National Maintenance Manager

airliquidehr; Alberton; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Liquide in South Africa seeks a National Maintenance Manager to own the Integrated Management System and define nationwide maintenance strategies, budgets and training standards. You will oversee CMMS, spare parts, regulatory compliance, and KPI performance across all facilities.

You will lead continuous improvement by analyzing reliability incidents, driving cost-effective maintenance programs, auditing subcontractors, and supporting engineering projects to enhance asset reliability while

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering.
• CRE certification is advantageous.
• Valid Driver's License.
• 10-15 years experience in maintenance management, preferably in industrial gas/chemical settings.

Responsibilities

• Define nationwide maintenance strategies, budgets and resources.
• Oversee CMMS, KPI tracking and spare parts inventory management.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with safety laws and PER/SANS347.
• Lead maintenance SOPs, programs and training initiatives.
• Drive improvements via regional managers and audits of subcontractors.
• Support engineering projects to improve asset reliability and reduce costs.
• Provide monthly CMMS data and reports to stakeholders.

Skills

CMMS

Spare parts inventory

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

KPI tracking

Subcontractor audits

Engineering support

People management

Maintenance strategy

Education

Bachelor degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial Engineering

Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)

Valid Driver's License

Tools

CMMS knowledge

Job description

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

As the National Maintenance Manager, the incumbent serves as the strategic process owner for the Integrated Management System (IMS_GP09), accountable for defining nationwide maintenance strategies, workforce budgets, training standards, and subcontracting policies across all facility types and processes. The role drives reliable and efficient operations through CMMS oversight, spare parts inventory control, strict regulatory compliance, and budget management. Additionally, the National Maintenance Manager leads continuous improvement by analyzing reliability incidents and downtime costs, tracking key performance metrics (such as MTBF, MTTR, and OEE), overseeing subcontractor audits, and providing technical support on engineering projects to enhance asset reliability while minimizing operational expenditure across the organization.

• Define and implement a comprehensive maintenance strategy for industrial and medical customer installations (including TGM activities), onsite units, acetylene production and filling facilities, cylinder filling facilities and road tankers. Site maintenance is included in the scope.
• Develop maintenance plans, work instructions (WIs), resources, budget, and cost.
• Identify critical spare parts through Vulnerability Studies and ensure critical spare parts are available and replaced when used.
• Ensure the effective use of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Manage maintenance processes and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as planned/unplanned maintenance, MTBF, TCM, and TCO, ensuring all activities are tracked in the CMMS.
• Participate in Communities of Practice (CoPs) within Air Liquide and local professional bodies (e.g. SACGA), analyze safety and reliability incidents, customer claims, and costs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure the effective implementation of maintenance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), programs, and plans in line with the overall strategy and procurement policies.
• Drive maintenance performance improvement through regional maintenance managers and ensure the Industrial Management System (including internal standards) is effectively implemented. Ensure effective training and qualification programs including artisan development.
• Support the technical aspects of offers and contracts, participating in investment committees.
• Define process improvement objectives and strategies in collaboration with Maintenance and Operations Domain Leaders, analyzing relevant performance indicators.
• Identify improvement areas and develop a maintenance strategy consistent with regulations (e.g., OHS Act, PER, GMR, EMR, SANS 347) and customer contracts. Define annual objectives based on potential savings and provide clear, concise monthly reports on CMMS data to stakeholders.
• Manage maintenance department internal audits and follow up on corrective actions.
• Oversee financial controls within the area of responsibility and manage maintenance inventory, including defining critical spare parts, minimum levels, and technical specifications. Manage EIS on CMMS and act as a Design Authority for projects.
• Develop Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with procurement to ensure subcontractors comply with relevant Group HSE policies and procedures.

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Are you a MATCH?

Educational requirements

• Bachelor degree or above in Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial Engineering
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) as advantage
• Valid Driver's License

Experience

• 5-8 years experience in people management
• 10-15 years experience in maintenance management preferably in the Industrial gas (or chemical) plant, road tanker and bulk container (isotainers)

Knowledge and Know-how specific to the job

• Safety and Environmental requirements
• Legislation related to the gas industry
• Knowledge of maintenance systems(eg CMMS )
• Knowledge of maintenance KPI’s
• Application of PER and SANS347 and transport regulations
• Maintenance practices
• Knowledge of industrial gas equipment and applications

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.
We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.