Plant Engineer -Meat Processing

Our client is the leading and fastest-growing meat processor in the East African region.

They are looking for an experienced Plant Engineer to enhance service quality, equipment reliability, and availability by improving workflows and optimising maintenance work processes using a world-class asset management methodology. This includes Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) methodology.

The Plant Engineer will be a key link between the maintenance organisation and the engineering and production departments. It provides Mechanical input to improve production, equipment design, reliability, and maintainability.

The incumbent will be based at their processing plant in Thika.

Main Accountabilities

Strategy

Manage asset management systems to improve plant reliability and availability Implement preventative maintenance schedules to eliminate downtime, and failures & establish the root causes analysis. Maintenance budget control Maintain utilities such as boiler, steam, and power generation equipment ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations Maintain the vehicle fleet ensuring safe and efficient operations Ensure compliance with legally required equipment inspections Manage engineering team key performance indicators and development Ensure that maintenance records are kept in hard and /or soft copies in accordance to the set standards e.g. FSSC 22000/QSA/FSA/GMP/Hygiene Practices. Adhere to factory policies in place e.g. EHS, food safety, emergency response, etc

Expertise

Provides expertise, leadership & support for the resolution of Engineering issues within the site. Set and control the asset maintenance budget Mechanical and Electrical maintenance team Manage contracts for the supply of labor and equipment Water and Effluent management

Breath of job- related knowledge:

Knowledge in asset management, including preventative maintenance, is essential Good understanding of the food manufacturing process and quality management Implementation of a Computerized Maintenance Management system in the past will be advantageous Knowledge of using tools such as RCM in developing maintenance schedules is advantageous. Knowledge of EHS management is essential.

Analysis:

The job holder is required to analyse machinery downtime causes and implement corrective actions Analyse maintenance expenditure to ensure effective use of maintenance budgets to attain budgeted plant availability

Judgment and Decision-Making:

Makes decisions on the day-day, weekly, and monthly maintenance of assets. Make joint decisions on the team management. Make procurement decisions within the prescribed authority levels Make technical decisions associated with engineering procurement and repair standards.

Key Interfaces

Internal:

Liaise with the Production Planner, Maintenance Planner and Maintenance Supervisor, and Electrical supervisor to establish maintenance schedules Liaise with supervisors to establish technical standards of equipment being sourced. Working hand in hand with procurement personnel to establish technical standards for the procurement of spares.

External: Contractors, mechanical goods suppliers.

Direct Reports

Electrical Technicians Mechanical Technicians Refrigeration & air-conditioning technicians Water and Effluent Technicians Mechanics

Critical Success Factors of the Job

Relevant Experience

Be a holder of a Mechanical Engineering degree or equivalent A minimum of 5 years of experience as a plant or maintenance engineer in a continuous operation, managing a maintenance team and budget Must be computer literate in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint Holder of a valid Drivers license

Key Skills

Strong analytical skills Leadership skills Ability to work under pressure Good interpersonal relations Teamwork

Critical personal characteristics

Knowledge in asset management, including preventative maintenance, is essential Good understanding of the food manufacturing process and quality management Implementation of a Computerized Maintenance Management system in the past will be advantageous Knowledge of using tools such as RCM in developing maintenance schedules is advantageous. Knowledge of EHS management is essential. The capacity to understand a range of engineering functions and procedures Business skills, as you may be responsible for managing budgets, leading a team and liaising with suppliers The ability to lead and motivate others Team working skills to work cooperatively and liaise with people at all levels The ability to negotiate with, and persuade others Good diagnostic and problem-solving skills The confidence to respond positively when under pressure People-management skills. Team player, action-oriented, very flexible, analytical.

Job description outline

Specific duties & responsibilities:

In charge of all plant maintenance operations. Ensure that all factory machinery is serviced and in a good functional state. Ensure all daily machine preoperative and start-up checks are carried out. Ensure machinery and facility maintenance is carried out in accordance with the Company standing instructions and that high standards are maintained and improved on. Liaise with the Administration Assistant in ensuring that maintenance procurements give value for money. You will be responsible for the quality of procured maintenance parts. Ensuring that outsourced maintenance services in the factory are carried out to the specifications and is of a high standard. All the Engineering and workshop tools within the processing plant will be your responsibility and you must ensure proper records are maintained at all times and due care is given to asset protection. Be responsible for advising the Factory Manager on what spares you require and to follow up to ensure you obtain them. Ensuring all Factory utility records (water, electricity, fuel) are properly kept and up to date. Elimination of maintenance-related Wastage and Cost Control. Participating in any other duties that shall be reasonably assigned by Management from time to time. Implementation of KAIZEN System and Standards. Carry out Facility Inspection as per the procedure. Adhere to all Food Safety Regulations while carrying out maintenance work including tools reconciliation. Adherence to company FSSC/QSA/FSA/GMP/Hygiene Practices

Remuneration/Benefits

An attractive salary is on offer dependent on skills, qualifications, and experience.

To apply follow the link , quoting the Job Reference in the subject of your email.