Jobs at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, Planning & Scheduling, is responsible for planning and scheduling of maintenance repairs and projects. Technically strong and with software capability, must contribute to team deliverables and ensure resources are available and jobs set up for safe and efficient execution.

• Ensures safety is always considered when planning / scheduling a task.  “What can go wrong and how can I build in steps to prevent it going wrong”
• Spends adequate time in the field to scope work, track progress, relieve efficiency problems in the field and optimized estimates for future planning
• Interprets work requests and determines work scope and technical specifications through liaison with stakeholders and Subject Matter Expert (SME). Determines resources required to execute the work, i.e. material, spares, labour, services and equipment. Prepares specifications for contract work.
• Acquires the resources necessary for executing the work by preparing and justifying the necessary purchase, service and labour requests.
• Tracks and reports labour performance indicators as required for departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Plans and manages the level of labour resources to ensure optimal backlogs.
• Responsible for the compilation of a single, executable, integrated, site-wide schedule. Works with a team of Schedulers in the development of the integrated schedule.
• Analyses the schedule on a daily basis and for mitigating schedule conflicts so that resources can be utilized effectively.
• Liaises and works with Work Type Stewards to ensure that changes to plant conditions, or changed priorities, or any conditions or situations that may lead to schedule changes are understood and effectively communicated.
• Determines and leads the sequence of projects, maintenance and routine work, ensuring that priorities are understood and accounted for, so that the available resources responsible for the execution of the work are deployed optimally.
• Coordinates with Planners and Schedulers to ensure that all requisites to effectively execute to the schedule are completed.  Interfaces with key Operations stakeholders to ensure the availability of plant for the execution of work.
• Ensure that existing resources are fully utilised, backlogs well managed.
• Ensure that planned hours are accurate
• Support the inventory team by adopting  the ‘stock check’ approach for all direct purchases
• 4 week look ahead schedules are fully loaded for execution
• Engage stakeholders (Operations, Maintenance, Contractors) about schedules, potential delays on outstanding work
• Communicate backlog status (per Work Centre) to stakeholders
• Schedule to be sent out for preview by mid-day Monday and signed off by Wednesday (of the same week)
• Adhere to internal processes when planning & scheduling e.g. Routine Work Control Process
• Mentor less experienced employees in their roles
• Communicate with relevant stakeholders effectively (e.g. schedule conflicts, issues, delays
• Help to Mediate in resolving conflicts that might arise within the team

Qualifications required:

• N4 or ND Mechanical Engineering
• OR, Recognised Trade Test in Mechanical Fitting or Instrumentation or Electrical or N.Dip with experience

Relevant Experience:  

• 5 years'  practical experience of repair, maintenance and rehabilitation to equipment related to planning discipline
• Refining / Oil & Gas an advantage
• Code 08 Driver's license
• Software Proficiency:  Microsoft© application (outlook, word, and excel), Computerised Maintenance Management System & Primavera
• Buying experience an advantage

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Provide business advisory support service to a number of service stations throughout the Region. Assist site owners and retailers with customer relationship management, marketing, pricing strategies, brand building, business planning, maximising sales, driving turnover and profitability, the day-to-day running of the station, merchandising, inventory management, etc. Implement profitability improvements by identifying site growth opportunities, segment targeting and cost to serve analysis per customer.

Key Responsibilities include:

•  Manage Retailer relationships and franchise excellence,
•  Deliver sales targets by driving profitable volume for revenue growth.
•  Ensure efficient sales operations and site excellence within assigned territories.
•  Devise sales strategies, analyze data, monitor competition, address Retailer concerns, and identify sales growth opportunities.
•  Understand and apply Retail economics.
•  Wet Stock Management

Financial Perspective

• Develop and execute a clear business growth plan to ensure sustainable, above market performance of the respective network. Deliver optimum site operating contribution in line with the required financial returns, including gross margins and sales.
• Deep understanding of the PnL at site level and intervene where required to improve financial returns.

Customer Perspective

• Provide professional expertise and an enabling environment (consultancy, training etc.) for the retailers, supporting them to achieve their business objectives.
• Responsible for providing Astron Energy with critical market intelligence to facilitate improved business processes and decision making
• Own the development and successful implementation of a micro-marketing plan per site and adjust as necessary in order to grow market share at site level.
• Working closely with the marketing support team to build a C-store network plan and execute against agreed milestones.

Business Excellence

• Monitor and drive the delivery of key performance indicators. Develop and implement appropriate measures to address issues that may compromise the delivery of business plans and KPI’s.
• Drive compliance of HSSE standards and procedures at site level.
• Play a key role in the selection, management and development of retailers.
• Interact with retailers and business partners and provide expert knowledge and support to ensure operational excellence and application of operating and brand standards.
•  Work with all stakeholders to ensure that all initiatives are delivered as per plan for all sites in your network, and hold other accountable for their work.
• Responsible for the ultimate and successful delivery of KPI’s including Safety, Financial, and Operational targets, including Customer First Scores, Customer Satisfaction and Image Stewardship
• Implements and monitors Corporate OE safety standards and programs across the Retail Network (staff and customers).  Responsible for ensuring 100% compliance with the OE/HES Corporate standards and incorporates into daily execution guidelines.

People Management

• Provide guidance to Retail site owners nurturing and developing a culture of operational excellence and teamwork to ensure targets are met and exceeded.
• Collaborate and maintain healthy relationships with key stakeholders to ensure successful support and delivery of business priorities.
• Execute on the Transformation plan for Retail.

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Post Graduate qualification in Sales & Marketing, Commercial, business or related field.

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of Retail Sales & Operations experience preferably in the petroleum industry, with proven track record of business turnaround through driving own initiatives.
• Proven track record of increasing sales and revenue through developed sales strategies
• Field sales experience is preferred.

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of both fuel and non-fuel retailing.
• Retail detail and site excellence knowledge
• Retailer and customer relationship management
• Good franchise excellence and CR Understanding
• Good understanding of Retail economics and the RAS model
• Good selling and negotiations skills
• Good stakeholder engagement and organizational management skills  
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Proficiency in the use of performance KPIs in MS Office
• An affinity for brand  and relationship building skills.
• Track record of operational excellence delivery as well as creative and critical problem-solving skills.
• High levels of commercial acumen and understanding value drivers.

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The responsibilities of the Business Analyst are to gather, analyse and prepare documentation such as detailed impact assessments and any functional specification documents required for Astron Energy corporate functions and shared platforms. They will also report on any IT generated demand as well as business generated enhancements required. The Business Analyst is responsible to facilitate reporting standardisation across functional areas by identifying standardisation opportunities and optimising the existing reporting framework.

• The Business Analyst supports the corporate functions domain architect and corporate functions BRM by preparing accurate business requirements and support any required business cases for IT generated projects
• The business analyst supports the domain architect by accurately documenting business reporting and enhancement requirements and by improving reporting standardisation across the different functional areas
• Leads workshops with Business & IT to gather the requirements for IT projects including functional and non-functional
• May lead small to medium projects as required or serve as project resource
• Is responsible to document these requirements and transfer knowledge to project delivery teams
• Generate the Project Scope for Corporate functions & shared platforms IT generated projects
• Support the development of comprehensive requirement specifications that will determine the estimate of cost, time and resources to deploy solutions in conjunction with other IT SME’s
• Highlight / identify gaps in existing functionality and review requirements with stakeholders
• Contribute to business impact analysis reports to assist business partners with appropriate information about new business requirements and alignment to prioritised IT roadmap

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or other related field, or equivalent work experience.
• BA Certification desirable
• SAP Certification desirable, preferably SAP FI and MM

Work Experience: 

• 2-3 years IT BA experience 

Knowledge and skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills for liaising with stakeholders
• Good communication - the ability to liaise with business stakeholders and to influence multiple stakeholder groups to agree on a single set prioritised requirements
• Proven analytical skills – the ability to understand business requirements for enhancements and reports. Experience of analysing and breaking down problems and information
• Proven problem solving skills
• Development background required to provide guidance on technical/development solutions and oversight of vendors delivering such solutions
• Strong customer focus – improve turnaround time on business requirements for enhancements and reports
• Understanding of the SAP environment and related corporate function applications e.g. Concur, PaySpace, interfacing/middleware, virtualisation/BI reporting/Fiori, and cloud technologies

 Key Processes Supported:

This role supports to following critical Head Office processes:

• Finance
• Financial Planning & Analysis
• HR
• Procurement
• Facilities Management
• Legal
• Security

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The card business is a growing contributor to fuel growth for Retail. Cards and innovative payment solutions will be a key differentiator in establishing and maintaining Astron Energy's leadership position.

Responsible for the implementation of the Retail CRT and Fleet business strategy, above average business performance through leading a team of Card Sales personnel and liaising with relevant stakeholders. Execution of the business turnaround and growth initiatives, maximizing profitability and gross margin in line with the Business Plan. Building a motivated and high-performing Card Sales team that maximizes business opportunity across the Astron Energy enterprise value chain and in the market place. Manages and develops the teams to ensure effective execution of programs and initiatives in line with the growth strategy.

The purpose of this position is to increase the sales and profitability of the Astron Energy Commercial Road Transport & Fleet Card business by focusing on acquiring new customers and increasing the value of existing customer contracts according to pre-set challenging targets.

The candidate will also be required to drive acceptance of new payment tools for the CRT and Fleet customer segments with an aim to position Astron Energy as an innovative Oil marketer in the area of payment systems.

Financial Perspective

• Consistently meet & exceed annual individual CRT & Fleet Cards target volume and margin targets.
• Cost management in line with budgets
• P&L and Financial Responsibility (Ownership and management of the Fleet & Card business
• Co-ordinate co-operation between various stakeholders (i.e. Supply and Logistics, Network, Asset Care, Finance, etc.) to facilitate efficient delivery against all critical KPI’s

Develop and deploy tactics for profit margin maximization

•  Total Cards Fleet Volumes:
•  Margin Contribution:
•  No of customers: Annual customer base growth of  

Customer Perspective

•  Acquire, and develop new accounts by successfully selling the cards CVP and services by leveraging the Astron Energy brand, its portfolio of quality products and card benefits
• Acquire new customers by taking responsibility for managing own prospect pipeline comprising centrally provided and self-generated leads. (Tracking progress using relevant tools)
• Drive partnerships and business development initiatives to drive new acquisitions across various channels and verticals for both the B2B and B2C cards.
• Grow existing business margins through identifying sales opportunities and re-negotiating existing deals into more profitable agreements by changing discount / rebate structures and services to existing customers and delivering excellent account management
• Monitor and share relevant Fleet market trends, competitor intelligence, customer requirements and other  developments to the wider Fleet community in Astron Energy.
• Develop fit for purpose CVPs for the CRT segment.
• Liaise with all stakeholders in the B2C payment ecosystem (payment systems for private motorists and consumers) to   (a) improve acceptance of Bank Card on our forecourts and (b) embrace new payment systems for example mobile   money.
• Work in close collaboration with the marketing teams to develop strong communications campaigns that promotesAstron Energy action in the area of payment systems
• Ensuring a proper support for deploying and maintaining the  local Loyalty systems infrastructure (Device terminal, Card, Tags, Stock management,)
• Facilitating the system and infrastructure discussion between different stakeholders
• Platform monitoring and oversighting Business/ Retail KPI and performance
•   Managing systems Incidents and operational issues in tight cordination with Retail teams and suppliers.

Business Excellence

• Play a key role in the development of the Retail strategy and plan Drive continuous improvement in demand planning to ensure high Demand Forecast accuracy levels are achieved Accountable, within the retail/business team; for the objectives achievement based on approved KPIs for Astron Energy Cards offer and in general any payment method issued or cobranded by Astron Energy Drive the business development, sales activities to deliver the Astron Energy Retail growth plan in tight coordination with Astron Energy business Stakeholders and third parties Meet own SHEQ objectives; support the business in achieving the overall SHEQ goals   In cooperation with the rest of the team, the incumbent is expected to manage:
• Current customer base of defined key accounts and new acquired bigger accounts that generate a defined volume and margin per year.
• Fuels & margin target growth and prospect targets in line with Busines Plan
• Proactively manage the credit exposure of customers including supporting the Credit team on reduction of Day Sales Outstanding
• Support marketing pilots and implementation of CVP enhancements
• Constructive input to Order-to-Cash performance opportunities and effectively resolve (operational) customer complaints/issues

People Management

• Show 'One Astron Energy' behaviour and operate permanently in line with Astron Energy Business Principles and SHEQ guidelines. Train, Mentor, Coach and Performance Manage Direct reports Responsible for nurturing and developing a culture of operational excellence and teamwork to ensure targets are met and exceeded

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Degree  in the field of Business Management, Sales, Marketing or related field

Work Experience:

• 5 years or more of business management experience in the Retail/FMCG field with experience in  direct and indirect business Management.
• Experience in Fleet & Card sales management
• Demonstrated performance in growing the bottom and top line performance of a sales organisation

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The Customer Data Analytics and Insights Specialist is a critical role that supports the business through data gathering, interpretation, analyses and the use of insights and results together with statistical techniques to better understand customers.
The Specialist will conduct research and collect data regarding sales/marketing trends and consumer satisfaction.

To analyze the data the specialist must develop and implement data analysis, data collection systems and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality data for Astron Energy.

Establish and deliver Retail elements of the Astron Energy Data Analytics and insights change programme, seeking innovative opportunities to accelerate value and increase the bottom-line profit, by enabling and providing answers to complex business questions.

At steady state and as part of a vibrant data and analytics community across the Retail business, the Specialist will harness a modern data and analytics capability at the heart of decision making in the Retail leadership Team.

Key focus areas will include:

•  Collate data from Convenience Retail, Automation, Loyalty, Digital etc. for analysis and insight generation.
•  Conduct Research to identify customer preferences, needs and attitudes about Astron Energy products and services
•  Monitor industry trends to identify future opportunities
•  Identify target customer segments and create marketing strategies to reach those segments
•  Implement an effective data and analytics solutions.

 Review and analyze data to identify patterns in customer behavior or preferences that can help improve customer performance metrics such as:

•  Customer engagement
•  Customer retention
•  Customer attraction
•  Define metrics to improve
•  customer solutions and experience
•  ROMI
•  business processes etc.•

Financial Perspective

• Drive the Astron Energy plan to innovate with customer data and analytics to deliver actionable insights for superior business performance.
• Embed data and analytics to accelerate business growth and create value for Astron Energy, customers, employees and shareholders.
• Ensure marketing spend delivers and contributes to the Retail and Marketing business performance / bottom line (ROMI).
• Data ownership: Encapsulation of all the Bata points across the business to tell a story and narrative on the business performance.
• Use of intelligent data to corroborate data points to guide the business decisions and back up any hypothesis with data.
• Drives the critical and commercial thinking around where analytics can have the most value in the business, concentrating on maximizing return on investment.

Customer Perspective

• Review historical data to identify trends in customer behaviour or preferences over time Evangelist and flag-carrier for Data and Analytics, leads data and analytics transformation across the retail business, especially monetization of data. Able to challenge the business constructively and supports the GM and Retail leadership team with strategic choices through a mix of business acumen and quantitative analysis. Guardian of Astron Energy retail wide data and analytics methods & tools, works with the Central finance Data and Analytics function to drive implementation of the customer data analytics and insights initiative. Identifies and recommends new ways to drive efficiency by streamlining business processes. Advises the retail leadership team for the design and delivery of reports and insights that analyse businesses, functions, operations and performance metrics. Ensures accuracy of data and analytics deliverables in compliance with data policies and processes developed centrally Lead for data governance within the retail business, to support compliance with quality standards and regulatory requirements.

Business Excellence

• Compile reports based on findings from research and data analysis to provide recommendations for decision making Develops and tracks business KPls to measure performance and success of customer and business initiatives within retail & marketing. Communicates and champions results and business impacts of insights initiatives to stakeholders. Drive one version of the truth across the value chain issuing data and analytics and guide business narrative to drive performance in the right areas. Champion innovation in payment systems, real time processing of data across the customer value chain. Customer behaviour analytics that are digitally led with a meaningful dashboard Acquire data from primary or secondary data sources and maintaining data base

People Management

• Leads the Retail Customer Data Analytics and insights team; recruits, trains, develops and manages data analyst(s) when required Provides guidance to the team in the development, testing and presentation of hypotheses-driven analysis. Provides data analytics support to the Retail and Marketing team Manage the different stakeholders within Retail and Marketing as well as cross functional stakeholders

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in fields such as business administration, marketing, statistics, analytics, mathematics etc. Postgraduate qualification is an advantage, but not compulsory.

Work Experience:

• 7-8 years' professional experience, including I-year minimum in a position of monitoring, managing, manipulating, and drawing insights from data At least 3 years' experience leading a team at management level. Demonstrable experience in formulating and solving business problems using mathematical/statistical constructs to derive insights. Experience in a customer insights analyst and research role will be an advantage

Knowledge and skills:

• Data analysis skills Data quality, data governance, data protection, data architecture, data mapping, data engineering, data science, data exploitation and data visualization. Working knowledge of analytics disciplines: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics. Familiarity with analytics techniques, e.g., Regression Analysis, Timeseries, Monte Carlo modelling, Clustering etc. Working knowledge of SAP S4/Hana Working knowledge of data visualization tools: e.g., Tableau, Alteryx Fuel Industry knowledge Critical thinking and problem-solving skills Strong customer focus and business skills, self-starter and results driven with the drive and persistency to perform, even at times of great change Very good communication and presentation skills.
• Good team player with excellent influencing skills