Refrigeration Engineer

Greys Personnel; Kariega; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in South Africa seeks a qualified refrigeration engineer to maintain and enhance plant operations. The ideal candidate should have a degree in engineering and extensive experience in ammonia refrigeration. Responsibilities include overseeing maintenance, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and managing a team. This role offers a market-related salary.

Qualifications

• 10 years post-qualification hands-on ammonia refrigeration plant engineering experience.
• 5 years experience managing a large-scale refrigeration plant in an FMCG environment.
• Category C Ammonia safe handling certification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain refrigeration equipment to ensure high plant availability.
• Manage maintenance schedules and reports.
• Ensure compliance with safety and operational standards.

Skills

Ammonia refrigeration expertise

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Refrigeration / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering Degree

Job description

Job Requirements :

Refrigeration / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering Degree

A minimum of 10 years post-qualification hands-on ammonia refrigeration plant engineering experience.

At least 5 years of experience managing a large-scale refrigeration plant in an FMCG environment.

Category C Ammonia safe handling.

Job Duties :

Refrigeration Plant - Hardware & Operation :

• Maintain refrigeration equipment and peripherals to ensure greater than 97% plant availability.
• Responsible for maintaining sufficient stock back-up of critical hardware.
• Develop, install, and refine existing hardware installations to improve reliability and functionality.
• Maintain regular contact with suppliers / OEMs to ensure hardware remains current.
• Plan scheduled maintenance with the Production Manager to minimize plant downtime.
• Perform scheduled maintenance on equipment and update maintenance schedules.
• Report weekly on completed, pending, and outstanding maintenance.
• Ensure plant operation is conducted for maximum efficiency.

Preventative Maintenance :

Actively ensure all schedules and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place.

Drive adherence to manufacturer's service schedules to maintain full warranty cover and achieve cost savings.

Establish sound discipline and control around the order, receipt, and issuing of all engineering inventory.

Constantly review and update critical spares inventory for all key equipment, considering lead time, availability, cost, and cost of downtime.

Safety, Health, Environment, Food, and Legal Compliance :

Drive statutory compliance.

Immediately stop any dangerous acts and address any equipment posing a risk to personnel.

Ensure all mechanical work, machinery, and processes comply with Food Safety and Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Enforce internal safety systems, including Lock Out Tag Out (LOTTO), General Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for a food environment, and 100% compliance to the Health & Safety permit system.

Projects :

Draw up task clarifications for proposed projects involving changes to plant utilization and / or new equipment.

Specify scope of work and source quotations from suppliers.

Forward quotations for approval and liaise with suppliers once order numbers are allocated.

People Management :

Train, coach, upgrade, and develop subordinates.

Maintain open communication channels with subordinates through daily meetings for two-way feedback.

Drive Human Resource activities to ensure the department is adequately resourced for present and future business requirements.

Ensure a positive working environment within the refrigeration department.

Manage the team through proper guidance, supervision, inspection, and discipline.

Cost Control :

Develop and maintain the refrigeration department budget.

Control expenditure in line with the budget, ensuring all refrigeration expenditure is pre-approved and tracked daily.

Reduce costs of utilities (water, effluent, electricity, and waste disposal).

General :

Update asset and equipment data when changes are made.

Maintain a Technical Library applicable to the Refrigeration Plant.

Competencies :

Qualified Engineer

Driven to achieve results and quality

Strong Leadership skills

Good analytical skills and ability to take corrective action

Assertiveness

Strong interpersonal Skills

Good adaptive skills

Good communication skills

Good investigative skills

High degree of computer literacy

Strong Project Management skills

Building strategic working relationships

Customer Focus

Decision making

Salary : Market Related

How to apply :