Parboiling Supervisor

Parboiling Operations:

• Supervise the day-to-day operations of the rice parboiling section.
• Oversee the preparation, cleaning and washing of paddy before parboiling.
• Monitor the soaking process, including soaking time, temperature and water levels.
• Supervise the steaming process to ensure uniform and adequate heat distribution.
• Monitor the parboiling process to ensure proper starch gelatinization and consistent results.
• Supervise the transfer of steamed paddy to the drying area.
• Monitor drying operations and ensure that paddy reaches the required moisture level before milling or storage.
• Ensure proper handling of paddy throughout the process to minimize contamination, spillage and losses.
• Parboiling consists primarily of soaking, steaming and drying, with moisture and heat control being critical to achieving consistent quality and minimizing breakage during milling.

Production Planning & Output:

• Plan daily and weekly parboiling activities based on production requirements.
• Ensure the required volume of paddy is processed within scheduled timelines.
• Monitor batch sizes, processing times and production output.
• Maintain accurate records of paddy received, processed and transferred for milling.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement corrective measures.
• Ensure efficient utilization of labour, water, fuel/energy and parboiling equipment.
• Work closely with the milling and production teams to coordinate the movement of parboiled paddy.

Quality Control:

• Ensure that paddy entering the parboiling process meets the required quality standards.
• Monitor soaking, steaming and drying conditions throughout each batch.
• Check moisture levels using appropriate moisture-testing equipment.
• Ensure proper drying before paddy is transferred for milling.
• Monitor for under-parboiling, over-parboiling, discoloration, fermentation, excessive moisture and other quality defects.
• Work with the Quality Control team to identify and resolve quality issues.
• Ensure proper sanitation and hygiene within the parboiling area.
• Maintain consistent parboiling standards across all production batches.
• Controlled drying is particularly important because excessively rapid or uneven drying can increase grain stress and breakage during milling; parboiled paddy is generally dried to an appropriate moisture range before milling.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Supervise the operation of parboiling tanks, steamers, boilers, dryers and related equipment.
• Ensure equipment is operated according to manufacturer and company procedures.
• Conduct routine checks on parboiling equipment before and during production.
• Report equipment faults, breakdowns and maintenance requirements promptly.
• Coordinate with the maintenance team to minimize equipment downtime.
• Ensure equipment and work areas are cleaned and properly maintained after production.
• Monitor the efficient use of fuel, water and other processing resources.

Team Supervision:

• Supervise parboiling operators, machine operators, loaders and other assigned production personnel.
• Allocate duties and work schedules based on daily production requirements.
• Ensure employees follow approved operating procedures.
• Monitor staff productivity, attendance and adherence to safety standards.
• Train and coach staff on proper parboiling procedures and equipment operation.
• Address operational issues and escalate disciplinary matters where necessary.
• Promote teamwork, discipline and accountability within the parboiling unit.

Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance:

• Ensure all parboiling operations comply with company health and safety procedures.
• Ensure employees use appropriate PPE when working around hot water, steam, boilers and machinery.
• Monitor safe handling of hot water, steam and other processing equipment.
• Ensure the parboiling area is kept clean, organized and free from avoidable hazards.
• Report accidents, equipment failures and safety incidents immediately.
• Ensure proper handling and disposal of waste generated during the parboiling process.
• Promote a strong safety culture within the production team.

Inventory & Resource Management:

• Monitor the availability and usage of water, fuel, packaging/handling materials and other parboiling inputs.
• Ensure efficient utilization of production resources.
• Track paddy movement into and out of the parboiling section.
• Maintain accurate production and inventory records.
• Report material shortages or unusual consumption patterns to management.

8. Reporting

• Prepare daily production reports covering:
  • Quantity of paddy received
  • Quantity parboiled
  • Number of batches processed
  • Processing time
  • Moisture levels
  • Production losses
  • Equipment downtime
  • Quality issues
• Submit weekly production performance reports to management.
• Provide recommendations for improving productivity, quality and cost efficiency.
• Maintain accurate records for traceability and production planning.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Daily/weekly parboiling production volume
• Batch processing efficiency
• Paddy-to-parboiled-paddy yield
• Moisture-content compliance
• Reduction in grain breakage and processing losses
• Quality consistency across batches
• Equipment uptime
• Fuel and water efficiency
• Production downtime
• On-time completion of production schedules
• Staff productivity
• Compliance with health and safety procedures

Requirements

• HND / Bachelor's degree in Food Science & Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Science, Production Management, Food Processing, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in rice processing, food processing, grain processing or a similar production environment.
• Proven experience supervising rice parboiling operations is strongly preferred.
• Practical knowledge of paddy soaking, steaming, drying and moisture control.
• Experience operating or supervising industrial rice parboiling equipment.
• Good understanding of rice quality and factors affecting milling yield.
• Experience supervising production workers and machine operators.
• Ability to read and maintain production records and reports.
• Good knowledge of workplace health and safety practices.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Willingness to work in a production/industrial environment in Kebbi State.

Preferred Experience
Candidates with experience in:

• Commercial rice mills
• Rice parboiling plants
• Rice production and processing companies
• Grain processing facilities
• Food processing factories
• Agricultural processing companies
• Large-scale rice farms with integrated processing operations

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on and operationally focused
• Strong attention to detail
• Good leadership and supervisory skills
• Quality-conscious
• Safety-conscious
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Physically fit and comfortable working in a production environment
• Disciplined and organized
• Ability to work under pressure and meet production targets
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.