Latest Jobs at Unilever

JOB PURPOSE

• Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world.  The Mechanical Technician is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mechanical assets within a high-volume washing powder manufacturing plant. The role involves maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and continuous improvement of heavy mechanical systems such as conveyor belts, large horsepower pumps, small pumps, pneumatics, and dust extraction systems.
• This role is critical in supporting Unilever’s goal of achieving world-class manufacturing standards, minimizing downtime, and driving continuous improvement in line with safety, quality, cost, and sustainability objectives. If this resonates with you, then this role is just for you!

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform planned preventive maintenance (PPM), corrective, and predictive maintenance on mechanical assets (conveyors, pumps, pneumatics, dust extraction systems, gearboxes, couplings, seals, and rotating equipment).
• Diagnose root causes of equipment failures and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Respond promptly to breakdowns, ensuring minimal production disruption.
• Ensure effective lubrication, alignment, balancing, and calibration of mechanical systems.

Installation & Commissioning

• Install, commission, and upgrade mechanical equipment and systems to support plant expansion or optimization projects.
• Participate in start-up activities, ensuring equipment is set up according to specifications.

Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to reliability engineering initiatives such as OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), RCA (Root Cause Analysis), and FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis).
• Suggest and implement cost-saving or efficiency-enhancing mechanical improvements.
• Support digitization and automation upgrades in line with Industry 4.0 and Unilever’s smart factory vision.

Compliance & Safety

• Work strictly within Unilever’s safety and health guidelines (OSH Act, Factory Regulations, and ISO standards).
• Conduct risk assessments and comply with Lockout-Tagout-Try Out (LOTOTO), permit-to-work, and other safety protocols.
• Ensure dust extraction and pneumatic systems meet environmental and occupational health requirements.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate maintenance records in CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System).
• Document mechanical inspections, repairs, and parts usage.
• Provide technical feedback to supervisors and support preparation of weekly/monthly engineering reports.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• National Diploma (NQF 6) in Mechanical Engineering OR
• Trade Test Certification as a Mechanical Fitter/Millwright (Red Seal).
• Additional training in pneumatics, hydraulics, or pumps will be advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years’ hands-on experience in a heavy manufacturing/processing environment (preferably FMCG, detergent, chemical, cement, or mining).
• Strong knowledge of conveyor systems, pumps (centrifugal, positive displacement, high HP), and pneumatics.
• Experience with dust extraction and air-handling systems.
• Proven track record in mechanical fault-finding and root cause analysis.
• Exposure to TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) or WCM (World Class Manufacturing) preferred.

Skills

• Strong mechanical aptitude with ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and schematics.
• Knowledge of lubrication systems, alignment techniques, and vibration analysis.
• Familiarity with CMMS e.g. BuildApp.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and hands-on technical approach.
• Ability to work shifts and be available for standby/after-hours support.
• Team player with strong communication skills to work across operations, engineering, and SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) teams.

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JOB PURPOSE

• Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world.  If you have multidisciplinary engineering skills and are passionate about factory performance targets through the application of EM and AM methodologies, then this role is just for you!

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• To provide multidisciplinary engineering skills to achieve breakdown reduction and factory performance targets through the application of UMS PM methodologies across the Factory.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• A Qualified Millwright with the relevant Trade Test and Min 3 years’ experience in FMCG Manufacturing environment.
• Minimum N3 (Mechanical) and N3 (Electrical/Millwright or Instrumentation)
• Ideal N5 in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Digital Systems/Instrumentation.
• Engineering Skills (Multiskilled Artisan skill cluster/Millwright).
• PC Skills (SAP PM, BuildApp, SHE NET, Coupa, Outlook, MS PowerPoint/Word).
• Problem Solving Skills (EWO, 5 Why, 4M).
• Flexibility to cover Shifts or work on PPM’s based on business requirements.
• Perform Callout duties if required.
• Flexibility to support plant wide for breakdowns and PPMs including Site Services and Utilities.
• Knowledge of ATEX equipment and fault finding relating to Dust Explosion Environment.
• Familiarity with PLC systems Siemens, SCADA, VFDs, Soft Starters, electrical wiring, motor starters, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems.
•  Ability to read schematics and blueprints
• Must be available to work overtime where required.
• Strong mechanical, electrical and pneumatic/hydraulic skills.
• Must be able to work independently, demonstrate initiative, manage multiple job cards, meet tight. deadlines, be self-driven with good communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate at all levels and manage stakeholders effectively.
• Knowledge of industrial refrigeration is advantageous.

Skills

Engineering

• Diagnoses and interprets multi-disciplinary problems (fault findings) to optimise production output and with own team carries out the plant repairs.
• Ensure that service levels are maintained at the required standards by carrying out all breakdown, preventative and predictive maintenance effectively.

PM

• Is responsible for the reduction of breakdowns in his area of responsibility by analyzing breakdowns, complying with the PPM requirement and implementing Continuous improvements.
• Participates in strategic engineering plans to deliver maintenance and breakdown reduction benefits (RCM). Delivers PM KPI’s as per the UMS PM Pillar.
• Participate in R2S activities and action closure.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Responsible for faultfinding and problem solving of engineering/ operational problems in his area by ensuring that the appropriate corrective action regarding any deviation from standards is taken.
• Identifies the major engineering losses in his area and investigates using Kaizan problem solving methodology. (Fishbone, 5 Why etc.)
• EWO documentation on BuildApp.

Administration

• Completes all required documentation to standard and captures SAP, maintenance and stores information on relevant data system.
• Uses BuildApp, SAP and COUPA for all documentation and tracking.

SHE

• Ensures that Company safety rules and regulations are adhered to within the sphere of his responsibility.
• Implementation and assists with maintaining Unilever safety and 5S standards in the area on responsibility.
• Ensure Safety Tags are closed off timeously.
• Ensures Plant and Equipment is safe to operate.
• Comply with and support Statutory Inspections as per the OHS Act and Unilever Standard.

AM

• Draws up, Coaches and develops engineering skills to other maintenance and operational staff using OPL and SOPs.
• Completes tags in his area of responsibility to the completion ratio required.
• Enables knowledge transfer to Operators and Shift-Coordinators for Adjustments, Changeovers and all first line maintenance activities and Minor Breakdowns.

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MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete all learnership requirements as stipulated by Unilever, including but limited to training attendance, assessments completion, project completion, logbook completion and presentations as needed
• The Industrial Engineer role is critical to the development of our factories to World Class, which means zero defects, zero waste and zero losses. 
• She/he will apply extensively the full range of Focused and Quality Improvement methods and tools to counter losses identified in the areas of Safety, Quality, Cost Deployment, Customer Service and Logistics.  The Cost Deployment pillar will be populated with data built up through application of the Managing Manufacturing Performance Code, which is key to ensuring focus on key losses.
• Working directly with the line crews daily. The Industrial Engineer also acts as the technical trainer for line teams and provides coaching in phenomena identification, root cause analysis and the establishment of countermeasures. Validation of all process improvements and the establishment of revised basic conditions on the line. A core deliverable is to eliminate losses and wastes and increase the stability of the line to support the transition of traditional line teams to semi-autonomous teams
• Follow SOP/OPL/Kaizen procedures as needed within the operation assigned to
• Conform to all site rules governing safety of self and others, quality and code of business principles.
• Apply and follow procedure of Problem-solving tools
• Factory/site data integrity verification
• Weekly and monthly site performance (OEE, PVA, Tags, OR) reporting.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed degree or National Diploma in Industrial Engineering
• Use of computer software programs – Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word are essential
• Good communication skills both written and verbal – proficient in English