HEAD OF ENGINEERING (Manufacturing Environment)

Recruiter:

Network Contracting

Job Ref:

NCM003124/KMa

Date posted:

Friday, June 26, 2026

Location:

Johannesburg, South Africa

SUMMARY:
A leading manufacturing organisation within the packaging and industrial production sector is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Head of Engineering to lead its engineering function, drive asset reliability, and ensure world-class maintenance and project execution standards across the plant.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Engineering will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to the engineering department, ensuring optimal plant availability, reliability, and efficiency. The role oversees all maintenance, engineering projects, asset management, and continuous improvement initiatives within a high-volume manufacturing environment.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities Lead and manage the full engineering and maintenance function across the facility Develop and implement engineering strategies aligned with business and production goals Ensure maximum plant uptime through effective preventative and predictive maintenance systems Manage capital projects, plant upgrades, and equipment installations Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, TPM, RCA, OEE improvement) Oversee compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards Manage budgets, cost control, and engineering expenditure Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team (Electrical, Mechanical, and Technical teams) Liaise with production, operations, and senior leadership to support production targets Ensure compliance with statutory regulations and engineering best practices Manage contractor performance and external service providers Minimum Requirements BSc\/BEng\/BTech in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent) Government Certificate of Competency (GCC Factories) will be highly advantageous Trade Test qualification as Artisan (Electrician, Fitter, Millwright or equivalent) advantageous Minimum 8-12 years' engineering experience in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment At least 5 years in a senior management or engineering leadership role Strong experience in plant maintenance, reliability engineering, and project management Proven experience managing large technical teams and multi-disciplinary departments Strong knowledge of PLC systems, automation, hydraulics, and mechanical systems Key Competencies Strong leadership and decision-making ability Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills Strong financial and budget management capability Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills Ability to work under pressure in a high-output production environment Strong focus on safety, reliability, and continuous improvement

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