Maintenance Manager

Humankind; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Humankind is seeking a proactive maintenance leader to oversee mechanical and electrical maintenance across the Johannesburg plant. You will develop maintenance programs, monitor performance, and lead a team of artisans, technicians and contractors to ensure reliability and safety.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in maintenance management within manufacturing, with a strong background in preventative and predictive maintenance and a track record of reducing downtime.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in maintenance management or senior maintenance roles in industrial/manufacturing environments.
• Relevant degree/diploma/technical qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Strong knowledge of preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance practices.
• Experience leading technical maintenance teams.
• Proven experience with industrial machinery and production systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee mechanical and electrical maintenance across the plant.
• Develop and monitor preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance programmes.
• Minimise unplanned downtime with effective planning and scheduling.
• Lead, supervise and develop maintenance personnel and contractors.
• Develop and manage maintenance budgets and spare parts inventory.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements and engineering standards.
• Drive continuous improvement to increase reliability and plant efficiency.

Skills

Maintenance management

Team leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Root-cause analysis

Safety & compliance

Education

Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree

Diploma or technical qualification

Tools

Maintenance management systems

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Management and Plant Reliability

• Oversee all mechanical and electrical maintenance activities across the plant.
• Develop, implement and monitor preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance programmes.
• Ensure plant machinery, production equipment and supporting systems operate at optimal performance levels.
• Minimise unplanned downtime through effective maintenance planning, scheduling and execution.
• Identify recurring equipment failures and implement corrective actions to improve reliability.
• Conduct root-cause analysis on major breakdowns and develop long-term solutions.
• Coordinate planned maintenance shutdowns, inspections, repairs and equipment overhauls.

Technical and Engineering Oversight

• Provide technical guidance on complex mechanical and electrical faults.
• Ensure effective troubleshooting and fault-finding across industrial machinery and production equipment.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, efficiency and operational reliability.
• Oversee the installation, repair, servicing and commissioning of machinery and equipment where required.
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with relevant engineering standards, technical specifications and safety requirements.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, supervise and develop maintenance personnel, including artisans, technicians, supervisors and contractors.
• Allocate workloads, coordinate maintenance activities and monitor team performance.
• Establish clear performance expectations and promote accountability within the maintenance department.
• Identify skills gaps and facilitate technical training and development.
• Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Budgeting, Planning and Resources

• Develop and manage maintenance budgets, ensuring the effective use of resources.
• Manage spare parts, tools, equipment and critical maintenance inventory.
• Coordinate external contractors and service providers where necessary.
• Monitor maintenance expenditure and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety or reliability.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, reports and equipment histories.

Safety and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety requirements and applicable engineering regulations.
• Promote safe working practices, risk assessments and adherence to maintenance procedures.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs, including equipment availability, breakdown frequency, downtime and maintenance costs.
• Work closely with production and operations teams to align maintenance activities with manufacturing targets.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, reliability and plant efficiency.

Minimum Requirements

• At least 5 years' relevant experience in maintenance management or a similar senior maintenance role within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• A relevant degree, diploma or technical qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong mechanical or electrical technical knowledge, supported by relevant practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing and leading technical maintenance teams.
• Proven experience with industrial machinery, plant equipment and production systems.
• Sound knowledge of preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance practices.
• Experience with breakdown management, fault-finding, root-cause analysis and maintenance planning.
• Strong organisational, problem‑solving, communication and leadership skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a demanding, production‑focused environment.

Advantageous Qualifications and Experience

• A Government Certificate of Competency (GCC).
• A relevant trade test, such as Millwright, Fitter, Electrician or another related engineering trade.
• Experience in heavy industrial or process-driven manufacturing, particularly ceramics, tiles, cement, brick manufacturing, glass, steel, refractories or similar industries.
• Experience maintaining continuous‑production machinery and complex industrial plant systems.
• Exposure to maintenance management systems, reliability improvement initiatives and planned plant shutdowns.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a proactive, hands‑on engineering leader who understands the importance of plant reliability in a demanding manufacturing environment. You will be comfortable making technical decisions, managing competing maintenance priorities, leading a skilled team and working closely with production to ensure operational targets are achieved.

You should be solutions‑driven, resilient under pressure and committed to maintaining high standards of engineering, safety and performance.