Trainee Maize Miller at PepsiCo, Aliwal North
PepsiCo · Aliwal North, Eastern Cape
Overview
PepsiCo is looking for a Trainee Maize Miller in Aliwal North to join their milling team. This is a hands on learnership style role where you will complete the accredited SAGMA milling programme while working under experienced millers. You will learn grain intake, milling operations, quality control and equipment maintenance with the goal of qualifying as a Trade Tested Miller. If you have Matric with Maths and Science and want a practical career in food manufacturing, this is a great entry point.
About the role
As a Trainee Maize Miller at PepsiCo in Aliwal North, you will spend your time learning the full maize milling process while working towards the SAGMA Occupational Certificate as a Miller. You will work closely with qualified millers and a mentor, gaining both practical and theoretical knowledge.
Your day to day work will involve assisting with milling equipment operations, monitoring production flow, receiving and inspecting incoming maize, and performing routine quality checks on raw materials and finished products. You will also help with equipment inspections, report any defects or breakdowns, and support the maintenance team during planned maintenance.
Safety and housekeeping are a big part of this role. You will follow all safety procedures, keep the mill clean and tidy, and may work in confined spaces or at heights after proper training. You will also complete your SAGMA logbooks and portfolio of evidence, keep production and quality records up to date, and take part in shift handovers.
This is a training role with a clear goal: to prepare you for the Trade Test and EISA assessments so you can qualify as a Miller.
Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric) certificate with Mathematics and Physical Science
- Ability to enroll for and successfully complete the Southern African Grain Milling Academy (SAGMA) Occupational Certificate: Miller programme
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English
- Computer literacy in MS Office will be advantageous
- Valid Code B driver's licence will be advantageous
- Medically fit to work in a manufacturing environment, including working at heights and in confined spaces where required
Responsibilities
- Learn and assist with the operation of maize milling equipment, monitoring production flow and ensuring products meet specifications
- Receive and inspect incoming maize, learn grain grading principles and monitor storage conditions
- Perform routine quality checks on raw materials and finished products, collect samples and report deviations
- Conduct daily inspections of milling equipment and report breakdowns, abnormal noise, wear or defects
- Assist maintenance teams during planned maintenance and learn basic troubleshooting techniques
- Follow all safety procedures, maintain housekeeping standards and participate in safety training and risk assessments
- Complete SAGMA logbooks and portfolio of evidence requirements, and maintain production and quality records
- Work under a mentor such as a Head Miller or Training Officer and prepare for Trade Test and EISA assessments
Job details
- Organisation
- PepsiCo
- Location
- Aliwal North, Eastern Cape
- Job type
- Learnership
- Experience level
- Entry
- Education
- Matric
- Category
- Manufacturing & Production
- Application Method
- Apply online
Success Guide
This role is a brilliant way to get your foot in the door at a major food manufacturer without needing previous milling experience. PepsiCo is offering structured training through SAGMA, so you will gain a recognised qualification while you earn.
When you apply, make sure your CV clearly shows your Matric subjects, especially Maths and Science. If you have a driver's licence or computer skills, mention those too as they add weight to your application.
In an interview, be ready to talk about why you are interested in milling and food production. Show that you are safety conscious, willing to learn, and comfortable working in a hands on factory environment. Try to give examples of times you followed procedures carefully or worked as part of a team to solve a problem. If you have any practical experience in agriculture, logistics or manufacturing, even from school projects or holiday work, bring that up. Good luck!
How we help you prepare
This employer takes applications on their own website, so you'll submit this one yourself — but SPAAN NOW gets everything ready for you first. Here's how it works:
- Our AI tailors your CV to match this job's keywords and requirements, so it stands out to recruiters and screening systems.
- A custom cover letter is written specifically for this role — no generic templates.
- We gather the documents this job needs: CV, Matric certificate, Driver's license and ID copy. SPAAN NOW pulls these from your profile and packages them together, ready to attach.
- Once your application is prepared, we show you exactly how and where to apply — just follow the link to the employer and submit your ready-made CV, cover letter and documents.
- Mark it as applied under Applications to keep track, and if you're shortlisted, use AI Interview Prep to practise questions commonly asked for roles like this.
We do the hard part — tailoring and gathering everything — so applying yourself only takes a minute.
Spaan Talk
Nobody has said anything yet. Be the first.