Purpose of the Position:
The Head of Engineering is responsible for ensuring the continuous and reliable operation of all utilities, facilities, and production equipment. This role ensures that engineering systems support optimal production efficiency, OEE, and product quality, while maintaining compliance with SAHPRA, GMP, and safety regulations. The incumbent provides strategic leadership in engineering, drives innovation, manages Capex projects, and develops a skilled engineering team with effective succession planning.
Operational Continuity & Production Support:

Ensure continuous availability and reliability of all production equipment and utilities to meet production schedules and OEE targets.
Monitor daily operational performance (OEE, uptime, throughput) and intervene to resolve bottlenecks or resource constraints.
Provide engineering support during start-ups, line changes and product introductions to minimize downtime and ensure smooth handover to Production.
Maintain an on-call escalation framework for 24/7 response to critical breakdowns and major incidents.

Utilities & Systems Management;

Take ownership for the operation and reliability of core site utilities (steam boilers, compressed air, chilled water, HVAC, purified/pharmaceutical water systems, wastewater treatment, site electrical distribution).
Ensure utility control philosophies, setpoints and operating procedures are documented, validated and followed.
Drive optimization initiatives for energy use, water consumption and utility efficiency.

Maintenance Strategy & Execution:

Develop and oversee preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance programmes (CMMS-driven), ensuring planned PM adherence and effective backlog control.
Implement and mature condition-based and predictive maintenance methods (vibration, thermography, oil analysis) to reduce unplanned downtime.
Schedule and lead major shutdowns and turnarounds—plan scope, resource allocation, contractor engagement, safety, and handover.

Project Delivery & Capital Works:

Lead engineering input for capital projects, facility upgrades and equipment installations: define scope, prepare CAPEX justifications, manage vendors, and oversee commissioning/qualification activities.
Ensure projects are delivered safely, on budget and on schedule and that handover documentation, drawings and O&M manuals are completed.

Compliance, Validation & Quality Systems:

Ensure engineering activities support a SAHPRA/GMP-compliant manufacturing environment — maintain equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), calibration and validation documentation.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance to manage deviations, change controls, CAPAs and ensure engineering corrective actions are implemented and verified.
Maintain audit readiness: prepare engineering responses for internal and external inspections and ensure timely closure of findings.

Financial & Resource Management:

Prepare and manage the Engineering Opex and Capex budgets, forecasting requirements, and reporting on spend vs budget.
Implement cost control initiatives and evaluate lifecycle cost when approving repairs vs replace decisions.
Determine and secure appropriate staffing and contractor resources to meet delivery commitments.

Team Leadership, Development & Organisation:

Build, lead and develop a high-performing engineering function: set objectives, conduct performance reviews, coach staff and establish succession plans.
Create and deliver technical training plans to maintain competency across crafts (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation) and to introduce new technologies and safety standards.
Foster a collaborative, continuous-improvement culture within the engineering team and across operations.

Contractor & Supplier Management:

Select, negotiate and manage third-party providers and service contracts (maintenance contracts, specialized services).
Define SLAs/KPIs for contractors, conduct performance reviews and enforce contractual compliance.
Ensure procurement of spares and long-lead items is aligned with criticality and risk mitigation plans.

Risk Management, Health & Safety:

Ensure all engineering works comply with OHS, environmental and internal SHE standards; approve high-risk work permits and ensure proper risk assessments and safe work procedures are in place.
Lead incident investigations for engineering-related events and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented.
Drive initiatives to eliminate safety risks in engineering tasks and to improve housekeeping and ergonomic conditions.

Documentation, Standards & Continuous Improvement:

Maintain accurate engineering documentation, as-built drawings and equipment files; ensure configuration control and change management for engineering records.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, maintenance instructions and engineering policies.
Lead continuous improvement and reliability engineering activities (RCA, FMEA, 5-Why) to drive reduction in MUV, yield loss and equipment failure rates