Maintenance Manager - (Wackys)

Pedros Chicken; Durban; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Wacky's Maintenance Manager is based at the Durban Head Office with travel to stores nationwide. You will drive preventative maintenance, reduce downtime, manage contractors and support new store openings to ensure all locations remain operational and compliant.

Ideal candidates have a degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering (or equivalent), CMMS experience, and refrigeration/HVAC certification. A vehicle and valid license are required.

Qualifications

• Degree or relevant tertiary/technical qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent trade qualification – advantageous
• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• CMMS or similar maintenance/asset management software
• Experience in a multi-site QSR, restaurant or retail maintenance environment
• Refrigeration and/or HVAC trade certification
• Experience implementing or administering a CMMS or similar maintenance management system
• Own vehicle and valid drivers license

Responsibilities

• Establish dedicated ownership of maintenance across stores and national rollout from Durban Head Office
• Develop, implement and manage a structured preventative maintenance programme
• Reduce equipment downtime and repair costs through proactive planning and fault diagnosis
• Diagnose and resolve faults on fryers, refrigeration, extraction, HVAC and other equipment
• Manage external contractors, SLAs, call-outs and quotations
• Support new store openings and equipment installations
• Prioritise breakdown response across multiple locations
• Manage maintenance budget and ensure compliance with health, safety standards
• Hands-on problem solving and strong organisation across sites
• Strong communication with contractors, suppliers and store teams

Job description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The Maintenance Manager is responsible for establishing dedicated ownership of maintenance across Wacky's as the business expands. This role drives preventative maintenance, reduces equipment downtime and repair costs, manages service providers and contractors, supports new store openings and equipment installations, and ensures all stores and equipment are properly maintained. This is a national role (based at Durban Head Office, with travel to stores)
2. Develop, implement and manage a structured preventative maintenance programme across all Wacky's stores and equipment
3. Reduce equipment downtime and repair costs through proactive planning, inspection and fault diagnosis
4. Diagnose and resolve electrical and mechanical faults on commercial fryers, refrigeration, extraction, HVAC and other QSR equipment
5. Manage and coordinate external contractors and service providers, including SLAs, call-outs, quotations and quality of workmanship
6. Support new store openings and equipment installations, ensuring stores are fully operational and trade-ready
7. Prioritise and coordinate breakdown response and maintenance requirements across multiple store locations
8. Manage and control the maintenance budget, balancing cost control with equipment reliability and uptime
9. Ensure all stores and equipment comply with relevant health, safety and operational standards
10. Hands-on, proactive and solutions-driven approach to problem solving
11. Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise under pressure across multiple sites
12. Strong communication and relationship management skills with contractors, suppliers and store teams

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Degree or relevant tertiary/technical qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent trade qualification – advantageous
2. MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
3. Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) or similar maintenance/asset management software (advantageous)
4. Experience in a multi-site QSR, restaurant or retail maintenance environment
5. Refrigeration and/or HVAC trade certification
6. Experience implementing or administering a CMMS or similar maintenance management system
7. Own vehicle and valid drivers license