Process Leader at Rainbow Chicken

Role Purpose:

• To supervise the performance of a processing line in a specific area of the plant (including staff / process workers, machinery and material on that line) to achieve daily targets to required product specifications, while meeting safety, health and quality standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Grade 12 and Tertiary qualification in Production Management or any relevant Diploma.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience preferably in a unionized food processing plant.
• Relevant experience in Poultry Industry.
• Have a valid code B/EB (Code 08) driver’s license with access to own transport.
• Have good interpersonal communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to work shifts and flexible hours of work (overtime, weekends, Public Holiday).
• Have a good technical and mechanical understanding.
• Strong knowledge of production principles.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of ISO and health, safety and environment legislation
• Take accountability for results and people
• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to balance plant with regards to man load versus product MIX
• Computer literacy (MS Office package)
• Be stress tolerant and able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in an environment characterized by conflicting deadlines
• Tenacious and result/deadline driven
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Accuracy of employee leave and attendance data
• Accuracy of filing and Data Integrity
• Timeliness and accuracy of mandatory submissions and reports
• Clear Criminal record.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning:

• Obtain the daily production plan from the Processing Manager / Operations Manager.
• Communicate the objectives of the plan to the team on shift to ensure understanding.
• Ensure man load is at full capacity according to the production plan, and request additional resources, if necessary, before starting the line.

Operations Management:

• Follow the assigned plan until completed or a problem arises.
• Alert the Production Area Manager to any deviation to the production plan immediately.
• Prioritise work to ensure deadlines are met.
• Conduct the required checks on start-up, during the shift, and sign off, and ensure the relevant data is recorded correctly.
• Do calculations to establish the most efficient use of resources allocated to the line, i.e. cost, people, time, etc., ensuring that these are neither wasted nor misused.
• Ensure allocated resources are accounted for throughout the shift.
• Reallocate work within area of responsibility to ensure the achievement of production targets at the lowest possible cost.
• Request additional resources, if necessary, to produce the required product mix.
• Ensure tools / equipment are utilised in the correct way.
• Ensure that the machinery and equipment required for production are working properly to enable correct levels of production output. Report faults / breakdowns immediately.
• Monitor the use of raw materials to minimise wastage, and report to the Processing Manager when supply is insufficient to meet demand.

Safety, Health, Risk and Quality Compliance:

• Work consistently according to standard operating procedures and ensure compliance.
• Understand the safety, health and quality standards of the job and the reason for these standards and communicate these reasons to others.
• Monitor SHEQ compliance.
• Report cases of non-conformance / non-compliance to the Processing Manager and recommend possible solutions.

Cost control:

• Monitor the usage of materials.
• Report machinery and equipment that is not in good working order immediately to enable correct levels of production output.
• Alert the Processing Manager when there are excess resources on the line to minimise cost where applicable.

Team Supervision:

• Ensure direct reports operate within boundaries set.
• Supervise people performance:
• Supervise the activities of the team to ensure production targets are met.
• Actively manage non-performance. Initiate disciplinary hearings as needed and according to RPM standards
• Monitor time and attendance daily and report on absenteeism.
• Coordinate leave requests and escalate for authorisation.
• Complete leave and general time management documentation in line with company policy.
• Continually assess the technical competence of the team and take steps to develop their knowledge and skill.

Closing Date: 06 January 2026