EAST LONDON, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

Our client, a well-established manufacturer in the automotive components sector, is seeking an experienced Maintenance Supervisor to lead and oversee plant maintenance operations. This key leadership role is responsible for ensuring optimal equipment reliability, minimising downtime, and continuously improving maintenance processes to support overall operational efficiency.

The successful candidate will be a confident, hands-on leader who can build and develop a united, accountable and results-driven team. You should be able to foster collaboration across departments, take ownership of maintenance performance, and drive measurable improvements in plant reliability and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily maintenance activities, including preventative and planned maintenance, to minimise plant downtime.

• Provide effective maintenance support to cross-functional teams and resolve maintenance-related issues promptly.

• Ensure equipment and machinery reliability to maintain consistent quality output and minimise scrap and production losses.

• Manage the maintenance budget, monitor expenditure, and provide quarterly reports on actual spend versus budget.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities for process and maintenance optimisation.

• Coordinate external suppliers and service providers for equipment, facilities and utilities to ensure reliable plant operation.

• Ensure the availability of critical machine spares and maintain accurate inventory levels.

• Lead root-cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions for recurring maintenance issues.

• Supervise, develop and performance-manage the maintenance team, including timesheet management and HSE compliance.

• Take ownership of access control, surveillance systems, facilities maintenance and general plant upkeep.

• Escalate critical maintenance risks to senior management and work closely with Production to ensure effective maintenance planning and scheduling.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent qualification.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in an industrial or automotive maintenance management role.

• Strong problem-solving, analytical and communication skills.

• Sound knowledge of preventative and predictive maintenance systems.

• Strong understanding of HSE requirements and compliance.

• Proven leadership and people-management capabilities.