Vacant Jobs at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

• Reporting to the Business Excellence Manager, The primary purpose of the Senior Business Improvement Lead role is to manage and oversee the Business Improvement Plan within the refinery, from sourcing innovative ideas to progressing them through the project pipeline.
• This role is responsible for tracking the implementation of initiatives, reporting on their progress, and realizing value, both financially and operationally. Serving as a strategic leader, the Senior Business Improvement Lead coordinates closely with various departments, including Finance, to ensure that all business improvement efforts align with the company's overarching goals and strategies.
• This role is also pivotal in performing economic evaluations, presenting key performance indicators to stakeholders, and leading the annual business planning process.
• Additionally, the Senior Business Improvement Lead explores and coordinates business development opportunities, ensuring that all initiatives and projects are not only technically feasible but also strategically aligned and economically sound. This role plays a critical part in enhancing the refinery’s competitive edge and operational excellence.

Core responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the development, prioritization, and resourcing strategies of the Business Improvement Plan, ensuring alignment with the refinery's strategic objectives and AE Corporate Strategy.
• Manage the Business Improvement Plan, overseeing the entire lifecycle of each initiative: sourcing ideas, progressing them through the pipeline, tracking implementation, and reporting on progress and value realization, including financial aspects.
• Developing and overseeing Gross Margin improvements and Sustaining Capital Project opportunities, coordinating with the Capital Projects team and Capital Lead.
• Leading and coordinating business development opportunities, including pre-appraisal and conceptual assessments, and ensuring alignment with the overall Business Improvement Plan and corporate strategy.
• Overseeing the Enterprise Risk Management process for the refinery to identify, manage, and mitigate risks.
• Leading the annual planning processes and setting deliverables for the Business Improvement Plan for the upcoming year.
• Provide economic and strategic guidance for technical studies to ensure that technical changes fit strategically and are economically sound.
• Perform economic evaluations on refinery projects by modelling the proposed changes in the refinery planning tools, performing cash flow analyses, calculating financial indicators, and conducting appropriate risk analyses.
• Manage, update, and present the refinery scorecard to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate the annual business planning process along with the Finance team.
• Lean principles advisor at the refinery

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with >10 years Refining experience strongly advantageous
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• An MBA or advanced degree is strongly preferred
• Prior business improvement or strategic role in a refinery or similar industry preferred.
• Technically strong and have a business acumen.
• Proven experience in overseeing end-to-end business improvement plans.
• Strong Financial Analysis Skills: Ability to perform detailed financial analysis including cash flow projections, ROI calculations, and understanding financial indicators to make well-informed decisions.
• Project and Change Management: preferably Certified in project management methodologies such as PMP, Prince2, or equivalent, with strong skills in change management.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align operational activities with organizational strategy and objectives.
• Technical Acumen: Understanding of refinery operations, risk assessments, and technical studies to make informed decisions.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to present complex ideas clearly and concisely to various stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and manage a team, with strong skills in motivating, mentoring, and coaching team members.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with various departments and stakeholders.

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• Manage and supervise Preventative and Reactive Maintenance work as well as image enhancement projects, aligned with strategic network and business plans, to ensure that activities are completed within timelines, budget, to meet required design standards and ensure compliance with SHEQ standards.
• Responsible for planning and execution of major infrastructure and equipment replacements and improvements.
• Participates with other teams during station reviews, pre-startups, and to review report to lower total cost of ownership of facility Construction & Maintenance.
• Plans, schedules, and coordinates maintenance providers (internal/external) to ensure facilities remain in optimum condition to support sales efforts.
• Periodically reviews on-site work of internal and external technicians to ensure that work meets expectations.

Role activities include but are not limited to the following:

• Manage the Planned and Reactive Maintenance / Emergency Break Downs and Minor CAPEX Project works for all Service Stations and Consumer Sites. Ensures compliance to Astron Energy Standards, Procedures and Local Regulations in an efficient and cost-effective way.
• Consider the responsibility of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ), SHEQ inspection, reporting and following up including the action plan must be planned systematically. Also coordinate with outside people, authorities, government to enhance Technical and SHEQ program correspondent to the law requirement.
• Responsible to guide the Constructor/Dealer and Supervise/follow-up the work to ensure SHEQ compliance.
• Ensures and implements the SHEQ Guidelines and Procedures as well as the Retail Engineering Technical Standards in proper manner.
• Coordination between Internal Departments (Retail, SHEQ, Procurement, Finance, Administration) and External (Officials, Contractors, Dealers, Engineering Companies, Consultants, etc.) related to maintenance works, regulatory controls, contract renewal
• Attend to any critical Loss of Containment, accident or HPRI event within his/her area.
• Main Deliveries of the Job Holder are Maintenance KPI such as SHEQ, Contract Management, Budget Management, Maintenance SLA’s, less breakdown time, Customer satisfaction, Regulatory Compliance, Planned and Preventive Maintenance plan for Critical Equipment, Signage cleaning
• Ensures proper Documentation of Maintenance works and use of Astron Energy approved Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Checking and verify cost of Maintenance Service and Spare Part following rated in contract.
• Ensure monthly invoice are properly closed and corrected before cut date from finance.
• Manage asset in warehouse for asset movement, dispose, write-off and capitalization.
• Coordinate Asset Identification Verification (AIV) and Asset Tagging with Astron Energy approved Facilities Management Company.
• Summary and record monthly Opex expense by category of contractors and stations for every month.
• Attend Monthly Performance Management as well as Quarterly Business Review meetings with Astron Energy approved Facilities Management Company where overall performance and the Contractual Obligations and detailed assessment of Key Performance Indicators Scorecards will be undertaken.
• Ensure all schedule in maintenance contract are well on track and properly update by actual date.
• Make sure contractors apply maintenance contracts rate for monthly invoicing.
• Coordinate with the FMC Partner to ensure that the Asset Management Improvement Plan (AMIP) is rolled out as per agreed annual plan.
• Audits on all contractors perform work at stations.
• Technical visit all stations under control to ensure SHEQ are compliant as well as brand new signage.
• Tracking and analysis of request from station and work with FMC Partner to create scope of work in minimization cost.
• Ensure monthly invoice are properly closed and corrected before cut date from finance.
• Manage Asset Movement, Disposal, Write-Offs and Capitalization.

Professional Qualification and Certifications & Work Experience:

• Construction /Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering Diploma or Degree
• At least 5 years’ experience in Maintenance & Construction within the Petroleum industry 
• Familiar with OSHACT and Construction Regulations
• Understanding of Retail Fuel Systems Design Standards
• Proven experience communicating (verbal and written) with internal and external business partners. 
• Project Management experience
• Contract Management experience
• Knowledge of Safe Work Practices as it pertains to the fuel industry

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• Management of Individual Customer Profitability metrics across all product sold to a given customer incl. P&L, Financial Responsibility for Product Sales and Balance Sheet in respect of allocated customers (Lubricants and Fuels
• Monitors monthly performance and agreed action plans to ensure Volume and Margin targets are achieved. 
• Manages associated operating expenses and CAPEX budgeting against given set of customers. 
• Responsible for area value chain optimization plans to maximize gross margin. 
• Ensures IDC customers are profitable in terms of Supply Chain and Customer Profitability (SCCP) direction.  
• Plans and executes sales & marketing strategies, processes, programs, standards and operations across the various classes of trade for fuels and additional profit centers, consistent with the Business Plan. 
• In the IDC channel, carefully monitors the market and competitor moves and strategies to identify new business opportunities, volume growth opportunities and solutions for customers related to growing business.
• Successful incumbent must demonstrate and role model Key Leadership behaviors:
• Results: Business case driven and stretch goal oriented while constantly challenging the cost of how we do things.
• Speed: Tolerate higher risk, demonstrate urgency & decisiveness.
• Simplicity: Set priorities and ensure work is fit for purpose

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Required:-

• Senior Certificate and a Commercial Degree
• 3-5yrs Commercial sales experience preferably in a IDC environment. 
• The incumbent needs to have a clear view of customer profitability and NOI drivers.
• Incumbent will exhibit a clear understanding of Marketing operations within South Africa and the ability to develop strong relationships with customers.
• Demonstrates an ability to enforce all terms and conditions of all product agreements.
• Incumbent must have strong financial, analytical skills, and a solid working knowledge of SAP, PC software applications (i.e. Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint),
• Must be in possession of a good understanding of the oil industry in RSA, the environment in which the company operates, and the overall Marketing objectives and vision in order to ensure alignment of goals with strategic direction.
• Needs minimal supervision & at times will operate under tight or stringent deadlines.
• Strong negotiation and consultancy skills required.
• Collaboration with other functional groups in order to execute for enterprise value.

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For the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Manager, key responsibilities are but not limited to:

• Creating a safer, more sustainable, and ethical supply chain and how it feeds into the overall safety performance of the AE ESD Team and ESD beneficiary suppliers by; 
• Monitoring the Incident/Accident Rate Safety Training Completion Rate the number of Supplier Safety Audits conducted, and the implementation of Zero Harm Initiatives
• Customer Focus: Achieving high satisfaction, retention, and loyalty through timely deliveries, innovative solutions, and rapid complaint resolution.
• Supplier Collaboration: Building strong, diverse supplier relationships through ongoing development, performance monitoring, and mutually beneficial negotiations.
• Value Creation: Balancing cost savings and quality to ensure customers receive the best value while maintaining strong partnerships with suppliers.
• Employee Development: Ensuring employee and direct reports have opportunities for growth, skill development, and internal promotion is crucial for creating a motivated and capable workforce.
• Engagement and Communication: Demonstrating engagement of employee with peer and direct line managers to ensure effective communication fosters a collaborative and productive environment.
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Recognition: A focus on diversity and employee recognition enhances morale, inclusivity, and employee engagement.
• Satisfaction and Relationship Health: Ensuring that both the company and its suppliers are satisfied with the partnership, reflecting strong, stable, and mutually beneficial relationships.
• Innovation and Joint Value Creation: Fostering collaboration on innovations and shared value creation, which leads to growth and long-term success for both parties.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Building an inclusive supplier base that reflects broader Transformation goals while AE benefits from diversity.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Maintaining long-term, stable partnerships with mutual growth and shared goals, enhancing collaboration and performance over time.
• Performance and Risk Management:  The to jointly improve performance metrics (e.g., cost, delivery, quality) and mitigate risks, ensuring resilience and continuous improvement.
• Financial Performance and Stability: Secure cost savings, increase revenue, and demonstrate strong ROI from supplier-related initiatives, making AE an appealing investment opportunity.
• Sustainability and Ethical Practices: Focus on sustainable and ethical supply chain practices, aligning with AE priorities on ESG factors.
• Innovation and Growth Potential: Drive technological advancements and innovations in the supply chain that can unlock new revenue streams and growth potential, making AE meet its Shareholder targets.
• Diversification and Risk Management: Build a resilient and diverse supply chain that reduces risks and enhances stability, which is critical for Shareholder confidence.

Professional Qualification and Certifications: 

• The Enterprise and Supplier Development Manager should possess one as a minimum or a combination of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Management, Economics, or a related field, with a Master’s Degree (MBA or similar) being advantageous.
• Key certifications include B-BBEE Training and knowledge of compliance regulations, along with certifications in Project Management Supply Chain Management (CIPS or CSCP), and Change Management 
• Additional qualifications in Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD), SMME Development, and Financial Management are beneficial. Strong experience in enterprise development, supplier management, and B-BBEE compliance is required, with a proven ability to build relationships, manage projects, and oversee supplier and enterprise growth programs.

Work Experience: 

• The Enterprise and Supplier Development Manager will have extensive (a minimum of 5 years) experience in leading and implementing enterprise and supplier development programs, particularly for black-owned businesses and SMMEs, ensuring alignment with B-BBEE compliance and organizational goals. They will have a proven track record in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and relationship building, working with both internal teams and external partners. Their experience must include managing budgets, tracking B-BBEE progress, and reporting on supplier development initiatives. They must demonstrate an ability to lead change management efforts that foster an inclusive culture, provide mentorship to suppliers, and oversee the monitoring and evaluation of ESD programs to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.  

Knowledge:
B-BBEE Regulations and Compliance:

• In-depth understanding of B-BBEE policies, regulations, and scorecards, particularly the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) element.
• Familiarity with B-BBEE verification processes and how they impact the organization’s strategy and operations.

Enterprise and Supplier Development:

• Knowledge of SMME development and strategies for supporting the growth of black-owned businesses through mentorship, funding, and capacity-building.
• Understanding of supplier diversity and its importance in creating inclusive supply chains and fostering economic transformation.
• Procurement and Supply Chain Management:
• Expertise in procurement practices, supply chain dynamics, and the integration of black-owned businesses into the organization’s value chain.
• Knowledge of supplier performance management, including monitoring and evaluating supplier development outcomes.

Financial Management:

• Understanding of financial principles related to budgeting, funding, and resource allocation for development programs.
• Ability to assess financial viability and business sustainability for suppliers and enterprise development projects.
• Project Management:
• Expertise in project planning, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring development initiatives are completed on time and within budget.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies 
• Transformation and Change Management:
• Knowledge of how to lead organizational transformation and manage change processes to create an inclusive and diverse work environment.
• Understanding of how to integrate diversity and inclusion into organizational culture and business practices.

Skills:
Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop and implement long-term strategies that align with both B-BBEE objectives and business goals.
• Strong analytical skills to assess market trends, identify opportunities for growth, and create development initiatives for SMMEs.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management:

• Exceptional skills in building and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., procurement, HR, leadership) and external stakeholders (e.g., government bodies, industry associations, suppliers).
• Strong communication skills to engage effectively with different stakeholders, ensuring alignment and mutual benefit.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Ability to lead and motivate a team, set clear objectives, and provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members or suppliers.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills to navigate challenges and achieve development goals.

Mentorship and Coaching:

• Skilled in mentoring and providing guidance to entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping them build sustainable operations and integrate into the supply chain.
• Ability to develop and deliver training programs focused on business management, financial planning, and procurement processes for suppliers.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Proficiency in tracking progress, assessing outcomes, and producing reports on the effectiveness of ESD programs.
• Ability to analyse data and use insights to improve and refine development strategies.

Negotiation and Contract Management:

• Strong negotiation skills for developing contracts and agreements with suppliers, ensuring fair terms and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Knowledge of contract law and how it relates to supplier agreements and development initiatives.

Cultural Competence:

• High level of cultural sensitivity and understanding of the unique challenges faced by black-owned businesses and SMMEs.
• Ability to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes diversity, equity, and transformation.
• These knowledge areas and skills are essential for the Enterprise and Supplier Development Manager to successfully drive development programs, build strong partnerships, and contribute to the long-term growth and transformation of both the organization and the broader economy.