Engineering Manager – Plant Maintenance & Optimisation

About the role

The Engineering Manager will lead plant maintenance and optimisation across sites in Durban and Johannesburg, driving equipment improvements while keeping costs within budget. This role supports a multi‑disciplined maintenance team in a continuous 365‑day production environment.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and improve plant safety by ensuring compliance with legislation and hazardous chemical regulations.
• Schedule and oversee all maintenance‑related work, leading a multidisciplinary team of technicians.
• Conduct risk assessments and plan high‑risk jobs involving steam, acids, ammonia, chlorine and other hazardous substances.
• Lead HAZOP and participate in HACCP studies for process safety.
• Interface project modifications with production, manage change, construction issues and deviations.
• Develop and implement a proactive maintenance strategy, coordinating complex repairs and shutdown projects.
• Appoint and sign off subcontractors for specialised maintenance work.
• Forecast budgets, negotiate spare‑parts pricing and control costs while delivering agreed outputs.

Required profile

• B.Eng (Mechanical) with a Government Certificate of Competency.
• Minimum 5 years FMCG maintenance engineering experience covering electrical, mechanical, instrumentation and civil disciplines.
• Proven track record in plant maintenance, RCM or similar reliability programmes.
• Strong knowledge of OHS Act, hazardous chemicals and national environmental legislation.

Required skills

• HAZOP and HACCP study execution.
• Risk assessment and mitigation for high‑risk process areas.
• RCM implementation and maintenance strategy development.
• Budget forecasting, price negotiation and spare‑parts inventory management.
• Project management of plant modifications and shutdowns.