ENGINEERING MANAGER Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Industry: Pharmaceutical / FMCG / Manufacturing A leading manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to lead engineering operations, utilities management, maintenance strategy, and capital projects within a highly regulated production environment. This is a senior leadership role suited to a technically strong engineering professional with extensive experience in manufacturing operations, utilities, reliability engineering, and regulatory compliance. THE ROLE You will be responsible for ensuring the continuous, reliable, and compliant operation of all engineering systems, utilities, and production equipment across the site. The role focuses on operational continuity, engineering excellence, equipment reliability, compliance, project delivery, and leadership of a high-performing engineering function. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Operational Continuity & Production Support Ensuring continuous availability and reliability of production equipment and utilities Supporting production efficiency, uptime, throughput, and OEE targets Providing engineering support during start-ups, line changes, and product introductions Managing critical breakdown escalation processes and engineering incident response Utilities & Facilities Management Managing core site utilities, including: Steam boilers Compressed air systems HVAC systems Chilled water systems Purified/pharmaceutical water systems Wastewater treatment Electrical distribution systems Driving optimisation initiatives around energy efficiency, water consumption, and utility performance Ensuring operational procedures and control philosophies are documented and maintained Maintenance Strategy & Reliability Engineering Developing and managing preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programmes Driving CMMS-based maintenance planning and backlog control Implementing condition-based and predictive maintenance practices including: Vibration analysis Thermography Oil analysis Leading shutdowns, maintenance turnarounds, and reliability improvement initiatives Driving root cause analysis and continuous improvement programmes Capital Projects & Engineering Delivery Leading engineering input for capital projects, upgrades, and equipment installations Managing project scope, budgets, commissioning, and qualification activities Ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget Managing contractor performance and engineering handovers Compliance, Validation & Quality Systems Ensuring compliance with: cGMP SAHPRA ISO quality standards SHE requirements Supporting equipment qualification, calibration, and validation processes Collaborating with Quality Assurance on deviations, CAPAs, and change controls Maintaining audit readiness and supporting regulatory inspections Financial & Resource Management Managing engineering Opex and Capex budgets Driving cost optimisation and lifecycle cost management Managing staffing, contractor resources, and engineering capacity planning Supporting procurement and critical spares management Leadership & Team Development Leading and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams Driving performance management, coaching, and succession planning Developing technical training and competency programmes Building a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Key Requirements Degree / Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering GCC (Government Certificate of Competence) – Mandatory Minimum 10 years' progressive engineering experience Minimum 5 years' experience in a senior engineering or maintenance leadership role Strong experience within: Pharmaceutical manufacturing FMCG Highly regulated manufacturing environments Proven experience managing: Utilities and facilities Reliability engineering Large engineering teams Capital projects and budgets Strong understanding of: cGMP SAHPRA ISO quality systems Engineering compliance and validation Advantageous MBA or postgraduate qualification in Engineering Management or Business Management Professional registration with ECSA (Pr.Eng / Pr.Tech) WHO YOU ARE A strategic engineering leader with strong operational capability Results-driven with a focus on reliability and continuous improvement A technically strong decision-maker with excellent problem-solving skills Strong people leadership and team development capability Highly organised with strong project and financial management skills Safety-focused with a strong governance and compliance mindset WHY THIS ROLE Opportunity to lead engineering operations within a highly regulated manufacturing environment High-impact role driving operational reliability and production performance Exposure to large-scale utilities, facilities, and capital projects Strategic leadership role with strong business influence Opportunity to drive engineering excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement Should you not be contacted in 2 weeks, please take your application as unsuccessful at this time. #J-18808-Ljbffr