Engineering Manager

AVI Limited; Pinetown; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

NBL Westmead Biscuits in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, seeks an Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers and artisans and drive maintenance strategy across the plant. You will oversee budgets, CAPEX planning, and programs to maximize equipment availability.

The role requires a Bachelor in Engineering and GCC Factories certification, with extensive experience in FMCG environments and a focus on safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) is required.
• GCC Factories certification is non-negotiable.
• At least 5 years as an Engineering Manager in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers and artisans to ensure reliable plant performance.
• Develop and manage annual maintenance budgets and five-year CAPEX plans.
• Monitor KPIs (OEE, MTBF/MTTR) and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure food safety and regulatory compliance (AIB/FSSC).
• Coordinate with suppliers and OEMs for critical equipment support.

Skills

People management

Maintenance planning

Budget management

OSH knowledge

Project initiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical)

GCC Factories certification

Tools

CMMS

ERP systems

Job description

Build your career behind biscuits South Africans know and love.

Join the Snackworks Westmead Biscuits Factory and become part of a business with a proud biscuit-making legacy and some of South Africa’s most iconic brands.

From production and engineering to quality, planning, maintenance and supply chain, you’ll work alongside specialist teams in a hands-on manufacturing environment where your contribution matters.

Build your skills, take ownership and grow your career behind iconic brands with Snackworks.

Step Into a Role That Makes an Impact!

We’re seeking a Engineering Manager to drive success at NBL Westmead Biscuits in Pinetown, KwaZulu Natal. This role is designed to be responsible for the outputs of a team of more than 40 people that promote the engineering effort for the facility, including the maintenance manager and related structures, engineering stores, maintenance planning, software specialist, artisans, electricians, instrumentation technicians, facility handymen and other.

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to: Operations Executive
• Direct Reports: 4

Key Areas of Impact:

SHE

• GMR 2(1) site appointment
• Collaborate with site risk department on all risk compliance
• Implementing improvement opportunities identified through hygiene surveys including asbestos, illumination, ergonomics, lighting, thermal stress, noise, airborne pollutants, air quality, hazardous chemical agents, vibration and ventilation.
• Fire systems compliance with ASIB regulations and the relevant SANS standards
• Municipal and legal site compliance
• Electrical instillations in hazardous locations, gas installations, asbestos abatement and pressure equipment compliance.

People Management

• Ensure appropriate team structure that is aligned with the site engineering and maintenance strategy and proper manufacturing support
• Develop and maintain artisan competencies
• Manage morale of engineering team
• Team goal setting and performance appraisal and management

Maintenance Budget

• Compile and manage annual maintenance budgets
• Compile five-year site strategic maintenance budget, including facilities and utilities upgrades for CAPEX
• Monthly maintenance cost control and reporting
• Cost reduction and productivity initiatives
• Critical spares identification, management and control

Plant and Services Availability

• Equipment availability management
• Equipment MTBF and MTTR improvement
• Equipment shutdown management and PM schedules
• Co-ordinate OEM support on critical equipment
• Breakdown, condition monitoring, corrective, preventive maintenance management
• Understanding of key operational KPI's (OEE, ATP, GA, B&R and customer complaints) and the impact that equipment reliability has on them.

Maintenance Department Performance

• KPI’s tracking and reporting
• Employee management and control
• Maintenance system improvement and strategy
• Maintenance strategy and tactical approach
• Foreman and artisan leadership, training and development
• ERP system improvement
• CMMS system improvement
• Maintenance for food safety ensuring adherence to AIB and FSSC standard requirements

Maintenance Systems Improvement and Strategy

• Maintenance strategy and tactical approach
• Support World Class Manufacturing strategy
• Team structure to match strategy
• Implement and maintain appropriate engineering standards

Site Services Management

• Water and energy reporting and sustainability improvement
• Compressed air, natural gas, refrigeration, solar systems and borehole water, effluent, electricity, generators and infrastructure maintenance
• Building and facilities management in line with the relevant standards

What It Takes to Succeed:

Experience that set you up for success:

• 5 years’ experience as an Engineering Manager within the Manufacturing industry
• Ideally 3 years within an FMCG environment as an Engineering Manager and/or Maintenance Manager
• 5 years’ people management experience
• Experience working with Packaging Machinery advantageous
• Previous experience in food manufacturing highly advantageous

Qualifications & Certifications that will contribute to your success:

• Completed Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical)
• Certificated Engineer (GCC Factories) Non-Negotiable

Additional Requirements that will enhance your impact for success:

• Maintenance systems and measures
• OHS Act knowledge and experience
• Equipment technical support (mechanical, electrical, process and control and automation)
• Utilities (compressed air, electrical, refrigeration, water, effluent, fire systems)
• Food safety requirements, such as HACCP and AIB would be ideal
• Initiating and leading projects

Take the Next Step with NBL

Join our team, make a real impact, and contribute to the success of South Africa’s favourite biscuit brands.