General Manager

RCL FOODS; Mbombela; On-site; ZAR 900 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company is seeking a General Manager to oversee operations in a dynamic environment in Mpumalanga. The successful candidate will lead large, complex, multi-site manufacturing environments, driving operational excellence, commercial growth, and team performance. Candidates should have a background in Engineering or Commerce, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles in manufacturing or FMCG. This role is key to influencing strategy and fostering a high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a senior leadership role within Manufacturing / FMCG.
• Experience in managing multiple operations, factories, or sites.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and plant environments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality products at optimal cost.
• Lead, mentor, and develop management teams.
• Oversee plant maintenance and minimize unplanned downtime.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing to support commercial strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Commercial insight

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Commerce

Job description

Closing Date: 2026/02/10

Reference Number: RCL260128-1

Company: RCL Foods

Job Title: General Manager

Functions: Operations/Manufacturing

Job Type Classification: Permanent

Location - Town / City: Nelspruit

Location - Province: Mpumalanga

Location - Country: South Africa

Job Description

We are seeking a high-impact General Manager to lead within the (BBR) business unit. This senior leadership role requires a hands-on, visible operational leader with strong engineering and commercial insight, capable of managing large, complex, multi-site manufacturing environments. The successful candidate will drive commercial growth, operational excellence, production performance, engineering stability, compliance, people capability, and overall business effectiveness across multiple sites. The role requires some travel, deep operational involvement, and the ability to deliver superior outcomes through people while inspiring high performance across the organisation.

Minimum Requirements

• Commercial or Engineering background (highly advantageous and strongly preferred)
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and technical/plant environments

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Engineering, Commerce, or related field preferred)
• Valid driver’s licence
• Registration with the Chamber of Baking is advantageous

Experience

• Manufacturing / FMCG leadership experience (bread, bakery, food processing, or similar)
• Proven experience managing multiple operations, factories, or sites
• Strong front-end operational exposure — hands-on, visible leadership on the factory floor
• Experience in:
  • Production
  • Plant maintenance
  • Dispatch & delivery
  • Transport & fleet
  • Sales & marketing collaboration
  • Cost control, governance, risk, and compliance
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role within Manufacturing / FMCG
• Experience leading large teams, complex operations, and multi-site environments

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership credibility and personal gravitas
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and navigate ambiguity
• Excellent judgement and decision-making capability
• Advanced stakeholder and people management capability
• Structured problem-solving and analytical thinking
• High IQ and EQ
• Proven ability to deliver results through people
• Strong communication and strategic thinking skills

Duties & Responsibilities

Production & Quality

• Deliver high-quality products at optimal cost
• Ensure adherence to KPIs, Food Safety, HACCP, and quality standards
• Manage production capacity, compliance, and operational uptime

Engineering & Maintenance

• Oversee plant maintenance and minimise unplanned downtime
• Manage CAPEX planning, implementation, and sustainability initiatives
• Ensure OHSACT compliance and legal appointments (GMR 2.1 & 2.7)

Distribution, Transport & Logistics

• Lead dispatch, delivery optimisation, and crate control
• Manage outsourced transport providers and Telematics performance
• Reduce delivery cost per loaf and optimise route efficiencies

Commercial Support & Growth

• Collaborate with sales and marketing to support commercial strategy
• Strengthen customer relationships across retail, forecourt, catering, and general trade channels
• Identify growth opportunities, product innovations, and market insights

People Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop multi-disciplinary management teams
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act, and HR policies
• Build an accountable, disciplined, high-performance culture

Cost, Risk & Governance

• Manage budgets, cost control, and cash handling processes
• Oversee procurement alignment and expenditure governance
• Implement strong internal controls and risk management frameworks

Why This Role Matters

• Opportunity to lead a major business unit with national impact
• Influence operational strategy and business growth
• Drive excellence in a dynamic, high-performance FMCG environment
• Play a significant role in developing future leaders