Millwright - VKB Milling, Modderrivier

Introduction to the VKB Group

The VKB Group is an agricultural company providing support to farmers and producing straight-from-the-farm foods for consumers. Apart from its various consumer brands, the VKB Group is also represented by its regional brands: VKB, GWK and NTK.

Our roots are firmly planted in agriculture, with farming at our core, continuously growing and evolving throughout the years. Starting with providing everything needed on the farm to produce food, we now operate across the entire food supply chain, including processing, logistics, storage, handling and national and international market channels.

This "house of brands", established with the support of our farmer shareholders, forms the foundation for building the agribusiness of the future.

More About Farm Foods

Farm Foods, a division of VKB Agri Processors (Pty) Ltd and part of the VKB Group, is a leading South African manufacturer of staple food products. Formed through the integration of VKB Milling, Vhembe Milling and GWK Farm Foods, Farm Foods supplies high-quality maize meal, flour, pasta, noodles and related products to households, bakeries, retailers and industrial customers across South Africa.

With production facilities located in Mokopane (Limpopo), Mashishing (Mpumalanga), Frankfort (Free State), Christiana (North - West) and Modderrivier (Northern Cape), Farm Foods is strategically positioned to serve markets nationwide while maintaining the highest standards of quality, food safety and operational excellence.

Guided by our promise, "For Everyone, In Every Meal," we are committed to delivering nutritious, reliable and locally produced food products while creating meaningful opportunities for our employees, customers and communities.

Why This Role Matters

The Maintenance Artisan is central to the performance and reliability of our milling operation. Every successful production run, quality product, and efficient process depends on equipment operating safely and consistently.

This role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of industrial systems, from milling and conveying equipment to packaging and utility systems, while contributing directly to plant performance, food safety, and operational excellence. For a technically minded artisan who enjoys solving problems and making a measurable impact, this is an opportunity to play a vital role in a fast-paced production environment.

Why Join VKB?

At VKB Group, we believe that our people are the foundation of our success. We are committed to creating opportunities where employees can grow their careers, strengthen their technical expertise, and contribute to an organisation that supports South African agriculture and food production.

Joining VKB means becoming part of a business built on strong values, long-term sustainability, and continuous improvement. You will work alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about excellence, innovation, and delivering meaningful results while contributing to an organisation that impacts farmers, communities, and consumers every day.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivers high equipment availability through effective preventative and breakdown maintenance.
• Improves plant reliability by identifying and resolving recurring equipment failures.
• Supports uninterrupted production through efficient fault-finding and rapid response to breakdowns.
• Drives maintenance excellence by maintaining accurate records and completing work orders on time.
• Builds strong working relationships with production teams to maximise operational performance.
• Coordinates maintenance activities that uphold food safety, quality, and workplace safety standards.
• Develops continuous improvement initiatives that enhance equipment efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
• Ensures compliance with GMP, HACCP, and Occupational Health and Safety requirements.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for a technically skilled and hands-on artisan who takes pride in maintaining equipment to the highest standards. The ideal candidate enjoys troubleshooting complex problems, remains calm under pressure, and takes ownership of achieving sustainable solutions.

You are someone who is naturally curious, committed to continuous improvement, and motivated by operational excellence. You work well with others, communicate effectively across teams, and understand the importance of safety, quality, and reliability in a food production environment.

Most importantly, you embody VKB's values by being Humble, Hungry, Smart, Bold, and committed to working as One Team.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Trade Test Certificate (Millwright, Electrician, Fitter, Fitter & Turner, or Electro-Mechanical Trade)
• N3 Technical Qualification or higher
• Valid driver's licence

Essential Experience

• 3-5 years' maintenance experience in a milling, food manufacturing, FMCG, grain handling, or processing environment
• Experience working on industrial production equipment
• Experience with preventative maintenance systems

Competencies

• Problem solving and analytical thinking
• Planning and organising
• Accountability and attention to detail
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Safety and quality focus
• Decision making under pressure
• Adaptability and resilience

Skills Required

• Mechanical and electrical maintenance
• Advanced troubleshooting and fault-finding
• Milling equipment maintenance and repair
• Pneumatic conveying systems knowledge
• Preventative and predictive maintenance practices
• Interpretation of technical drawings and schematics
• Basic PLC and automation fault-finding
• Electrical fault-finding and motor control systems
• Maintenance record keeping and reporting
• Computer literacy and CMMS maintenance systems
• Root cause analysis techniques
• Industrial equipment diagnostics

Key Responsibilities

• Perform planned, preventative, and breakdown maintenance on milling and plant equipment
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation-related faults
• Conduct routine inspections and condition monitoring activities
• Maintain milling, conveying, packaging, and utility equipment to ensure optimal performance
• Minimise production downtime and maximise equipment availability
• Complete maintenance work orders and maintain accurate maintenance documentation
• Assist with the installation, commissioning, and modification of equipment
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities
• Maintain compliance with food safety, hygiene, and housekeeping standards
• Adhere to Occupational Health and Safety requirements and safe work practices
• Participate in shutdown planning and maintenance execution activities
• Collaborate with production teams to resolve equipment-related challenges
• Monitor spare parts usage and communicate stock requirements
• Conduct root cause analysis on recurring equipment failures
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with GMP and HACCP standards

Important Information for Applicants

VKB Group reserves the right to close or withdraw any vacancy at its discretion. All personal information submitted through the Career Portal will be used solely for recruitment purposes and, where applicable, for matters related to employment.

As an equal opportunity employer, VKB Group is committed to Employment Equity, transformation, and the inclusion of People with Disabilities. Our recruitment decisions are aligned with the VKB Group Employment Equity Plan and Transformation Strategy.

When applying, please ensure that:

• You use Google Chrome to access the Career Portal.
• You upload a clear and professional CV in PDF or Word format only.
• Your CV does not contain handwritten notes or markings.
• Supporting documents such as your ID, driver's licence, certificates, or other documentation are uploaded in the designated sections and not combined with your CV.
• Your profile photo meets the minimum size requirement of 300 x 300 pixels.

A Note on Honesty and Integrity

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a screening questionnaire. We strongly encourage all candidates to answer every question honestly and accurately.

At VKB Group, our culture is rooted in the values of being Humble, Hungry, Smart, Bold, and Playing as One Team. We believe in building authentic relationships and making sound decisions based on trust and integrity. Misrepresenting qualifications, experience, competencies, criminal history, or any other information may result in your application being withdrawn or your employment being terminated should discrepancies be identified during verification processes.

We respect your time and ask that you respect ours by providing truthful information throughout the recruitment process. This helps ensure that we focus on candidates who are genuinely aligned with the requirements of the role and the values of our organisation.

VKB is hiring for this full-time position in Northern Cape.

See all 33 jobs at VKB →

Full-time positions like this one are ideal for building real-world experience. Even if you don't meet every requirement, applying shows initiative — and many employers value attitude over experience for entry-level roles.

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