Head of Maintenance

Symotree Global; Limpopo; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mining services company in South Africa is looking for a Maintenance Manager to oversee an underground trackless mobile machinery fleet. This role requires establishing a compliant maintenance function while ensuring high equipment availability and reliability. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in heavy industrial maintenance and a strong background in statutory compliance, ideally with a blend of technical knowledge and managerial skills. Competitive compensation and benefits are provided.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years in mining/heavy industrial maintenance.
• Minimum 5 years in underground mechanised/trackless mining.
• Proven success running planned and breakdown maintenance systems underground.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance function for underground TMM ensuring compliance.
• Develop a robust maintenance strategy and scheduling.
• Manage breakdown response and fault-finding effectively.

Skills

Diesel knowledge

Hydraulics expertise

Electrical systems understanding

Maintenance planning

Effective communication

Education

National Diploma or Degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Trade-tested Artisan (Diesel Mechanic / Fitter / Millwright) with N6

Tools

CMMS systems

Excel reporting

Job description

Role Overview

This role leads the underground trackless mobile machinery (TMM) maintenance function, ensuring high availability, reliability, legal compliance and operational excellence. The portfolio covers a fleet including LHDs, double boom rigs and associated support equipment.

The position has a dual reporting structure:

• Operational/Commercial: Internal maintenance operations leadership
• Legal/Functional: The mine’s appointed Engineer (MHSA Regulation 2.13), specifically for statutory compliance under the MHSA and Codes of Practice (CoPs).

Role Purpose

To establish and lead a lean, reliable and fully compliant maintenance function for an underground trackless mobile machinery fleet, with strong focus on:

• MHSA and mine CoP compliance
• High equipment uptime and availability
• Data-driven maintenance planning
• Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) practices
• Strong field leadership and hands‑on technical oversight

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal & Compliance (MHSA & Codes of Practice)

• Ensure all maintenance practices comply with the MHSA, regulations and relevant CoPs under the oversight of the 2.13 Engineer.
• Maintain legal appointments, task inventories, SOPs, training records and statutory inspections.
• Oversee statutory and OEM inspections, ensuring documentation is accurate and auditable.
• Manage all maintenance inputs into the contractor Safety File.

2. Maintenance Strategy, Planning & Scheduling

• Design and implement a complete maintenance strategy for the underground fleet.
• Establish a robust planned maintenance system including PM schedules, work orders, backlog control and prioritisation.
• Align maintenance activities with production requirements without compromising safety.
• Define critical spares lists, minimum stock levels and manage supplier interfaces such as consignment stock.

3. Breakdown Management & Field Support

• Lead breakdown response and fault‑finding to ensure safe, effective return‑to‑service.
• Conduct root cause analyses on repeat failures and implement corrective actions.
• Be physically present underground and in the workshop to guide artisans and verify repair quality.

4. Reliability, Data & RCM

• Track maintenance KPIs such as availability, utilisation, MTBF, MTTR, PM compliance and component life.
• Apply RCM principles to refine maintenance tasks and inspection intervals.
• Use data trends to improve reliability, reduce repeat failures and optimise component performance.
• Produce weekly and monthly maintenance reports for internal and mine engineering stakeholders.

5. OEM, Supplier & Sub‑contractor Management

• Act as the key technical counterpart to OEMs and suppliers.
• Engage OEMs on performance, standards, warranties and support.
• Participate in technical review meetings and drive accountability and quality.
• Stay open to implementing new technologies that enhance safety and reliability.

6. Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach and manage a small underground maintenance team (artisans, assistants, planner).
• Ensure consistent use of checklists, operator care routines and basic condition monitoring.
• Build strong relationships with mine Engineering, Production and Safety functions.
• Promote a high‑accountability, solutions‑oriented culture.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma or Degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering; or
• Trade‑tested Artisan (Diesel Mechanic / Fitter / Millwright) with N6 and strong underground trackless mobile machinery experience.

Preferred / Advantageous

• Experience in foreman or 2.9.2‑type appointments.
• GCC Mines & Works (optional depending on how the role is pitched).

Experience Required

• 8–12 years in mining/heavy industrial maintenance.
• Minimum 5 years in underground mechanised/trackless mining.
• Proven success running planned and breakdown maintenance systems underground.
• Demonstrated machine reliability improvement using data and/or RCM.
• Solid understanding and application of MHSA, CoPs and statutory inspections.
• Experience managing maintenance teams and coordinating OEM/sub‑contractor work.

Skills & Personal Attributes

Technical & Managerial Skills

• Strong knowledge of diesel, hydraulics, electrics, electronics and structural elements of TMM equipment.
• Skilled in maintenance planning, backlog control and spares management.
• Comfortable with CMMS systems and Excel reporting.
• Clear and concise communication skills.

Personal Attributes

• Solution‑oriented and focused on removing root causes.
• High ownership and accountability.
• Calm under pressure with sound decision‑making ability.
• Collaborative yet firm in maintaining safety and standards.
• Strong learner mindset with openness to new technologies.