National Maintenance Manager at Air Liquide

• As the National Maintenance Manager, the incumbent serves as the strategic process owner for the Integrated Management System (IMS_GP09), accountable for defining nationwide maintenance strategies, workforce budgets, training standards, and subcontracting policies across all facility types and processes. The role drives reliable and efficient operations through CMMS oversight, spare parts inventory control, strict regulatory compliance, and budget management. Additionally, the National Maintenance Manager leads continuous improvement by analyzing reliability incidents and downtime costs, tracking key performance metrics (such as MTBF, MTTR, and OEE), overseeing subcontractor audits, and providing technical support on engineering projects to enhance asset reliability while minimizing operational expenditure across the organization.
• Define and implement a comprehensive maintenance strategy for industrial and medical customer installations (including TGM activities), onsite units, acetylene production and filling facilities, cylinder filling facilities and road tankers. Site maintenance is included in the scope.
• Develop maintenance plans, work instructions (WIs), resources, budget, and cost.
• Identify critical spare parts through Vulnerability Studies and ensure critical spare parts are available and replaced when used.
• Ensure the effective use of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Manage maintenance processes and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as planned/unplanned maintenance, MTBF, TCM, and TCO, ensuring all activities are tracked in the CMMS.
• Participate in Communities of Practice (CoPs) within Air Liquide and local professional bodies (e.g. SACGA), analyze safety and reliability incidents, customer claims, and costs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure the effective implementation of maintenance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), programs, and plans in line with the overall strategy and procurement policies.
• Drive maintenance performance improvement through regional maintenance managers and ensure the Industrial Management System (including internal standards) is effectively implemented. Ensure effective training and qualification programs including artisan development. 
• Support the technical aspects of offers and contracts, participating in investment committees.
• Define process improvement objectives and strategies in collaboration with Maintenance and Operations Domain Leaders, analyzing relevant performance indicators.
• Identify improvement areas and develop a maintenance strategy consistent with regulations (e.g., OHS Act, PER, GMR, EMR, SANS 347) and customer contracts. Define annual objectives based on potential savings and provide clear, concise monthly reports on CMMS data to stakeholders.
• Manage maintenance department internal audits and follow up on corrective actions.
• Oversee financial controls within the area of responsibility and manage maintenance inventory, including defining critical spare parts, minimum levels, and technical specifications. Manage EIS on CMMS and act as a Design Authority for projects.
• Develop Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with procurement to ensure subcontractors comply with relevant Group HSE policies and procedures.

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Educational requirements

• Bachelor degree or above in Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial Engineering
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) as advantage
• Valid Driver's License  

Experience

• 5-8 years experience in people management 
• 10-15 years experience in  maintenance management  preferably in the Industrial gas (or chemical) plant, road tanker and bulk container (isotainers) 

Knowledge and Know-how specific to the job

• Safety and Environmental requirements
• Legislation related to the gas industry
• Knowledge of maintenance systems(eg CMMS )
• Knowledge of maintenance KPI’s 
• Application of PER and SANS347 and transport regulations
• Maintenance practices
• Knowledge of industrial gas equipment and applications