Engineering Manager

Tongaat; oThongathi; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Tongaat is seeking an Engineering Manager for Maidstone Mill to lead the day-to-day engineering function and optimise plant reliability and availability. You will oversee budgeting, maintenance scheduling, and capital projects while developing talent within a diverse team.

The role requires a strong track record in heavy manufacturing, GCC Factory certification, and SAP proficiency, with a focus on safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5-7 years’ management experience in a heavy manufacturing environment.
• GCC Factories.
• Above average computer skills/literacy – SAP experience.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Strategic leadership and business acumen.
• Ethical values and professional maturity.
• A team player with a strong, confident and assertive personality.
• Influential and the ability to motivate others.

Responsibilities

• Develop engineering goals, direction and philosophies through the interpretation of business plans for the operation.
• Manage the day to day running of the engineering function, ensuring the maximization of plant availability in line with set targets through responsible management of the maintenance function and optimisation of resources, technologies and capital.
• Prepare, control and implement operating budgets and capital projects.
• Support and direct the engineering skills development requirements as the availability of high-level skills is key to the sustainability of the function. This must include the attraction, retention and development of talent, including mentoring and coaching.
• Lead and direct compliance with factory statutory requirements and regulations. Plan for the effectiveness of engineering, with an understanding of how to map a way forward for major capital expenditure as and when required.
• Interact, provide and/ or clarifying instructions and work procedures in relation to the Operations and, checks the implementation and/ or execution of responsibilities
• Participate in the recruitment process to enable proper identification and appointment of key skills to specific roles within the Department.
• Identifying training needs and proposing specific training interventions to improve skills and capabilities; Performance Management System applications, conducting performance review sessions with the supervisory team.
• Participate in safety meeting and provide feedback on area results and progress.
• Demonstrate compliance to all requirements.
• Execute actions to address legal compliance requirements, e.g. audit findings to non-conformances, maintenance of training records and skills matrix, updating training materials.

Skills

GCC Factories

Strategic leadership

Business acumen

Ethical values

Team player

Influential

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

VACANCY

Site : Maidstone Mill

Job Title : Engineering Manager

Grade : DU

Reports to : General Manager

Department : Engineering

Main purpose of the role

• This role is responsible for the day to day running of the engineering function
• To lead the engineering team in ensuring that existing equipment is well-maintained, and reliability optimised at all times

Dimensions

a) Financial:

• Develop the operating and CAPEX budget for area of responsibility
• Approve orders against the budget
• Investigate deviations, and substantiate these with reasons

b) Market Complexity:

• Own and manage relationships with OEM’s and suppliers in order to acquire knowledge to develop expertise.
• Keeping up to date with industry developments through literature reviews and industry networking.

c) Leadership:

• Provides leadership to diverse arrangement of engineering functions to enable optimum productivity and performance.
• Strategic and operational planning, Supervision, organising and control of resources, production inputs and outputs and plant efficiencies, while ensuring occupational health and safety regulations compliance.

Top Accountabilities

• Develop engineering goals, direction and philosophies through the interpretation of business plans for the operation.
• Manage the day to day running of the engineering function, ensuring the maximization of plant availability in line with set targets through responsible management of the maintenance function and optimisation of resources, technologies and capital.
• Prepare, control and implement operating budgets and capital projects.
• Support and direct the engineering skills development requirements as the availability of high-level skills is key to the sustainability of the function. This must include the attraction, retention and development of talent, including relevant mentoring and coaching.
• Lead and direct compliance with factory statutory requirements and regulations. Plan for the effectiveness of engineering, with an understanding of how to competently map a way forward for major capital expenditure as and when required.
• Interact, provide and/ or clarifying instructions and work procedures in relation to the Operations and, checks the implementation and/ or execution of responsibilities
• Participate in the recruitment process to enable proper identification and appointment of key skills to specific roles within the Department.
• Identifying training needs and proposing specific training interventions to improve skills and capabilities; Performance Management System applications, conducting performance review sessions with the supervisory team.
• Participate in safety meeting and provide feedback on area results and progress.
• Demonstrate compliance to all requirements.
• Execute specific actions to address legal compliance requirements, e.g. audit findings to non‑conformances, maintenance of training records and skills matrix, checking and verifying training materials is up to date and relevant. etc. Executing specific actions to address legal compliance requirements, e.g. audit findings to non‑conformances, maintenance of training records and skills matrix, checking and verifying training materials is up to date and relevant etc.
• Ensure well running planning department with effective asset maintenance and engineering best practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering
• 5-7 years’ management experience in a heavy manufacturing environment
• GCC Factories
• Above average Computer skills/literacy – SAP experience
• A valid driver’s license.
• Strategic leadership and business acumen
• Ethical values and professional maturity.
• A team player with a strong, confident and assertive personality.
• Influential and the ability to motivate others.

Barriers to success in role

• Inability to lead teams and build relationships across cultures.
• Inability to connect and build positive relationships.
• Inability to interpret, link and analyse information systemically in order to understand complex issues.
• Inability to communicate broadly and powerfully.
• Inability to accelerate the process of organisational change whilst effectively managing stakeholder expectations and outcomes.
• Inability to drive the plans of action to realise intended outcomes
• Inability to work and make decisions under pressure and take initiative.

Closing Date: 09 September 2026

Please note that in terms of the company’s diversity and inclusion policy, this position has been bonded for employment equity candidates.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us in 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.