Engineering Manager (FMCG)

EnableSA; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

EnableSA in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is seeking an experienced Maintenance Engineering Manager to lead engineering and maintenance across FMCG operations. You will drive maintenance strategies, uphold safety standards, and optimize plant reliability and energy usage.

The role requires strong leadership, budgeting, and project management skills, with a proven track record in high-speed production environments and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• BEng / BSc / BTech in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering.
• Trade test or additional technical qualifications – advantageous.
• Minimum 7–10 years’ engineering experience in an FMCG manufacturing environment.
• At least 3–5 years’ experience in an engineering or maintenance management role.
• Proven experience in high-speed production lines and automated equipment.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of FMCG production processes and utilities (boilers, compressors, refrigeration, HVAC).
• Understanding of PLCs, automation, and control systems.
• Solid knowledge of maintenance best practices and reliability engineering.
• Budgeting, capex planning, and project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement maintenance strategies for maximum plant availability.
• Ensure maximum plant availability, reliability, and performance of production equipment.
• Manage maintenance budgets, costs, and capex.
• Oversee breakdown analysis and root cause investigations with corrective actions.
• Ensure availability of critical spares and effective inventory control.
• Lead, coach, and develop engineering and maintenance teams (artisans, technicians, planners).
• Drive a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage contractor performance and service level agreements.
• Ensure compliance with OHSA and related regulations.
• Collaborate with production, quality, and supply chain teams to meet targets.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Reliability engineering

Automation systems

PLC control

Education

BEng / BSc / BTech in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering

Trade test or additional technical qualifications

Tools

SCADA

PLC systems

Job description

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

• Develop and implement preventative,predictive, and corrective maintenance strategies
• Ensure maximum plant availability,reliability, and performance of production equipment
• Manage maintenance budgets, costs, andcapital expenditure
• Oversee breakdown analysis and root causeinvestigations with corrective actions
• Ensure availability of critical spares andeffective inventory control
• Lead, coach, and develop engineering andmaintenance teams (artisans, technicians, planners)
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation,company policies, and union agreements where applicable
• Drive a culture of safety, accountability,and continuous improvement
• Manage contractor performance and servicelevel agreements
• Ensure compliance with the OccupationalHealth and Safety Act (OHSA) and related regulations
• Ensure plant, equipment, and utilities meetstatutory and audit requirements
• Support food safety, quality, and hygienestandards (e.g. FSSC 22000, ISO, HACCP, GMP)
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives(TPM, Lean, Six Sigma)
• Lead or support engineering-related capitalprojects and plant upgrades
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency,reduce downtime, and optimise energy usage
• Collaborate with production, quality, andsupply chain teams to meet operational targets

Requirements

• BEng / BSc / BTech in Mechanical, Electrical,or Industrial Engineering
• Trade test or additional technicalqualifications – advantageous
• Minimum 7–10 years’ engineering experience inan FMCG manufacturing environment
• At least 3–5 years’ experience in anengineering or maintenance management role
• Proven experience in high-speed productionlines and automated equipment
• Experience managing multidisciplinaryengineering teams
• Strong knowledge of FMCG production processesand utilities (boilers, compressors, refrigeration, HVAC)
• Understanding of PLCs, automation, andcontrol systems
• Solid knowledge of maintenance best practicesand reliability engineering
• Budgeting, capex planning, and projectmanagement experience