Engineering Manager

Rcl Foods; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in South Africa is seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to oversee engineering operations across multiple production sites. The role involves managing teams, strategic oversight of CAPEX planning, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong technical background, leadership experience, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Competitive remuneration and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' trade experience, with at least 5 years in a management role.
• Proactive, solutions-driven mindset focused on efficiency and quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering operations across four production sites.
• Develop and maintain annual and 5-year CAPEX plans.
• Drive complex projects through legal contracting.
• Ensure internal standards for food safety and health & safety are met.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.

Skills

Technical knowledge (mechanical, electrical, refrigeration)

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving abilities

Project management skills

Education

Degree or Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

GCC Factorys certification

Job description

Overview

Engineering Manager Job Location : Gauteng, Centurion Deadline : November 06,

To lead engineering operations across four production sites, managing teams of Plant Engineers, Maintenance Managers, Planners, and Project Coordinators.

The role requires strategic oversight of CAPEX planning (annual and 5-year horizons), operational engineering, and maintenance excellence.

The engineering manager must demonstrate strong leadership, technical depth, and business acumen to drive performance and ensure compliance.

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• GCC Factorys certification.
• 10+ years' trade experience, with at least 5 years in a management role.
• Strong technical knowledge (mechanical, electrical, refrigeration) and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and project management abilities.
• A proactive, solutions-driven mindset with a focus on efficiency and quality.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning – Lead the scoping, prioritization, and execution of business projects in collaboration with commercial teams and support departments.
• Develop and maintain annual and 5-year CAPEX plans, ensuring alignment with business strategy, operational needs, and sustainability goals.
• Implement and uphold project governance frameworks to ensure transparency, compliance, and traceability across all project phases.
• Drive complex projects through legal contracting acting or support as representer for RCL, ensuring projects are scoped according to health & Safety / Food Safety / Environmental regulations and build into sustainability.
• Drive weekly KPI reporting on project status, budget adherence, and strategic focus areas, presented by the plant engineers / maintenance managers and site teams during Business Unit (BU) meetings.
• Ensure all projects meet internal standards for food safety, health & safety, and regulatory compliance by driving the management of change through SHEQX.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation through engineering-led initiatives that enhance plant performance and support new business development.
• Followed by implementing strong value driven KPI's for Maintenance.
• Develop and implement an effective Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) system across all facilities to minimize reactive maintenance and reduce R&M costs.
• Oversee major repairs and ensure all utilities and infrastructure are maintained to high standards of reliability and safety.
• Ensure all buildings and accessories comply with risk, security, safety, health, HACCP, ISO and SANS standards.
• Ensure all electrical installations meet SANS and statutory requirements.
• Drive asset efficiency and utilization to reduce unit costs and improve plant performance.
• Promote and embed sustainable maintenance practices across all sites.
• Manage and hold Plant Engineers and Maintenance Managers accountable for: Execution of planned maintenance programs.
• Alignment of maintenance practices and procurement with business standards.
• Completion of work requests, preventative schedules, and breakdown responses.
• Compliance with safety regulations and food safety requirements.
• Ensure the Planner develops and maintains a comprehensive work schedule for all maintenance activities.
• Conduct regular inspections, organize engineering staff meetings, and ensure neatness and upkeep of buildings and premises.
• Coordinate and manage repairs, inspections, and maintenance of all plant equipment and grounds.
• Be available for callouts and weekend work when necessary to ensure continuity of operations.
• Determine and manage material, equipment, and supply needs for maintenance tasks.
• Risk Management – In terms of design use and maintenance, ensure all facilities comply with health, safety, security, and other legal requirements.
• Drive fire compliances for all sites. Oversee incidents reports to ensure all mitigation and risk preventions are complying with mitigation factors to be implemented.
• Support plant engineers and maintenance managers as GMR2.1 appointees, including their support of the appointed GMR2.7. Ensure all operational equipment comply with operational documentation (Safe work operational procedure).
• Food Safety Management – Ensure facilities and equipment in operational areas comply with major food safety requirements to comply with the FSCC certification.
• Ensure projects are scoped according to the Woolworths hygienic design guidelines. Ensure engineering teams oversee critical control points (CCPs) and food safety-related equipment are maintained and calibrated.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance, Production, and SHEQ teams to ensure integrated food safety management.
• Participate in HACCP reviews and food safety risk assessments.
• Support training and development of site engineering teams on food safety engineering principles.
• Drive and ensure NCRs are closed on a weekly basis on all the sites with develop KPI's.
• Operational Engineering Management – Drive the daily / weekly maintenance planning process for the plant – prioritizing, scheduling, and allocation of tasks to different discipline of the engineering department, with the assistance of the planner.
• Drive and delivery the agreed strategy to reduce plant down time and improve efficiencies of machines and lines.

Deadline : 2nd November,