Processing Manager - Processing Plant at RCL Foods

Job Description    
The Chicken Business is currently recruiting for a Processing Manager to join our Processing Plant Leadership Team. The role reports directly to the Manufacturing Executive and will be based in Rustenburg.

The ideal candidate will need:

• Knowledge and experience with managing and motivating a large labor force on site.
• Mechanical Aptitude
• The ability to communicate effectively with all employees
• Knowledge of managing the man load versus product mix
• Tangible energy, drive and dedication

Minimum Requirements    

• Completed Matric and 5 years relevant experience (Preferably in a unionized food processing plant and 2 years in a management position)
• OR A Diploma/ Degree in production management/engineering and 3 years relevant experience
• Abattoir hygiene or meat inspection qualification would be preferable
• Poultry processing experience would be advantageous
• Knowledge of TQMS systems would be preferable

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Strategic Contribution
• Provide input into the Business strategy by keeping up with the latest trends and developmental processing.
• Provide input into annual SIAs and execute on annual objectives.
• Provide input and contribute to the relationship between cross-functional processing teams ensuring service delivery.

Operations Management

• Drive Processing asset productivity through agreed KPIs and efficiencies.
• Report on a weekly basis on actual Processing KPIs versus budget and address non-conformances promptly.
• Drive Processing’s appearance and image through maintaining high housekeeping standards.
• Respond to factors that cause variances against planned production versus size of birds and adjust production plans accordingly.
• Manage Processing yield factors and initiate plans to reduce losses.
• Analyse downtime, provide valid explanations for loss of production and put action plans in place to prevent recurrence.
• Manage labour resources within budget to obtain required outputs.
• Liaise with New Product Development to ensure appropriate staff, equipment and materials are available to run successful trials.
• Guide and prepare the Processing team for customer and statutory audits.
• Support the plant management system to ensure SIC delivery.
• Work closely with planning department to align production capacities and product mix requirements.
• Continuously adjust manloading and equipment availability to meet the constant changing production plan and priorities.
• Monitor volumes and equipment and communicate any issues to the Factory Manager and Engineering Manager promptly.
• Work closely with the engineering department to ensure that equipment performance and maintenance priorities are aligned and changed to meet production requirements.

Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality Compliance

• Monitor the Processing team to ensure all legislative and industry standards are achieved and prompt action is taken where required to ensure there are no areas of non-compliance.
• Chair and facilitate regular safety meetings and ensure action points are delivered upon.
• Drive the adherence and maintenance of ISO 22 000/ 14 000/ 18000 standards within the Total Integrated Management System throughout Processing.
• Ensure that documentation required for the Total Integrated Management System is applied consistently throughout Processing.
• Drive in-process quality control in line with the supply chain and external customer requirements throughout the processing plant.
• Ensure environmentally sustainable practices are implemented and adhered to and that resource usage is managed effectively (e.g. conservation of water, electricity and gas).

Maintenance Oversight

• Ensure that an equipment maintenance programme is formulated and implemented to maintain the working condition of equipment and schedule routine or non-routine maintenance.
• Monitor the execution of the maintenance programme to guarantee equipment performance as a key enabler of production outputs.

Financial Management

• Report and manage all input costs within area of responsibility and manage any over and under spend appropriately to ensure that issues are addressed before significant financial loss occurs.
• Authorise expenses within area of responsibility and within level of authority and monitor spending activity.
• Innovate and implement cost containment measures.

Contract Management

• Manage contractors and outsourced activity in area of responsibility against standard.

Project Management

• Manage project plans in conjunction with project teams.
• Oversee project implementation in area of responsibility.

Staff Management

• Lead Processing teams towards meeting strategy and targets through communication and utilisation of the full talent management system.
• Manage and deliver on the Processing teams succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels.
• Implement Employment Equity within area of responsibility to ensure diversity is achieved at all levels and statutory targets and requirements are met.
• Identify training needs of the team and liaise with the training department in order to action.
• Conduct operational meetings and ensure that records are kept and shared amongst all parties and objectives are delivered upon.
• Manage the employee relations climate and ensure corrective action is taken where required in line with relevant legislation and Company policy.
• Develop sound relationships with Unions to minimise industrial conflict.