Engineering Manager-FMCG (Clayville) at Impact

Job Description

Technical Areas Reporting to: Production, Supply Chain, QA

• Main Purpose of the Job (statement about why the role is there, what the role is to achieve): Engineering Manager role is to lead, plan, and direct all engineering, maintenance, and technical activities within the manufacturing plant to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all equipment, utilities, and facilities.
• The role is responsible for driving plant availability, engineering excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, while ensuring that engineering resources, capital projects, and maintenance strategies support production targets, food safety standards, cost objectives, and long-term plant performance.

Job Description

Production & Materials Planning

• Plan, direct, and coordinate engineering activities in a manufacturing plant, including the design, construction, modification, performance, and maintenance of equipment and machinery.
• Manage engineering aspects of capital projects: design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover to achieve project objectives.
• Maintain strong communication with shift and line managers to ensure operational alignment.
• Comply with company Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
• Work in accordance with Food Safety requirements to ensure the quality of finished products.
• Ensure adherence to and compliance with the OHS Act and GMR2 requirements.
• Oversee day-to-day activities such as setting standards/policies for installation, modification, inspection, quality control, testing, and maintenance.
• Inspect plant and machinery to ensure optimum performance.
• Direct the maintenance of plant buildings, utilities, and equipment.
• Schedule and plan engineering activities to meet operational needs.
• Plan, design, and oversee development, installation, operation, and maintenance of plant machinery.
• Conduct research to solve practical engineering challenges and improve efficiency.
• Establish and maintain work control systems.
• Provide guidance to plant personnel on proper plant procedures and manufacturing methods.
• Guide preventative and repair maintenance to ensure the plant meets output quotas and deadlines.
• Conduct operational tests to verify that engineering designs meet required specifications.
• Design and improve engineering processes to increase production efficiency and quality.
• Perform project management tasks and oversee execution of engineering projects within area of expertise.
• Coordinate equipment selection, engage contractors, and evaluate quotes in line with procurement policies.
• Support the business to ensure operations meet environmental and safety protocols cost effectively.
• Prepare and manage departmental budgets, ensuring planned cost outcomes are achieved.
• Ensure monthly reporting on engineering costs and performance through process evaluation.
• Develop and implement a maintenance philosophy aligned to plant requirements.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with OHS Act requirements.
• Implement long-term training and development plans for engineering teams.
• Implement and control standard plant KPIs and develop strategies to achieve them.

Measurable Outcomes

Equipment Reliability & Uptime

• Achieve ≥ 95% plant uptime annually
• Reduce unplanned downtime by at least 10% year-on-year
• Improve Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) by ≥ 5% per quarter

Maintenance Efficiency

• Complete ≥ 90% of planned maintenance tasks within schedule.
• Reduce maintenance backlog to ≤ 2 weeks.
• Ensure 100% compliance with preventive maintenance schedules

Cost Management

• Maintain engineering and maintenance spend within ±5% of approved budget
• Reduce maintenance cost per unit produced by 3–5% annually
• Deliver capital projects within budget and approved scope

Project Delivery

• Complete 100% of engineering projects within agreed timelines
• Ensure successful commissioning of new equipment with ≤ 2% defects in first month of operation
• Achieve 100% handover documentation for all capital projects.

Safety, Health & Compliance

• Maintain zero major OHS Act violations
• Achieve 100% completion of statutory inspections (GMR2, boilers, LOTO, pressure vessels).
• Ensure 100% audit compliance for Food Safety & GMP requirements.
• Reduce safety incidents within engineering by ≥ 20% year-on-year

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure engineering-related quality deviations do not exceed 1% of total non-conformances
• Efficiency & Continuous Improvement
• Deliver at least 3 efficiency or cost-saving projects per year
• Improve energy efficiency by ≥ 5% annually (steam, refrigeration, electricity).
• Achieve ≥ 98% availability of critical plant services (steam, refrigeration, compressed air, water).

People Development & Leadership

• Ensure 100% completion of training plans for engineering staff
• Reduce engineering staff turnover to below 5%
• Conduct quarterly performance reviews with all direct reports
• Develop and implement succession plans for all critical technical roles

Reporting & Governance

• Submit monthly engineering reports by the required deadline with 100% accuracy
• Maintain updated engineering SOPs, risk assessments and work instructions at 100% compliance
• Ensure 100% adherence to procurement and contractor management standards.
• Environmental Stewardship
• Reduce plant environmental incidents to zero major incidents per year
• Achieve ≥ 95% compliance with environmental monitoring requirements (effluent, emissions, waste)
• Implement at least one sustainability improvement initiative per year

Skills and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical (Heavy Current) Engineering.
• Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) – Factories.

Experience

• 8–10 years’ experience in a continuous process operation (factory/packaging/perishables manufacturing preferred)
• Minimum 5 years’ practical experience in engineering operations, maintenance, and projects
• Proven leadership and people management experience
• Demonstrated successful, hands-on track record in machinery maintenance within a production environment
• Experience engaging staff within established company policies to meet workload demands
• Experience implementing and ensuring compliance with OHS Act requirements

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of contract negotiation and management
• Comprehensive understanding of OHS Act regulations, facilities management, financial oversight, project management, and engineering procurement
• Strong preventative maintenance knowledge and application
• High-level problem-solving skills
• Industrial relations competency is essential
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams

Advantageous

• Experience in the FMCG industry, preferably in an HACCP / Food Safety environment
• Experience in another fast-moving consumer goods environment with a strong maintenance leadership track record will also be considered