Rail Siding Manager

Ikwezi Mining (Pty) Ltd; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Ikwezi Mining (Pty) Ltd. is seeking a Rail Siding Operations Lead to manage daily coal loading, siding activities, stock control, and safety adherence at the mine site.

You will coordinate with rail operators, logistics teams, and contractors to meet loading targets, optimise stock, and ensure quality compliance across all shifts.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Logistics, Mining, Engineering, Operations Management.
• Minimum 5–8 years’ experience in coal logistics, rail siding, mining, or bulk material handling operations.
• Previous supervisory or management experience essential.
• Experience working with rail loading operations and export coal logistics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day rail siding operations for coal loading and dispatch.
• Ensure efficient rail wagon loading, staging, shunting coordination, and dispatch activities.
• Monitor operational performance to achieve loading targets and turnaround times.
• Coordinate train schedules with logistics providers and operational teams.
• Ensure optimal utilisation of rail siding infrastructure and equipment.
• Oversee coal stockpile management and movement within the siding area.
• Ensure correct coal grades are loaded according to customer specifications.
• Monitor stock levels, reconciliations, and material movements.
• Investigate and resolve stock variances and loading discrepancies.
• Ensure proper sampling and quality control processes are followed.
• Ensure compliance with mine health and safety regulations and company safety standards.
• Conduct regular safety inspections, toolbox talks, and risk assessments.
• Enforce safe work procedures for rail, mobile equipment, and loading operations.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure environmental compliance regarding dust suppression, spillage control, and housekeeping.
• Liaise with rail operators, transport contractors, and internal departments.
• Coordinate loading schedules and ensure minimal delays or demurrage.
• Manage contractor performance and compliance on site.
• Maintain effective communication with production, dispatch, and planning teams.
• Coordinate maintenance activities for siding infrastructure and loading equipment.
• Report equipment breakdowns and ensure timely repairs.
• Minimise operational downtime through preventative maintenance planning.
• Monitor equipment availability and operational reliability.
• Supervise rail siding operators, loading teams, and contractors.
• Manage staffing, shift planning, attendance, and performance.
• Train employees on operational procedures and safety requirements.
• Foster a high-performance and safety-focused culture.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly operational reports.
• Monitor KPIs including loading tonnages, turnaround times, delays, safety incidents, and equipment utilisation.
• Maintain accurate operational records and documentation.
• Analyse operational data and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Coal logistics

Rail siding ops

Stock management

Safety compliance

Operational planning

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Diploma or Degree in Logistics, Mining, Engineering, Operations Management

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

Rail Siding Operations Management

• Manage day-to-day rail siding operations for coal loading and dispatch.
• Ensure efficient rail wagon loading, staging, shunting coordination, and dispatch activities.
• Monitor operational performance to achieve loading targets and turnaround times.
• Coordinate train schedules with logistics providers and operational teams.
• Ensure optimal utilisation of rail siding infrastructure and equipment.

Coal Handling & Stock Management

• Oversee coal stockpile management and movement within the siding area.
• Ensure correct coal grades are loaded according to customer specifications.
• Monitor stock levels, reconciliations, and material movements.
• Investigate and resolve stock variances and loading discrepancies.
• Ensure proper sampling and quality control processes are followed.

Safety, Health & Environmental Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all mine health and safety regulations and company safety standards.
• Conduct regular safety inspections, toolbox talks, and risk assessments.
• Enforce safe work procedures for rail, mobile equipment, and loading operations.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure environmental compliance regarding dust suppression, spillage control, and housekeeping.

Logistics & Contractor Coordination

• Liaise with rail operators, transport contractors, and internal departments.
• Coordinate loading schedules and ensure minimal delays or demurrage.
• Manage contractor performance and compliance on site.
• Maintain effective communication with production, dispatch, and planning teams.

Maintenance Coordination

• Coordinate maintenance activities for siding infrastructure and loading equipment.
• Report equipment breakdowns and ensure timely repairs.
• Minimise operational downtime through preventative maintenance planning.
• Monitor equipment availability and operational reliability.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise rail siding operators, loading teams, and contractors.
• Manage staffing, shift planning, attendance, and performance.
• Train employees on operational procedures and safety requirements.
• Foster a high-performance and safety-focused culture.

Reporting & Administration

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly operational reports.
• Monitor KPIs including loading tonnages, turnaround times, delays, safety incidents, and equipment utilisation.
• Maintain accurate operational records and documentation.
• Analyse operational data and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achievement of daily and monthly loading targets
• Rail wagon turnaround times
• Minimal train delays and demurrage
• Stock accuracy and reconciliation performance
• Compliance with safety and environmental standards
• Equipment uptime and operational availability
• Reduction in operational downtime
• Contractor performance management
• Incident-free operational performance
• Achievement of dispatch schedules

Minimum Requirements

• Qualifications:
  • Diploma or Degree in Logistics, Mining, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field
  • Minimum 5–8 years’ experience in coal logistics, rail siding, mining, or bulk material handling operations
  • Previous supervisory or management experience essential
  • Experience working with rail loading operations and export coal logistics preferred
• Knowledge & Technical Skills:
  • Coal handling and stockpile management
  • Rail siding and wagon loading operations
  • Bulk materials handling systems
  • Safety and environmental legislation
  • Operational planning and logistics coordination
  • Stock reconciliation and reporting
  • MS Office and ERP systems
• Competencies:
  • Strong leadership and people management skills
  • Operational planning and organisational ability
  • Problem-solving and decision-making capability
  • Strong communication and coordination skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage deadlines
  • High attention to safety and compliance
  • Analytical and reporting capability
• Preferred Experience:
  • Experience in export coal operations
  • Experience working with Transnet rail operations
  • Knowledge of wash plant and dispatch operations
  • Experience in high-volume mining or terminal environments