BUILD THE BRAND THAT QUENCHES A NATION: IN-SERVICE TRAINEE - MANUFACTURING PLANNING | CCBSA PHOENIX | KZN
Reference: CCB260708-4
Company: Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa - CCBSA
Location: Phoenix Manufacturing Plant, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Job Type: In-Service / Experiential Training - Internship
Department: Manufacturing
Closing Date: 31 July 2026
Every time someone cracks open an ice-cold Coke, Sprite, Fanta, or Monster in South Africa, there’s a massive machine behind it. Trucks, planners, warehouses, production lines, and people who make sure the right product is in the right place, at the right time.
That machine is Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa.
We’re Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottler and one of the biggest FMCG manufacturers in the country. We employ over 14,000 people, operate 13 manufacturing plants, and service hundreds of thousands of customers from small spaza shops to major retailers. The drink you have at a braai, the juice in your lunchbox, the water on a sports field — there’s a good chance it came through us.
Now, we’re opening the doors to the next generation of manufacturing leaders.
This is your In-Service Trainee: Manufacturing Planning role at our Phoenix Plant in KZN.
This isn’t about making coffee and printing. This is about stepping into a live, 24/7 manufacturing environment where planning decisions affect thousands of cases moving out the door every single day. You’ll work directly under a Team Leader and get hands-on exposure to how one of the world’s most recognized brands actually gets made and delivered.
And here’s the best part: you’ll finish the practical part of your qualification with a brand that every recruiter in South Africa knows.
Let’s talk about development, because that’s why you’re here.
Companies like Capitec Bank became famous for taking young South Africans and investing in them early. Capitec’s graduate and internship programs are known for giving real responsibility fast, with mentorship and a clear path to permanent roles. They built a culture of "learn by doing" and it worked.
At CCBSA, we do the same thing, but in manufacturing.
We believe you can’t learn planning from a textbook alone. You learn it when a delivery truck is late, when stock is low, when demand spikes because it’s 35 degrees in Durban and everyone wants a cold drink.
Our In-Service program is designed exactly like that. Real problems. Real systems. Real pressure. With real support.
You’ll be placed in Manufacturing Planning, which is the brain of the plant. Planning makes sure we don’t overproduce and waste, and don’t underproduce and run out. It’s where data meets the factory floor.
If you complete this and do well, you’ll walk away
Industry experience at a JSE-listed, global brand
Practical skills in ERP, Excel, and manufacturing systems that every FMCG and logistics company wants
A reference from CCBSA that opens doors at Unilever, Nestle, Pepsi, Tiger Brands, Distell, and yes, even retail and banking ops teams like Capitec who value people who understand supply chain
Forget vague intern duties. Here’s what a day in Manufacturing Planning at Phoenix could look like:
- Production & Demand Planning Support
You’ll help the team translate sales forecasts into production schedules. How many liters of Coke do we need to run on Line 3 next Tuesday? You’ll use data, past trends, and input from sales to help answer that. You’ll learn to balance customer demand with plant capacity.
- Inventory & Warehouse Coordination
Manufacturing doesn’t stop at the filler. You’ll get exposure to how we manage raw materials, packaging, and finished goods. Basic knowledge of Stores and ERP systems will help you here. You’ll learn how we avoid stockouts and reduce waste. This is where companies like Capitec and CCBSA are similar — both obsess over efficiency and cost control.
- Data Analysis & Reporting
Computer literacy is non-negotiable. You’ll live in Excel. You’ll build simple reports in Word and communicate via Outlook with teams across the plant. If you like finding patterns in data and turning it into a decision, you’ll love this.
- Problem Solving on the Floor
Things go wrong. A machine breaks. A supplier is late. You’ll learn how to apply theoretical principles to develop novel business solutions under pressure. Fast-paced, competitive, and pressurized environments are where planners are made.
- Continuous Improvement
We expect you to identify and apply new trends. Can we plan better? Can we reduce changeover time? Can we use data differently? Bring ideas. We listen to trainees who show initiative.
We’re not looking for someone who already knows everything. We’re looking for someone who is ready to learn everything.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Grade 12 with Mathematics or Mathematics Literacy passed with 40%
- Two South African Languages passed with 40%
- Currently studying towards Operations Management or a related qualification
You must have completed your theoretical modules and now need practical exposure to complete your qualification
- Letter from your institution requesting workplace experience for in-service training
- Copy of your tertiary institute curriculum/requirements for In-Service Training
Who Should Apply:
South African Citizen
Between 18-35 years of age
Unemployed at the time of appointment
Must NOT have previously completed an In-Service Trainee programme at another company
The Skills That Will Make You Stand Out:
Computer Literacy: MS Excel, Word, Outlook. If you can do pivot tables, even better.
Basic ERP Knowledge: Any exposure to SAP, Oracle, or Stores systems is a bonus
Decision Making: Can you make a call with 70% of the information?
Energy & Attitude: High energy, positive attitude, and a passion for quality and people
Adaptability: You’ll thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Exposure that helps but isn’t required:
Manufacturing, warehouse, or logistics environments. If you’ve worked part-time in a warehouse or retail DC, mention it.
Phoenix is one of our biggest plants in KZN. It’s loud, it’s busy, and it’s proud. You’ll be working with Team Leaders and planners who have 10-20 years of experience and who genuinely want to teach you.
Our culture is built on 3 things:
Safety First: You go home the same way you came in. Every day.
Quality Obsession: The Coca-Cola brand is 130+ years old because we don’t cut corners.
People Matter: We’re big on diversity and inclusion. Coca-Cola Beverages Africa is an equal opportunity employer. We comply with affirmative action and employment equity. Your merit and qualifications are what count. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity.
Like Capitec, we believe in promoting from within. Many of our current Managers and Team Leaders started as trainees or entry-level operators. Show us you can plan, think, and lead, and there is a path for you here.
Let’s be honest about career paths.
A trainee program at CCBSA is respected across FMCG, logistics, and retail. Why? Because manufacturing planning teaches you discipline, data, and delivery. Those are the same skills Capitec looks for in operations, risk, and branch support roles. The same skills banks, retailers, and 3PLs hire for.
After 12 months here, you could go on to be:
Production Planner
Demand Planner
Supply Chain Analyst
Warehouse Supervisor
Continuous Improvement Coordinator
Or you could take your ERP and Excel skills and pivot into other industries entirely. The point is: you won’t be stuck.
If you meet the specs and you’re ready to get your hands dirty in manufacturing, we want your application.
Please submit the following:
Detailed CV
Certified copy of Matric Certificate
Certified copy of your most recent academic transcript
Work Integrated Learning letter from your institution
Copy of your Tertiary Institute curriculum/requirements for In-Service Training
Send to: [Insert application portal/email]
Closing Date: 31 July 2026
Reference Number: CCB260708-4
Important Notes:
Management reserves the right to use additional criteria for shortlisting
If you are not contacted within 10 working days after closing, please consider your application unsuccessful.
CCBSA does not accept agency resumes for this role. No fees will be paid for unsolicited resumes
This is more than an internship. This is your foot in the door at one of the biggest manufacturers in Africa.
You’ll learn how to plan, how to execute, and how to deliver under pressure. You’ll work on a brand that South Africans love. And you’ll do it at a company that invests in young talent the same way market leaders like Capitec do.
If you’re studying Operations Management and you need that final practical piece to complete your qualification, apply.
Need workplace experience to finish your Operations Management qualification? Read this.
CCBSA Phoenix is hiring In-Service Trainees for Manufacturing Planning.
What you get: Real exposure in a 24/7 manufacturing plant. Real training in planning, Excel, and ERP. Real mentorship from people who do this every day.
What we need: South African citizen, 18-35, unemployed, Grade 12 with Maths, studying Ops Management, and a letter from your school/college.
What you’ll walk away with: Experience at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa that makes your CV stand out anywhere.
This isn’t admin work. This is how big brands run. This is how careers start.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Apply before 31 July 2026.