Head of Engineering

SUMMARY:
An established manufacturing business is looking to recruit an experienced Head of Engineering to provide strategic and operational leadership of its engineering and maintenance functions. This senior management position requires a technically strong, commercially astute leader who can drive plant reliability, operational efficiency, continuous improvement and engineering excellence within a demanding manufacturing environment.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team across mechanical, electrical, electronic and maintenance functions. Develop and implement effective maintenance and asset management strategies to improve plant availability, reliability and equipment performance. Oversee preventative and corrective maintenance, breakdown management, planned shutdowns and root-cause investigations. Ensure compliance with statutory engineering requirements, occupational health and safety legislation, machinery regulations and applicable quality standards. Plan and execute capital projects, equipment upgrades and engineering improvements within approved budgets and timelines. Manage engineering operating budgets, maintenance costs, contractors, suppliers and critical spares. Ensure the reliability, safety and efficient operation of plant utilities and infrastructure. Work closely with Production and Operations to reduce downtime, improve productivity and support product quality. Drive continuous improvement, engineering best practices and the development of technical skills within the team. Requirements Degree, BTech or National Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronic or a related engineering discipline. Minimum 10 years' engineering or maintenance experience in manufacturing, including at least 5 years in an engineering leadership role. Proven experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams, plant maintenance, capital projects and engineering budgets. Strong technical knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, industrial automation, instrumentation, controls and maintenance management systems. Sound understanding of statutory engineering compliance, machinery safety and technical risk management. Experience in packaging, printing, lamination, converting, plastics or related FMCG manufacturing environments advantageous. GCC Factories and ECSA registration preferred, subject to statutory requirements. The incumbent may be required to accept a GMR 2(1) appointment, subject to meeting the prescribed competency requirements. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, sound commercial judgement and a practical, solutions-driven approach, with the ability to balance immediate operational priorities with long-term engineering reliability and performance.