Maintenance Specialist

Feltex is seeking an experienced Maintenance Specialist to provide strong leadership, supervision, and operational control in the safe and cost-effective execution of maintenance work. The successful incumbent will be responsible for ensuring the efficient delivery of maintenance activities, adherence to safety and quality standards, and consistent improvement in the availability and reliability of plant and equipment.

This role plays a key part in supporting operational excellence by coordinating maintenance schedules, monitoring performance metrics, optimising resource utilisation, and driving continuous improvement initiatives on maintenance processes. The Maintenance Specialist will also serve as a key point of contact between maintenance teams and management, foster a culture of safety, accountability, and collaboration, and ensure that all maintenance practices align with organisational objectives and compliance requirements.

• Grade 12
• Relevant qualification in mechanical engineering or related field
• Trade tested Millwright/Fitter/ Electrician
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a similar role preferable automotive industry
• Must have supervisory experience
• Must have PLC and project management experience

Maintenance Management:

• Supervise the work unit to achieve work unit objectives
• Determine resources (labour and materials) required and allocate overtime work
• Analyse and interpret Planned Maintenance Reports (Hours per department, hours per Artisan, etc.)
• Analyse and interpret Breakdown Reports (Manufacturing downtime, top-10, etc.)
• Diagnose plant and equipment problems (fault finding) and identify opportunities to modify, upgrade, improve or replace equipment and spares
• Maintain register of all electrical hardware on site and backups of all installed software

Maintenance Planning:

• Compile and supervise the Preventive Maintenance Programme according to the maintenance requirements for machines and equipment
• Maintain and update the Preventive Maintenance tasks lists
• Maintain and update Critical Spares and Spares Lists

Maintenance Process:

• Receive Maintenance Schedules, interpret instructions and plan maintenance and repair work
• Approve Stores Requisition for spares and consumables
• Supervises the carrying out of breakdown repairs & Escalate the problem to the next level if it cannot be resolved successfully
• Inform/advise Management of any breakdowns of a serious nature or where any potential equipment failure is imminent

Project Management:

• Contribute to project initiation, scope definition and scope change control
• Participate in the estimation and preparation of cost budget for a project or sub project and monitor and control actual cost against budget
• Schedule project activities to facilitate effective project execution
• Monitor, evaluate and communicate project schedules
• Manage implementation of Engineering Projects
• Contribute to the management of project risk within own field of expertise
• Budgeting of annual quality and safety compliance item
• Supervise a project team of a technical project to deliver project objectives
• Aid in implementing and assuring project work meets quality requirements

Project Administration:

• Implement project administration processes according to requirements
• Plan, organise and support project meetings and workshops
• Fulfil procurement activities and supervise procurement administration
• Provide procurement administration support to a project
• Conduct project documentation management to support project processes

Continuous Improvement:

• Keep up to date with latest developments/technologies in Maintenance
• Identify areas for improvement
• Develop and implement continuous improvement interventions

Reporting:

• Analyse Maintenance Reports and identify opportunities for improvements

People Supervision:

• Ensure an enabling climate/culture
• Supervise the team to achieve work unit objectives
• Plan allocation of labour within area of responsibility
• Achieve HDSA/Female targets for the Department
• Obtain approval for and recruit and select employees in the area of responsibility
• Conduct outcomes-based assessments
• Coach and counsel people to ensure improved performance levels
• Ensure discipline is maintained in department (absenteeism, lateness, overtime, misconduct, etc.)
• Resolve grievances and disputes