Manager - Quality & Process

Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd. in Durban seeks a Quality and Process Manager to lead quality initiatives across the lubricants supply chain, from raw material receipt to distribution.

You will oversee Laboratory QA/QC execution, maintain plant facilities and equipment through preventative and breakdown maintenance, and drive root-cause analysis to deliver process improvements within budget. You will also manage inventory reconciliation at LMP and procurement activities with suppliers.

Qualifications

• Experience leading QA/QC in a lubricant supply chain.
• Strong ability to drive process improvements and cost control.
• Proven leadership in laboratory operations and quality programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead zero-defect quality initiatives across the supply chain.
• Align strategic and operational quality focus with market requirements.
• Manage Laboratory QA/QC activities and testing protocols.
• Maintain plant facilities with preventative and breakdown maintenance.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement improvements.
• Oversee inventory reconciliation at LMP and 3rd party locations.
• Manage contracting and purchasing of goods/services.
• Coordinate procurement bids and supplier contracts as contract owner.

Skills

Quality management

Process improvement

Root cause analysis

Laboratory management

Job description

The Quality and Process Manager :

• Leads the process of approaching zero defects in quality throughout the supply chain activities. This includes raw material receipt, storage, manufacturing processes, warehousing and distribution.
• Provides the leadership to ensure that the strategic and operational focus of the lubricants supply chain is aligned with the quality requirements of the lubricants market.
• Manages the Laboratory in execution of QA & QC activities
• Manages the maintenance process at the manufacturing plant to assure Plant facilities and all operational equipment are maintained in a safe and efficient condition by providing a preventative and breakdown service to the Production facility to optimize plant operating capacity within operating budgets.
• Is responsible for the targeting of sub optimum operating performance in the Production Plant, analysis of root cause, the development of alternative and best solutions and effective implementation of process and capital improvements through the line organization.
• Is responsible for Inventory Management & Reconciliation at LMP, 3rd party locations
• Responsible for contracting and purchasing of goods and services
• Supports work associated with coordinating, negotiating, and administering procurement proposals, bids, and contracts with suppliers/vendors as contract owner for LMP

Application deadline: 01 September 2026

Astron Energy is a leading supplier of petroleum products in South Africa, with a vast network of Caltex-branded service stations that make us one of the country’s top two petroleum brands. We are strongly committed to being a responsible corporate citizen, promoting education, health and economic development in an effort to build stronger communities and drive sustainable economic growth. We own and operate the country’s third-largest crude oil refinery in Cape Town, which has a capacity of 100,000 barrels a day, and a lubricants manufacturing plant in Durban.