Site Manager, Phalaborwa at Sheldon Recruitment

• We are seeking a Site Manager for a permanent vacancy based in Phalaborwa, Limpopo

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria:

• A diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, electromechanical engineering, automotive engineering or a related discipline. Candidates with relevant trade qualifications and substantial practical experience may also be considered.
• At least 5 years of experience maintaining mining equipment, heavy vehicles or construction machinery, including at least 2 years managing a site team or maintenance workshop.
• Sound knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulic systems, drivetrains and vehicle electrical systems, with the ability to lead complex fault diagnosis and repairs.
• Experience in preventive maintenance, maintenance planning, equipment availability management and spare parts inventory control.
• Strong commitment to site safety, with the ability to implement risk assessments, work procedures and corrective actions.
• English proficiency sufficient to communicate on site, participate in client meetings and prepare work reports.
• Strong people coordination, client communication and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage urgent operational issues.
• Proficiency in Excel and other office applications, with experience using a maintenance management system or CMMS.
• Willingness to work on a long-term mine-site assignment and undertake emergency coordination duties as required by the project.
• Willing to travel when required

Preferred experience

• Experience on mining projects in South Africa or other international locations.
• Familiarity with Bell, CAT and Komatsu surface mining equipment.
• Experience managing multicultural teams or coordinating technical support with Chinese equipment manufacturers.
• Experience managing maintenance contracts for mining clients, with demonstrated improvements in equipment availability or reductions in recurring failures.
• Ability to work with Chinese(Mandarin) and English environment

The successful applicant would be responsible for, but not limited to:
Site operations and contract delivery

• Lead on-site maintenance and repair services, including work planning, staffing and resource allocation.
• Monitor the contractual scope, service requirements and delivery risks, and ensure issues are resolved promptly.
• Prioritise planned maintenance and breakdown repairs, aligning maintenance windows with the mine's production requirements.

Equipment maintenance and reliability

• Organise preventive maintenance, planned servicing, fault diagnosis and emergency repairs to achieve the contractual minimum equipment / fleet availability of 85%.
• Analyse downtime, recurring failures and repair quality; lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Track operating hours, critical component condition and maintenance history, and support overhaul and rebuild planning.

Team leadership

• Manage the on-site maintenance team and coordinate day-to-day activities with parts planning and project support personnel.
• Arrange rosters, shift handovers, attendance and emergency coverage in line with mine operations and workshop requirements.
• Provide technical training, practical guidance and performance feedback to improve maintenance capability and teamwork.

Health safety and environmental management

• Implement mine-site safety requirements through pre-shift briefings, risk assessments, inspections and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with lockout and isolation procedures, permit-to-work requirements, personal protective equipment rules and high-risk work procedures.
• Ensure prompt reporting of accidents and near misses, coordinate investigations and close out corrective actions; intervene immediately when unsafe work is identified.
• Oversee the handling of oils and waste and maintain good housekeeping in the workshop and work areas.

Spare parts tyres and tools

• Work with parts planning personnel to manage consignment stock and plan requirements and replenishment for critical spare parts, tyres and consumables.
• Monitor inventory accuracy, consumption and supply progress to reduce downtime caused by parts shortages.
• Coordinate urgent supply of breakdown-related materials to meet contractual delivery times.
• Manage maintenance tools, diagnostic equipment and site assets, ensuring availability and proper care.

Client coordination and reporting

• Act as the main on-site contact for the client's production, equipment, safety and stores teams.
• Report regularly on equipment availability, maintenance progress, downtime analysis, parts supply risks and improvement actions.
• Address client feedback, track agreed actions and escalate technical, commercial or resource issues beyond delegated authority.

Cost control and maintenance records

• Monitor labour, overtime, spare parts and maintenance expenditure while maintaining safety and repair quality.
• Ensure work orders, time records, maintenance histories and material issue records are complete and accurate.
• Support service sign-off, preparation of supporting documents for invoicing and management of changes to the contractual scope