knowledge and equipment.
Is a Milling Trade Test required to apply? A Milling Trade Test is listed as advantageous but not essential. An NDip or Degree in Milling or a related food production field, combined with 5 or more years of milling production experience, is the primary requirement.
What does managing a unionised workforce mean in this context? Unionised workforce management means leading a production team where employees are members of a recognised trade union. This requires knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, disciplinary procedures under the LRA, shop steward engagement, and fair labour practices within a structured IR environment.
What is FSSC 22000 and why does it matter in food production? FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) is an internationally recognised food safety management standard based on ISO 22000 and HACCP principles. Compliance is required by major food retailers and export markets — and maintaining FSSC 22000 certification is a core responsibility of the Unit Manager role.
What does man-hourly per tonnage mean? Man-hours per tonnage is a key production efficiency metric measuring how many hours of labour are required to produce one tonne of finished product. The Unit Manager is responsible for continuously improving this ratio to reduce production costs and increase plant competitiveness.
Is experience specifically in sorghum required? Sorghum experience is strongly preferred but candidates with maize, grain, or other cereal milling production management experience will be considered, particularly if they hold a milling qualification and can demonstrate strong yields and food safety management track records.
⚠️ Important: Application Closing Date
Applications close on 19 March 2026. Submit your CV and supporting documents now to be considered for this permanent Unit Manager position at RCL Foods Randfontein.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received feedback within 30 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
👉 Apply for RCL Foods Unit Manager – Sorghum, Randfontein
Documents Required:
- Updated CV with milling production management experience clearly detailed
- Certified copy of NDip/Degree in Milling or related field
- Milling Trade Test certificate (if available)
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Contact details for at least two professional references from plant or production management
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Post last updated: March 2026 | Keywords: unit manager sorghum jobs Randfontein, RCL Foods vacancies 2026, milling production manager Gauteng, food manufacturing manager jobs South Africa, sorghum milling jobs West Rand, FSSC 22000 production manager vacancy, HACCP food safety manager jobs, plant manager jobs Randfontein, FMCG production management jobs Gauteng, grain milling manager jobs South Africa 2026
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