About the position
Group Maintenance Manager (Multi-Site) – Technical & Operational Leadership
Middelburg, Mpumalanga | 60% Site-Based Travel, 40% Office-Based
Our client is seeking a technically strong Maintenance Manager to oversee maintenance operations across more than 30 mineral-processing sites. This role is ideal for a degree-qualified Operational Engineer with 5–10 years’ experience who is ready to step into a broader leadership and systems-driven management role.
You will be responsible for the reliability, performance, and lifecycle management of fixed plant equipment — including conveyors, pumps, crushers, screens, and associated processing machinery — while leading maintenance teams ranging from site managers to technicians.
Key Technical Responsibilities
- Oversee maintenance execution across 30+ processing plants, ensuring equipment availability, reliability, and statutory compliance
- Implement and optimise maintenance systems (preventative, predictive, and condition-based) across all sites
- Analyse equipment performance data, downtime trends, and failure modes to drive reliability improvements
- Conduct technical audits during site visits (±60% travel) to evaluate maintenance standards, asset condition, and operational risks
- Develop and enforce maintenance KPIs, reporting structures, and performance dashboards
- Provide engineering support on mechanical failures, root-cause analysis, and long-term asset strategies
- Standardise maintenance procedures, work instructions, and technical documentation across all sites
- Ensure compliance with OEM specifications, engineering standards, and Mine Health & Safety Act requirements
Technical Requirements
- BSc/BEng Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (non-negotiable)
- GCC Mines & Works (essential)
- 5–10 years’ experience in mining, mineral processing, or heavy industrial maintenance
- Strong technical knowledge of conveyors, pumps, crushers, screens, and fixed plant equipment
- Experience with maintenance systems (CMMS), reliability engineering principles, and asset management frameworks
- Proven ability to interpret technical data, maintenance reports, and performance metrics
- Strong understanding of preventative and predictive maintenance methodologies
Leadership & Operational Requirements
- Ability to lead and influence multi-disciplinary teams across multiple sites
- Strong decision-making ability in high-pressure operational environments
- Skilled in performance management, coaching, and developing maintenance teams
- Comfortable balancing field work (60%) with office-based analysis, reporting, and system optimisation (40%)
Why this role suits a mid-career engineer
- Ideal step up for an Operational Engineer wanting to transition into multi-site management
- High technical exposure with real influence on plant reliability and asset performance
- Opportunity to build and standardise maintenance systems across a large operational footprint
- A role where engineering expertise and operational leadership intersect
Desired Skills:
- operations
- planned maintenance
- mining
- leadership
- budgeting
- scheduling
