Job Openings at CHEP

Position Purpose

• The Maintenance Manager is accountable for ensuring plant equipment is safe to operate, prioritising a zero-harm environment while ensuring optimal equipment reliability. The Maintenance Manager will oversee all installations, repairs and upkeep operations for the mill’s facilities, equipment and houses with their primary goal being to ensure that the facility is safe, functional and operating at peak efficiency while minimizing downtime through proactive planning.
• The Maintenance Manager will lead the maintenance department, vehicle workshop, building and cleaning teams.

Key Accountabilities

Safety Culture

• Promote a safety culture and drive safety compliance within the team
• Ensure the entire sawmill plant and facilities complies with the Brambles global safety standards
• Enforce all ZERO HARM policies and practices to ensure the mill achieves zero injuries.
• Ensure all plant equipment complies with safety and industry standards and regulations
• Ensure that all company Standard Operating Procedures are being followed Promotes and manage the safe, efficient, and effective use of all plant equipment
• Conduct regular safety inspections, audits, and risk assessments on machinery and facilities to identify and mitigate / resolve hazards
• Uphold all GAP/ Couch Positive requirements within the maintenance department

Strategic Planning:

• Develop maintenance strategy for Weatherboard
• Develop, implement, and monitor Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedules that prioritize safe operating conditions, minimize unexpected and hazardous breakdowns, and increases equipment efficiency and lifespan.
• Develop and implement a job card and planning system to ensure jobs are planned and executed timeously.
• Manage a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders.
• Effectively plan upgrades, replacements, and decommissioning of plant equipment.
• Track plant equipment conditions and maintenance history and develop and manage a maintenance budget for maintaining plant equipment and the site facilities to the highest standard.

Operations:

• Plan, organize, lead and control the day-to-day activities in the maintenance department.
• Develop maintenance standard work for routine maintenance activities, ensuring the most efficient, consistent, and safe method for performing maintenance tasks, minimizing human error and variability. 
• Ensures that all breakdowns are attended to immediately and resolved within the shortest possible times to ensure minimal plant down time
• Work closely with production teams to improve mechanical reliability, changeover performance and operating efficiency.
• Implement and maintain a maintenance tracker to identify recurring maintenance
• related problems and develop solutions to eliminate or minimise recurring maintenance related problems
• Oversee all repairs and installations (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and machinery).
• Ensure Inspections are carried out and records kept up to date as per the inspection frequency. Record and report information that may impede the operation of the plant
• Develop and maintain an optimal inventory or maintenance spares
• Maintain statutory inspections, calibration coordination, maintenance records and asset documentation.
• Sourcing of maintenance spares and equipment required and prevent runouts
• Ensure that all quality standards are maintained and recorded. Product produced to comply with the provided specifications
• Ensure performance targets are achieved and deadlines are achieved

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and motivate maintenance team
• Ensure good communication with direct reports both verbally and written
• Supervise, train, and mentor a team of Fitters, Electricians, Millwrights, Boilermakers, Diesel Mechanics, Auto Electricians and Cleaners.
• Allocate workload and ensure that planned jobs are executed in the prescribed time.
• Conduct performance reviews and ensure the team adheres to safety protocols.
• Manage a staff compliment of 22 employees
• Ensure a competent and skilled maintenance team by co-ordinating all training activities by means of an up-to-date skill and training metrics
• Ensure that the training matrix is up to date and that all job specific training is done.
• Develop succession planning for critical roles and people leadership roles with the maintenance team

Contractor Management: 

• Ensure external contractors compliance with safety policies
• Ensure external contractors deliver as per scope, budget and timelines
• Plan and coordinate scheduling of work and site access to minimize operational disruptions while managing technical maintenance tasks.
• Track external contractor performance
• Verify work completed, and coordinate

Key Requirements

• Diploma
• PLC Programming
• Trade tested Millwright/Electrician
• Minimum 8 - 10 years’ experience in a maintenance leadership role, preferably in a sawmill
• 10 Years’ experience in preventive maintenance, breakdown analysis and reliability improvement.
• Conveyer belt experiencing

Skills and Knowledge

• Leadership of maintenance function
• OHS Act
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Microsoft office
• Ability to multitask and operate under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Working with teams
• Strong work ethic
• Strong analytical skills
• Problem solving
• Ability to adapt to changing situations
• Self-driven and motivated
• Knowledge of safety policies, procedures and regulation
• High level of understanding and respect for organizational goals and objectives
• Ability to transcend personal objectives for organizational success

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Position Purpose

• Responsible for the overall maintenance, fault finding, repair and replacement of mechanical equipment to ensure a smooth, efficient operation of the plant and machinery at the Service Centre(s) in accordance with Company and Government Regulations and Standards

Key Accountabilities

• Supervising and motivating of subordinates
• Maintain and repair plant machinery and equipment with minimal downtime.
• Planning and executing a documented preventative maintenance system in conjunction with plant and property
• Daily Inspect, record and report information that may impede the operation of the plant.
• Ensure that all electrical and mechanical equipment are operating in strict accordance with Government and Company Rules and Regulations
• Practice safe working procedures in accordance with the statutory regulations and OHS Act 
• Ensure general maintenance and repairs are completed in accordance to laid-down procedures
• Appointed as the competent person as required by the statutory regulation
• Sourcing of maintenance spares and equipment required
• Adheres to the company’s safety policy and procedures
• Carries out all tasks as designated by his immediate line manager

Key Requirements 

• N4
• Trade Tested Artisan (Millwright)
• PLC Experience
• 3-5 years’ technical experience in an FMCG environment

Skills and Knowledge

• Trade Tested Artisan (Millwright / Electrical / Mechanical)
• Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems maintenance
• Preventative and predictive maintenance planning
• Fault finding and root cause analysis on plant equipment
• PLC troubleshooting and basic programming (advantage)
• Understanding of hydraulics, pneumatics, and robotics systems
• Knowledge of CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems)
• Equipment reliability and asset lifecycle management (MTBF & MTTR)
• Ability to minimise downtime and improve plant uptime
• Continuous improvement mindset (Lean / TPM principles – advantage)

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Position Purpose

• The Senior Logistics Planner is responsible for end‑to‑end planning and fulfillment of customer demand for all equipment within the pallet family representing more than two‑thirds of the organisation’s revenue and forming a critical pillar of business success.
• This role serves as the liaison between Planning & Logistics, Operations and the Commercial Sales teams to ensure alignment between supply and demand. The Senior Logistics Planner will develop the short to medium-term hire equipment demand and supply plan, ensuring sufficient hire equipment is available at the required location at the right time.
• Through stringent data analysis and meta-data insights; the Senior Logistics Planner will control, drive and implement procedures to ensure that the Service Centre network is optimally balanced.  This will include delivering exceptional Customer Experience (CX) through striving toward achieving 100% DIFOT and 100% CIFOT whilst optimizing the cost base.

Equipment Flows (Demand Planning):

• Own the Blue Yonder Customer Forecasting process, working with the Commercial Sales teams to obtain and validate customer forecasts through monitoring and utilising historical demand (issue & return) data as well as market intelligence to ensure a high level of short to medium-term issue and return forecast accuracy by customer and Service Centre.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of dynamics and influencing factors specific to CHEP products at a customer, Service Centre, geographical area and regional levels, including seasonal fluctuations and reasons / causes of fluctuations.
• Strive toward achieving 100% Demand Planning forecast accuracy in Blue Yonder through ensuring that customer master data in Blue Yonder is maintained and through suggesting changes to forecasting algorithms to improve customer level demand forecasts.
• Conduct detailed analysis of network flows to identify, setup and maintain Inventory Management and Order fulfillment & distribution in Blue Yonder, including identifying all rules and constraints affecting the supply of Hire Equipment at customer and Service Centre level, ensuring that relocation flows suggested by Blue Yonder are optimised for efficiency and cost.
• Develop insights through the analysis of meta‑data to deliver clear and actionable recommendations.
• Ensure that equipment supplied and returned on CHEP arranged transport is done so from the optimal location to minimise cost to serve and minimise relocation ratios and costs
• Conduct network balancing studies to identify and provide recommendations on changes to activities at Service Centres (inspection and conditioning) and to customer flow patterns to improve customer service and reduce cost to serve.
• Identify customers with short order lead times, and work with the Commercial Sales team to drive improvements in these customers order lead times
• Ability to implement planning with Sales and negotiate availability with Service Centres

Production Planning (Supply Planning):

• Calculate national production plans by Service Centre and material based on customer forecast, hire equipment flows as well as Service Centre conditioning capacities.
• Daily monitoring of Service Centre output vs. target and A and C stock cover to ensure sufficient hire equipment availability to meet demand
• Discuss any shortfall on target production and C stock cover with Operations leaders and make alternative plans to ensure availability of C stock to meet customer demand.

Inventory Control:

• Responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels at the various Service Centres as well as communicating the inventory levels and stock transfer plans to internal customers.
• Ensure that the Service Centres remain within safe storage capacities
• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of service centre capabilities and constraints relating to specific products:
• Availability of yard space to store
• Forklift availability
• Load handling capability and time constraints (hours of operation and loading bays)
• Production capacity
• Understanding of the new product procurement plan including quantity on order and lead times to determine how these can be optimally deployed.
• Define stock transfer / collection & delivery plan requirements (i.e. product code and status, quantity, source, destination, timing) based on equipment flows, whilst taking into consideration service centre and transport constraints

Order Planning and Fulfillment

• Optimize Pallet Hire Equipment availability across over 80 CHEP locations spread throughout the SSA region, simultaneously ensuring costs are minimised and each location has sufficient hire equipment to support on‑time, in‑full customer order fulfillment through fast, accurate, and informed decision‑making.
• Correctly place customer orders on Blue Yonder or SAP, ensuring that the orders are planned on the lowest cost lanes
• Ensure accurate change codes are applied in SAP when making changes to customer orders
• Maximise truck utilisation, and work with Planners across other categories where required to build a full load
• Liaise with Operations or Sales team to ensure that trucks are turned in the quickest possible time at Service Centres and Customer sites, minimising standing time charges
• Reduce the number of failed collections and deliveries

Financial Control:

• Relentless focus on identifying and implementing initiatives to drive efficiencies in Logistics and reduce transport spend while ensuring order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
• Responsible for setting and communicating customer collection and delivery charges
• Review actual relocation flows and network imbalances against relocation charges to identify and realign relocation charges where there is under and over recovery.
• Ensure that all transport spend is fully recovered from customers
• Integrate planning to include budgetary requirements.
• Conduct Plant Network Optimization (PNO) studies to ensure logistics operates effectively and efficiently whilst meeting KPI objectives.
• Managing of ZOLCC report (Operations & Logistics costs) to ensure all CHEP arranged transport costs have been accurately charged against customers.
• Compile monthly commentary to Finance on Logistics Costs vs Budget/Forecast for hire equipment category being managed
• Compile monthly CX DIFOT and CX CIFOT commentary for inclusion in the CX scorecard
• Where required, represent Logistics Planning on global initiatives impacting the team
• Capturing and managing Logistics Initiatives on the WAVE platform.
• Carry out any reasonable and lawful requests from line and senior management to support the interests of the business.

Key Requirements

• Diploma Qualification, preferably within Supply Chain and Logistics
• Honours Degree desirable.
• 5 years in commercial/ Industrial environment/ Inventory Control
• At least 5 years in a logistics / transport environment with focus on inventory planning.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of process improvement techniques.
• Ability to thrive in time-sensitive high-pressure environment
• Excellent analytical skills
• Effective written and communication skills.
• Knowledge of the principles of planning optimization and
• Inventory Management techniques.
• Ability to work effectively in teams of individuals from various business units.
• Strong planning, prioritisation, and organising skills.
• Computer Literacy – MS Office including advanced MS Excel and PowerBI, SAP, Business Warehouse, and Blue Yonder Supply Chain Planning, including Demand planning & forecasting; Inventory management; and Order fulfillment & distribution

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Job Description

• CHEP is seeking a commercially astute Senior Director, Commercial to lead growth, shape strategy, and drive performance across Sub-Saharan Africa. This role is suited to a leader with true end-to-end accountability, operating beyond functional boundaries and influencing across markets, customers, and cross-functional teams in a complex, multi-country environment, with responsibility for defining and executing the regional commercial agenda, strengthening customer partnerships, and unlocking sustainable growth while ensuring consistent delivery. Your leadership will directly shape business outcomes and how CHEP delivers long-term value, within a purpose-driven organisation advancing more efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Develop, implement and manage the commercial strategy to achieve sustainable growth, profitability and market competitiveness, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and long-term plans.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, leading negotiations, renewals and tenders, and delivering innovative solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Foster collaboration across internal teams including sales, marketing, supply chain, finance and transformation to ensure effective execution of commercial initiatives.
• Oversee the sales pipeline and account management processes, using CRM tools to maximise conversion, retention and effectiveness, while ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis, generate actionable insights and contribute to business transformation and digitalisation initiatives to inform strategic decision-making and drive business expansion.
• Promote a customer-focused culture at all levels, driving measurable improvements in customer service, satisfaction and value creation through innovation in service design and process improvement.
• Ensure adherence to asset management protocols, pricing architecture and budgetary controls, achieving high asset productivity, minimal equipment loss and financial targets.
• Lead, develop and coach a geographically dispersed commercial team, establishing priorities, monitoring performance and fostering a high-performance culture that supports employee engagement, development and wellbeing.

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience as a business leader with end-to-end business accountability
• 3–5+ years at Executive/ExCo level Leadership
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership influence across commercial, operations and finance
• Strong South African market knowledge and established customer networks
• Experience managing large, complex P&Ls
• Track record in commercial delivery, contract negotiation, and customer retention
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA advantageous

Technical Capabilities

• Strong financial and commercial acumen (pricing, margins, portfolio management)
• Experience in service-based commercial models
• Ability to leverage data and insights for decision-making
• Familiarity with CRM/digital tools (e.g., Salesforce) advantageous
• Experience navigating complex, multi-market commercial environments

Leadership Capabilities

• Highly influential across diverse stakeholders
• Exceptional relationship-building capability (internal and external)
• Strong resilience in demanding commercial environments
• Strategic thinker with a strong commercial mindset
• Ability to drive transformation while maintaining performance stability
• High energy, ownership, and accountability mindset
• Confident communicator with strong external brand representation
   

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Position Purpose 

• The Plant Manager will have overall responsibility for equipment processing activities for the Plant/s under his/her control. The incumbent is responsible to develop and manage relationships with all 3rd party service providers as well as customers where onsite activities occur within their area of responsibility.
• The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that all Company policies and procedures (ie SLA’s and SOP’s) are adhered to and implemented by all staff and 3rd party contractors situated in his/her area of responsibility.

Key Accountabilities 

People and Safety

• Promote and drive a culture of Zero Harm.
• Implement and drive the safety strategies across CHEP and TPM plants.
• Responsible for the GAP, SEMP and Environmental requirements and audit results.
• Recruit, motivate and develop subordinates and ensure a succession plan is in place.
• Develop a motivated and productive workforce through effective people management and communication skills.
• Ensures that good communications and sound relationships are maintained with all employees, shop stewards and respective unions.

Cost and Metrics 

• Develop, implement and manage processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions.
• Managing plant costs, production, ensuring highest physical throughput meeting company objectives.
• Report on all Plant KPI’s and compile monthly reports.

Stock Management 

• Responsible for the management and control of all hire stock and raw material.
• Highlight areas of risk and manage variances to ensure the prevention of any stock losses.
• Participates in regular stock audits, supervises all quarterly and annual stock-count audits and resolves queries.
• Ensures that the area of responsibility is efficiently stocked with both hire equipment and repair material to meet customer requirements.

Quality 

• Develop and implement quality systems to ensure customer quality standards are met.
• Conducts quality audits and analyse the data to ensure corrective action is taken for poor quality and/or over-repair.  
• Follow up and resolve all customer complaints and recommends/implements solutions.

3rd Party Service Providers 

• Manage and assist 3rd Party Service Providers through Service Level Agreement stipulations and requirements.
• Effectively develop 3rd party relationships with a continuous focus on reducing costs through cooperative initiatives and amicable business negotiations.
• Ensure 3rd party compliance to all CHEP Operational SOP’s as well as statuary requirements which includes the LRA, BCEA, EE, and OHSACT.

Operational Systems 

• Ensures that all legal and statutory requirements (such as labour legislation) as well as Company policies and procedures applicable to the Operations function are implemented and complied with by all staff. 
• Ensures efficient and effective operating methods (i.e. for inspection, repair, manufacture, etc.) are developed and maintained to achieve productivity, quality and cost targets.

Plant and Property Maintenance 

• Responsible for the overall maintenance of the plant to ensure a  smooth, efficient operation of the plant and machinery at the Service Centre(s) in accordance with Company and Government Regulations and Standards
• Ensure that all electrical and mechanical equipment are operating in strict accordance with Government and Company Rules and Regulations

Scope 

• Countries : Eswatini and Mozambique
• Locations : 2 – 6 (Including a Large service centre)

Key Requirements 

• Degree or a Completed Diploma
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certified (Will be Advantageous)
• 10 Years Production Management experience in a unionized environment

Skills and Knowledge 

• Results driven
• Sound business and commercial acumen.
• Computer literacy (SAP, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Assertive with good communication, organisational and negotiation skills.
• Sound people management with extensive knowledge of Industrial Relations.
• Good knowledge of OSHACT Safety legislation and procedures is essential.