Maintenance Lead

Express Employment Professionals Midrand; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A staffing agency is seeking an experienced Maintenance Lead to oversee equipment maintenance in Johannesburg. The role requires strong leadership and a background in industrial maintenance, particularly in food manufacturing. Candidates should have relevant qualifications, a strong understanding of safety and compliance, and the ability to solve problems quickly. This position is offered on a contractual basis.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of experience in industrial maintenance, with at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• Proficient with pneumatic and hydraulic systems, PLCs, and electrical troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of HACCP and GMP.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise maintenance technicians.
• Execute preventive maintenance programs.
• Respond quickly to machine breakdowns.

Skills

Mechanical / Electrical trade qualification

Experience in industrial maintenance

Food safety compliance knowledge

Education

Matric or relevant trade qualification

Job description

Overview

At our client’s company, they’re not just keeping things running — they’re building for the future. That’s why they’re looking for a Maintenance Lead who takes ownership, solves problems fast, and keeps equipment and teams moving forward. Known for their commitment to quality, safety, and innovation, they rely on efficient operations to deliver products their customer’s trust. This is on a contractual basis and is based in Olifantsfontein.

Requirements

• Matric or relevant trade qualification (Mechanical / Electrical)
• 4-6 years of experience in industrial maintenance, with at least 1 year in a supervisory or team lead role
• Experience in food / snack manufacturing environments
• Proficient with pneumatic and hydraulic systems, PLCs, and electrical troubleshooting
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMP, and food safety compliance

Key Responsibilities

• Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting
• Lead the maintenance and repair of equipment, including but not limited to - conveyors (belt & bucket), air compressors, seasoning machines, packaging machines, puffing machines, mixing machines, multi-head weighers, and forklifts
• Respond quickly to machine breakdowns and coordinate timely repair to minimize production downtime
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement permanent fixes for recurring issues
• Preventive & Corrective Maintenance
• Execute and improve the preventive maintenance program across all shifts
• Monitor equipment performance data and initiate predictive maintenance when trends indicate potential failures
• Maintain detailed logs and documentation of all maintenance work performed
• Team Leadership & Coordination
• Supervise and mentor maintenance technicians, including assigning tasks, providing technical guidance, and evaluating performance
• Plan shift rosters to ensure full coverage of maintenance needs during production
• Ensure compliance with safety, food hygiene, and regulatory standards at all times
• Spare Parts & Tools Management
• Ensure availability of critical spare parts and tools and raise procurement requests as needed
• Monitor usage and work with the Maintenance Manager to optimize inventory levels and control costs
• Collaboration with Production & Quality Teams
• Work closely with production supervisors to prioritize maintenance activities based on production schedules
• Collaborate with quality assurance to ensure that maintenance activities support food safety requirements
• Reporting & Compliance
• Report maintenance KPIs (Downtime, MTTR, PM completion rate, etc.) to the Maintenance Manager weekly
• Ensure all safety protocols, lockout / tagout procedures, and hygiene practices are strictly followed