Bakery Maintenance Manager: Reliability & Safety

Edge Executive Search Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Edge Executive Search Group is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the engineering function of a high-volume bakery manufacturing operation in Bellville. You will drive reliability, safety, cost control and continuous improvement to translate engineering strategy into reliable plant performance.

This hands-on leadership role covers maintenance execution, CAPEX planning, people development, safety, quality, environmental compliance and financial control, balancing breakdown response with

Qualifications

• Relevant engineering qualification in electrical or mechanical engineering.
• Experience in bakery processes and bakery production equipment.
• Strong maintenance management experience in manufacturing.
• Experience using CMMS.
• Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• CAPEX budgeting and planning experience.
• Continuous improvement methodologies in manufacturing.
• Environmental awareness in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong electrical and mechanical maintenance knowledge.
• Experience leading maintenance teams and developing technical capability.
• Understanding of KPIs, plant availability, OEE, R&M expenditure and scorecards.
• Postgraduate management qualifications (MDP/MAP/PMD/MBA) advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead planned and unplanned maintenance scheduling, including maintenance-day execution, job cards and completion sign-off.
• Conduct plant inspections and ensure maintenance work is completed to quality standards.
• Manage spares, stock controls and maintenance-related expenditure within budget.
• Develop five-year CAPEX plans and motivate CAPEX projects.
• Drive plant availability and operation of electrical and mechanical equipment.
• Conduct root cause analysis on breakdowns and implement preventative actions.
• Drive the preventative maintenance pillar of the manufacturing excellence programme.
• Monitor engineering and DMS KPIs and provide operational reporting.
• Manage maintenance cost drivers and cost-saving initiatives.
• Understand Cost Per Loaf, budget versus actual performance.
• Ensure compliance with OHS requirements, risk assessments and workplace safety standards.
• Drive safety performance including LTIFR, near-miss reporting and safety observations.
• Support engineering, risk, environmental, DQS and BMR audits.
• Ensure environmental requirements (water, utilities, noise, waste) are met.
• Maintain equipment settings, process alignment and hygiene standards.
• Maintain bakery equipment, instrumentation and calibrations.
• Maintain essential spares to support plant reliability.
• Lead and engage the maintenance team through performance management and training.
• Engage with employees and organised labour per company policies.
• Promote a high-performance culture focused on accountability, reliability and CI.

Skills

Maintenance management

Bakery equipment

Safety & OHS

CAPEX budgeting

Continuous improvement

KPIs & OEE

Team leadership

Root cause analysis

Education

BSc Engineering

B-Tech

N6/T4/S4

Electrical or Mechanical Engineering qualification

Tools

CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems)

Job description

Edge Executive Search Group is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the engineering function of a high-volume bakery manufacturing operation in Bellville. You will drive reliability, safety, cost control and continuous improvement to translate engineering strategy into reliable plant performance.

This hands-on leadership role covers maintenance execution, CAPEX planning, people development, safety, quality, environmental compliance and financial control, balancing breakdown response with