OPERATIONS MANAGER - GQEBERHA

Level-Up; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the water treatment industry is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to oversee operations and maintenance at their facilities. The successful candidate will ensure optimal performance, compliance with safety regulations, and client satisfaction while driving process improvements. Candidates must have a relevant engineering degree and a strong understanding of water treatment processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in advanced water treatment.
• Experience with RO, UF, Precipitation, and Clarification technologies.
• Strong understanding of plant health and asset management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations and maintenance at water treatment facilities.
• Drive continuous improvement and process optimisation.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and client requirements.

Skills

Plant management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Process troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Education

B.Eng in Chemical Engineering

BTech in Chemical Engineering

Civil or Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Reporting to the Operations Director, this position is responsible for the overall plant/facility management, operations, and maintenance. The focus is on ensuring optimal operational plant performance and product output in accordance with defined KPIs, product specifications, and quality standards at the water treatment plant(s) within the assigned area.

Key Performance Areas

Oversee and manage Plant Supervisor(s), Production, and Maintenance teams within the area of responsibility.

Manage team utilisation, performance, and output.

Ensure plant performance aligns with contractual quality and quantity KPIs.

Ensure compliance with both internal and client safety standards.

Take accountability for safety performance in line with MHSA/OSHA legal appointments.

Maintain effective administrative and control procedures to support performance objectives, including financial control, HR/IR, procurement, and stock management.

Drive continuous improvement and process optimisation.

Implement and maintain financial controls with Profit & Loss accountability for the plant(s).

Monitor and report on all aspects of processes and ongoing projects.

Efficiently manage resources to meet team performance objectives.

Ensure client satisfaction through professional and high-quality service delivery.

Conduct client feedback meetings and provide necessary reporting.

Compile plant reports and attend client meetings as required.

Monitor plant health and proactively intervene to optimise plant availability.

Provide effective reporting to the regional Operations Manager.

Perform operational standby duties as needed.

Experience, Qualifications & Functional Competencies

Qualifications: B.Eng or BTech in Chemical Engineering preferred. Candidates with Civil or Mechanical Engineering qualifications may be considered based on relevant experience.

Minimum of 5 years experience in advanced water treatment.

Experience with technologies such as RO, UF, Precipitation, and Clarification is advantageous.

Previous experience in staff management is beneficial.

Strong understanding of plant health and water treatment asset management.

Proven management experience with a record of satisfactory performance.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, and database systems.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Skills in planning, attention to detail, and process troubleshooting.

Demonstrates ethical conduct, responsibility, innovation, and accountability.

Capable of maintaining client relationships effectively.