Facebook Linkedin-in

Engineering Manager

Gauteng – South Africa

Our client in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is seeking an experienced and strategic Engineering Manager to lead engineering, utilities, facilities, and maintenance operations within a highly regulated manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability and continuous operation of production equipment and utilities, driving engineering excellence, managing Capex projects, and ensuring compliance with GMP, SAHPRA, and safety standards.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
  • Oversee the operation, reliability, and optimisation of production equipment, utilities, and site infrastructure to support production efficiency and OEE targets.
  • Manage utilities including HVAC, boilers, compressed air, chilled water, purified water systems, electrical distribution, and wastewater treatment systems.
  • Develop and drive preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance strategies to minimise downtime and improve equipment reliability.
  • Lead engineering projects, facility upgrades, equipment installations, and Capex initiatives from planning through commissioning and qualification.
  • Ensure compliance with SAHPRA, cGMP, OHS, and quality management standards, including validation, calibration, CAPA, and audit readiness.
  • Manage engineering budgets, cost controls, contractor performance, and critical spare parts planning.
  • Lead, coach, and develop engineering teams, including succession planning and technical capability development.
  • Drive continuous improvement, reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and operational optimisation initiatives.
 
Minimum Requirements
 
  • BSc Engineering / BTech / National Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
  • GCC (Government Certificate of Competency)  
  • Postgraduate qualification in Engineering Management, MBA, or equivalent
  • Professional registration with ECSA (Pr.Eng / Pr.Tech) preferred.
  • Minimum 10 years’ engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a senior engineering or maintenance leadership role within a pharmaceutical, FMCG, or highly regulated manufacturing environment.
  • Strong experience in facilities management, utilities management, and equipment reliability.
  • Demonstrated experience with cGMP, SAHPRA compliance, and ISO quality systems.
  • Proven track record in Capex planning, project execution, financial control, and team leadership.
 
The ideal candidate is technically strong, operationally driven, and strategically minded, with the ability to lead large engineering teams within a regulated manufacturing environment. Strong leadership, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement capabilities are essential for success in this role. If you are passionate about engineering excellence and operational reliability within pharmaceutical manufacturing, apply now using the link below.