Head of Maintenance

Role Overview

This role leads the underground trackless mobile machinery (TMM) maintenance function, ensuring high availability, reliability, legal compliance and operational excellence. The portfolio covers a fleet including LHDs, double boom rigs and associated support equipment.

The position has a dual reporting structure:

• Operational/Commercial:
  Internal maintenance operations leadership
• Legal/Functional:
  The mine's appointed Engineer (MHSA Regulation 2.13), specifically for statutory compliance under the MHSA and Codes of Practice (CoPs).

Role Purpose

To establish and lead a lean, reliable and fully compliant maintenance function for an underground trackless mobile machinery fleet, with strong focus on:

• MHSA and mine CoP compliance
• High equipment uptime and availability
• Data-driven maintenance planning
• Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) practices
• Strong field leadership and hands-on technical oversight

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal & Compliance (MHSA & Codes of Practice)

• Ensure all maintenance practices comply with the MHSA, regulations and relevant CoPs under the oversight of the 2.13 Engineer.
• Maintain legal appointments, task inventories, SOPs, training records and statutory inspections.
• Oversee statutory and OEM inspections, ensuring documentation is accurate and auditable.
• Manage all maintenance inputs into the contractor Safety File.

2. Maintenance Strategy, Planning & Scheduling

• Design and implement a complete maintenance strategy for the underground fleet.
• Establish a robust planned maintenance system including PM schedules, work orders, backlog control and prioritisation.
• Align maintenance activities with production requirements without compromising safety.
• Define critical spares lists, minimum stock levels and manage supplier interfaces such as consignment stock.

3. Breakdown Management & Field Support

• Lead breakdown response and fault-finding to ensure safe, effective return-to-service.
• Conduct root cause analyses on repeat failures and implement corrective actions.
• Be physically present underground and in the workshop to guide artisans and verify repair quality.

4. Reliability, Data & RCM

• Track maintenance KPIs such as availability, utilisation, MTBF, MTTR, PM compliance and component life.
• Apply RCM principles to refine maintenance tasks and inspection intervals.
• Use data trends to improve reliability, reduce repeat failures and optimise component performance.
• Produce weekly and monthly maintenance reports for internal and mine engineering stakeholders.

5. OEM, Supplier & Sub-contractor Management

• Act as the key technical counterpart to OEMs and suppliers.
• Engage OEMs on performance, standards, warranties and support.
• Participate in technical review meetings and drive accountability and quality.
• Stay open to implementing new technologies that enhance safety and reliability.

6. Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach and manage a small underground maintenance team (artisans, assistants, planner).
• Ensure consistent use of checklists, operator care routines and basic condition monitoring.
• Build strong relationships with mine Engineering, Production and Safety functions.
• Promote a high-accountability, solutions-oriented culture.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma or Degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering;
  or
• Trade-tested Artisan (Diesel Mechanic / Fitter / Millwright) with N6 and strong underground trackless mobile machinery experience.

Preferred / Advantageous

• Experience in foreman or 2.9.2-type appointments.
• GCC Mines & Works (optional depending on how the role is pitched).

Experience Required

• 8–12 years in mining/heavy industrial maintenance.
• Minimum 5 years in underground mechanised/trackless mining.
• Proven success running planned and breakdown maintenance systems underground.
• Demonstrated machine reliability improvement using data and/or RCM.
• Solid understanding and application of MHSA, CoPs and statutory inspections.
• Experience managing maintenance teams and coordinating OEM/sub-contractor work.

Skills & Personal Attributes

Technical & Managerial Skills

• Strong knowledge of diesel, hydraulics, electrics, electronics and structural elements of TMM equipment.
• Skilled in maintenance planning, backlog control and spares management.
• Comfortable with CMMS systems and Excel reporting.
• Clear and concise communication skills.

Personal Attributes

• Solution-oriented and focused on removing root causes.
• High ownership and accountability.
• Calm under pressure with sound decision-making ability.
• Collaborative yet firm in maintaining safety and standards.
• Strong learner mindset with openness to new technologies.