Latest Vacancies at Astral Foods Ltd

Closing Date: 15 February 2026

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead formulation, trials and validation of new and existing value-added poultry products.
• Drive continuous product improvement to meet customer expectations, quality standards and cost targets.
• Develop, maintain and manage technical specifications, ingredient declarations and labelling compliance in line with South African food legislation.
• Provide technical support and oversight to internal production facilities and external co-packers, ensuring consistent product performance.
• Conduct sensory analysis, shelf-life testing and product benchmarking, translating insights into actionable improvements.
• Investigate technical deviations, complaints and non-conformances, implementing corrective actions.
• Provide technical input into supply chain, procurement and marketing initiatives, including ingredient sourcing and product claims support.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Technical, Operations, Sales and Marketing teams.
• Maintain strong understanding of trends, competitor technologies, and market innovation.

Qualifications, Experience and Key Competencies:

• BSc or BTech in Food Technology, Food Science or a related qualification.
• 4–6 years’ experience in a food manufacturing environment, preferably within poultry, meat or value-added protein categories.
• Proven experience in product development, formulation and factory trials.
• Strong working knowledge of South African food legislation and labelling requirements.
• Experience working with co-packers or multiple manufacturing sites will be advantageous.
• Strong technical and analytical skills.
• Sound judgment and decision-making capability.
• Excellent planning, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence and work effectively across functions.
• High attention to detail with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• High level of personal and professional integrity.

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Closing Date: 15 February 2026

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct regular site visits at co-packer sites to verify compliance with Astral’s quality standards.
• Review and approve product specifications, batch records, and certificates of analysis.
• Verify effective implementation of corrective action plans.
• Work closely with the Food Technologist and co-packer Quality teams to drive improvement.
• Monitor and verify product shelf-life, labelling accuracy, and packaging integrity.
• Report monthly on compliance metrics and quality trends within the Value-Added category.

Qualifications, Experience and Key Competencies:

• National Diploma, BTech or Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Quality Management or a related field.
• FSSC 22000 or other related food safety management training.
• 3–5 years’ experience in a food manufacturing or FMCG environment, preferably within poultry, meat or value-added products.
• Proven experience conducting food safety and quality audits, including co-packer or supplier audits.
• Strong working knowledge of South African food safety legislation and labelling requirements.
• Assisting in root cause analysis and defining effective corrective action plans. 
• Excellent attention to detail and documentation discipline.
• Analytical thinking with continuous improvement mindset with strong risk awareness.
• Confident communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently across multiple sites.
• Proficiency in reporting, trend analysis and data interpretation.
• High level of personal and professional integrity.

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Closing Date: 15 February 2026

• Take control of Health and Safety requirements and Laws.
• Take control of companies 20 Key improvement program in operations.

Assist in reviewing, updating and auditing of:

• Company standing Operational Procedures.
• Bio-security protocols.
• Ensure compliance to all animal welfare regulations and protocols.
• Assist with Employee on-boarding and induction in line with Group standards.
• Assist with facilitation of employee communication and staff engagement forums.
• Take control of Training coordination and skills development initiatives.
• Assist with management of disciplinary processes in accordance with the Astral Code of Conduct.
• Assist with conducting and supporting various investigations.
• Assist with employee performance evaluations and development support
• Monitoring of legislative and policy compliance
• Bio-security Risk Identification and assessment
• Health and Safety – risk assessment and prevention
• IOD – case management
• Occasional relief management of Grand Parent Poultry Production (Rearing & Laying)

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The ideal candidate would be responsible for:

• To ensure that rules and regulations of the company including bio-security, is followed at all times.
• To be on site every morning to make sure that the feeding is done properly and efficiently
• To monitor reared birds on a daily basis by making sure that the following is done:
• Vaccination and monitoring schedules to be always up to date.
• 20 keys board must be up to date and ten-minute meeting minutes for everyday must be available in file
• Ensure that production is cost effective including optimal gas and feed usage
• Working together with supervisors and top managers to implement the company’s policies and goals
• Identifying training needs
• Ensure SOP’s are used daily
• Staff discipline
• Make sure that the AFS system is up to date and correct
• Weekly graphs must be always up to date
• Review performance of subordinates (motivating)
• Be involved in doing orders weekly
• Be available at night times for any problems on your sites

The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Grade 12 Qualification;
• Computer literacy 
• Fluent in English
• The ideal Candidate must have an understanding towards housekeeping and attention to detail;
• The successful applicant must be self-motivated and have excellent people and communication skills;
• Overtime from time to time may be required.
• Accommodation will be provided on site.

Closing date:  13/02/2026

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Closing Date: 13 February 2026

The successful candidate would be responsible for:

• Weighing of micro ingredients
• Checking correct quantities
• Placing of micro ingredients on designated floors
• Housekeeping
• Adhering to all health and safety rules at all times.
• Commit and comply to the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP, 20 Keys, AFMA code of conduct, and any other company management systems

The ideal candidate must meet the following requirements:

• A minimum qualification of Grade 12 or relevant experience
• Must be quality driven, responsible and use own initiative
• Good communication and listening skills
• A willingness to learn and advance skills
• Personal and professional integrity
• Converse fluently in Afrikaans or English

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The ideal candidate would be responsible for:

• Daily stock take
• Ensure quality raw materials and correct materials are allocated to the bins.
• Ensure all delivery notes correspond to the product delivered.
• Taking of raw material samples and testing.
• Raw material planning
• Good reporting skills regarding raw material stock requirements and availability on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.
• Operate raw material grinder.
• Off-loading of trucks.
• Condition monitoring of all intake equipment.
• Adhering to all health and safety rules at all times.
• Commitment and compliance to the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP, 20 Keys, AFMA code of conduct, and any other company management systems.

The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of Grade 12.
• Relevant work experience in a production environment.
• Be able to converse in either English or Afrikaans and have good verbal, written and numerical skills.
• Be quality driven, responsible and use own initiative.
• Apply the highest standard of ethics and conduct.
• Work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to progress in a multi-skilled environment and a willingness to learn.
• Be prepared to work shifts and overtime on short notice.

Closing date: 16 February 2026

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Closing Date: 13 February 2026

The ideal candidate would be responsible for:

• General machining work in workshop.
• General plant maintenance
• Preventative maintenance and fault finding on mechanical equipment.
• Attending to breakdowns and work under pressure.
• Implementing of 20 Keys/ HACCP / Risk Control and apply general housekeeping rules.
• Design, manufacture and installation of structural, piping and steelworks.

The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Technical matric, N2 Qualification/ Equivalent.
• Experience, in Tig,brazing,arc,Co2 welding
• Be in possession of a trade certificate as Boilermaker not Welder
• At least 5 years’ experience in Factory maintenance.
• Very good written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous Experience in a Poultry Processing Plant will be an added advantage.
• Be prepared to work shifts including working extra hours, standby and call outs.
• Must be able to work overtime and weekends as required.
• Must have own reliable transport.
• Computer literacy.

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The ideal candidate would be responsible for:

• Managing the Civils team.
• Produce schedules and monitor attendance of crew.
• Ensure manpower and resources are adequate.
• Managing the team to ensure that the areas assigned are clean during operation.
• Preventing and identifying any damages or defect on stock required to be loaded or Offloaded.
• Clearly mark and split multiple clients/orders loaded onto vehicle as required.
• Monitor and review loading, unloading of stock or equipment.
• Hand written verification and detailed documentation completion.
• Ensuring HACCP and RISK is maintained and adhered to.
• Daily completion of MHE Vehicle and Facility inspections identifying risks and improvements.
• Report on facility, product, equipment and machinery condition, breakages and incidents.
• Adhere to general housekeeping rules and best practices.
• Maintaining, implementing, participating and driving 20 keys as part of daily operations.
• Complete reasonable work-related instructions or tasks given by seniors.

 The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Grade 12/ Equivalent.
• Civils’ trade would be advantageous.
• Must be focused to detail, basic counting conformation and assessing quality standard.
• Cold store environment experience.
• Very disciplined and must have attention to detail.
• Implement and maintain 20 keys structures.
• Be a team player and a good communicator.
• Fluent in English
• High quality reading and writing abilities.

Closing Date: 13 February 2026

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The ideal candidate would be responsible for:

• Perform routine and scheduled maintenance on the plant.
• Attend to breakdowns on relevant machines.
• Standby duties.
• Implementing of 20 Keys/ HACCP / Risk Control and apply general housekeeping rules.

 The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Millwright trade certificate (Section 13 and served apprenticeship).
• Minimum N4 qualification mechanical and electrical theory.
• N6 Diploma Electrical and Wireman’s certificate advantageous.
• PLC and VSDs certificate and experience advantageous.
• Be able to work shifts and weekends if needed.
• At least 5 years’ experience as an Artisan in a Poultry/Food factory environment.
• Strong electrical experience will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the 20 Keys Program will be an added advantage.
• Be prepared to work shifts including working extra hours, standby and call outs.
• Must be able to work overtime and weekends as required.
• Must have own reliable transport.
• Computer literacy.

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Closing Date: 13 February 2026

The required qualifications, skills and experience for this role are:

• Possession of a Government Certificate of Competence (GCC) is essential
• Bachelor in Engineering, B-Tech or equivalent; Electrical / Mechanical
• Must have at least 10 years maintenance and engineering experience within a poultry / FMCG / food manufacturing environment, or similar
• Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook and MS PowerPoint)
• Excellent administration and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and timeous resolving of queries;
• Basic understanding of the 20 Keys concept is essential;
• Must be able to work independently
• Must be a strategic thinker and able to advise the relevant stakeholders of continuous improvement strategies within the engineering space to better support operational efficiencies
• It is essential that the successful candidate be self-motivated, deadline driven and great attention to detail
• Excellent leadership and communication skills is essential

The main tasks and activities of this role are:

• To ensure the safe operation of the processing and utility operations as per the OHS Act 85 of 1993;
• Continuously improve and enhance the sustainability of the operational environment into effective energy and resource allocation & utilisation, thereby reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the County Fair operations
• The continuous reduction of downtime within the processing environment through focused and results driven management and engineering strategies;
• Planning, costing and execution of capital projects delivered on time and within budget;
• Daily management of key utilities; energy, coal, refrigeration and water
• Daily management of equipment up-time – OEE improvements
• Continuous Improvement of all aspects under your control using the 20 Keys workplace improvement program;
• Approve designs, calculations and specifications
• Manage, and therefore continuously strive, to improve plant reliability / operational performance;
• Align engineering strategy with production and safety targets
• Daily effective problem-solving (RCA) and implementing mitigation strategies
• Ensure equipment selection suits chemical service (corrosion, temperature & pressure)
• Ensure modifications comply with the OHS Act, plant standards, commissioning and handover
• Compiling of the annual maintenance budget and overall cost control within the maintenance environment;
• Daily management of the engineering & maintenance teams;
• Daily interaction with a large number of suppliers in an endeavour to proactively source the most cost effective and quality intrinsic solutions, thereby maximizing plant uptime and output; 
• Daily interaction with various departmental and Astral Group role players at senior management level.
• Lead, develop and mentor engineering team of Management, Foreman and Artisans
• Collaboration with operations, SHEQ and management teams

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Key Responsibilities:

• Full commercial and operational management of the Value Added Further Processing Plant, including production scheduling, staff management, and financial performance.
• Deliver margin improvement through yield optimisation, waste reduction, and insourcing of externally co-packed products.
• Lead the commissioning, ramp-up, and stabilisation of the Value Added processing facility.
• Own and manage plant budgets, cost per kg, efficiency targets, and yield performance metrics.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-based decision-making and process optimisation.
• Ensure strict adherence to Astral’s food-safety, quality, and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with Sales, Procurement, and Technical teams to deliver cost-efficient and market-ready products.
• Build and lead a high-performance, multidisciplinary management team capable of supporting future growth and capital expansion.

Qualifications, Experience and Key Competencies:

• Degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years’ senior manufacturing leadership experience, ideally within poultry, meat, or FMCG food processing.
• Proven track record in Value Added manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success in greenfield start-ups, plant turnarounds, or major capacity expansions.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with direct budget and cost ownership.
• Deep understanding of food safety systems and quality governance.
• Commercially astute, results-driven, and execution-focused.
• Comfortable making data-led decisions in a high-volume, margin-sensitive environment.
• Able to operate credibly at senior management level while remaining operationally hands-on.
• Proven ability to lead change, drive accountability, and deliver sustained performance.