Site Engineering Manager

Unilever is currently hiring for a Site Engineering Manager

Function: Supply Chain

Reports to:  Sourcing Unit Director

Location: Boksburg Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa

Terms & Conditions: Full time, onsite

The Engineering Manager holds overall responsibility for engineering projects and maintenance across the site, including utilities, production lines, processing plants and buildings. The primary objective is to implement improvements that contribute to the factory's performance targets and to effectively maintain all operational and support elements of the sourcing unit.

The role manages engineering spares, assets and site services to support manufacturing activities, while leading the engineering team in delivering projects, innovation, infrastructure and services. You'll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet. Because here, we don't just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

Engineering Strategy & Innovation
• Manage the technical and maintenance teams responsible for delivering Projects, Innovation, Infrastructure and Services to the site.
• Lead innovation implementation on site, evaluating best design-to-manufacturing alternatives and following USCC / category technology selections; support innovation delivery as part of the regional network.
• Develop, build and make available within the organization the product, process and packaging expertise relevant to the asset base.
• Liaise with Category and Engineering Excellence teams for technology upgrades.
• Implement engineering standards and drive their rationalization and standardization across the site.

Capital Projects & Budget Management
• Prepare and manage the Capital Budget and Capital Expenditure Proposals in coordination with cluster and category requirements.
• Lead the implementation of the capital projects portfolio post-approval through to project closure, following TPM principles for Early Equipment Management.
• Sign off on engineering project designs; raise budgets and ensure projects remain within approved budgets.
• Implement projects on the Energy Efficiency programme and sustainability agenda.

Maintenance & Asset Care
• Lead the Early Equipment Management and Planned Maintenance TPM pillar, including SIMAS application.
• Establish and maintain an effective system of preventive maintenance applicable to plant and services (TPM-based); optimize MTBF and MTTR for production lines.
• Optimize spare parts safety stock levels in line with working capital targets; implement control measures to ensure system accuracy in accounting of spares and spares consumption.
• Manage engineering contractors and ensure statutory and legal compliance.
• Create and implement plans to continuously improve site infrastructure including energy, water, treatment, steam and all infrastructure services, contracts and contractors.

Safety, Health & Environment
• Responsible for the safety of all project-related operations within the factory; maintain and set safe working procedures.
• Manage Health, Safety and Environmental aspects of project management from design (PHA, HAZOPS, MDSAS) through equipment selection, project implementation, commissioning and final project handover.
• Ensure quality of all work conducted is to the highest possible standard and at the lowest cost.

Digital Engineering & Smart Maintenance
• Drive adoption of digital maintenance systems, plant data analytics, smart factory tools, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance technologies to improve engineering reliability and performance visibility.
• Use maintenance, downtime, cost and asset data to identify improvement opportunities, prioritise technical interventions and strengthen data-driven engineering decisions.
• Partner with Supply Chain Digital, Operations and Engineering Excellence teams to embed smart maintenance routines and digital performance management across the site.

Asset Lifecycle & Reliability Strategy
• Develop and govern asset lifecycle strategies for critical production, utility, building and site services assets.
• Lead reliability improvement plans, condition-based maintenance and critical asset risk management to improve MTBF, MTTR and equipment availability.
• Ensure asset care standards, spares strategies and maintenance master data support long-term reliability, working capital discipline and operational resilience.

Sustainability & Decarbonisation
• Lead engineering initiatives that reduce energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions and resource losses in line with site and Unilever sustainability priorities.
• Identify and deliver sustainable engineering solutions across utilities, manufacturing processes, infrastructure and capital projects.
• Ensure capital projects and infrastructure improvements consider decarbonisation, resource efficiency and total cost of ownership.

Engineering Governance & Risk Management
• Own and embed engineering standards, technical risk controls, project governance and statutory assurance processes across the site.
• Maintain engineering compliance visibility through a disciplined statutory and legal compliance calendar, audit follow-up and risk-based action tracking.
• Ensure engineering project governance includes design review, safety-by-design, technical risk assessment, commissioning controls and handover discipline.

People Leadership & Technical Capability Development
• Coach and develop the engineering team across technical, maintenance, project, utility and technology domains.
• Build succession depth and future engineering leadership capability through structured development plans, exposure and coaching.
• Develop technical capability for engineers, artisans and contractors in maintenance standards, safety-by-design, reliability practices and project execution discipline.
• Develop plans to ensure the best utilisation of assets and provide guidance on the maintenance, improvement and lifecycle management of such assets.
• Collaborate with the Operations Team to drive site and line efficiencies, reduce waste and strengthen technical ownership across production teams.

Experience & Qualifications

• BSc Engineering Degree (Mechanical or Electrical).
• Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) — essential.
• 8–10 years' experience across Engineering roles.
• 3–5 years in FMCG / manufacturing operations experience.
• Engineering experience in FMCG Supply Chain (Planning, Customer Service, Logistics, Process).
• Proficient leadership and management experience across large teams, stakeholders and suppliers / third parties / contractors.
• Must have led projects end-to-end including design, budget creation and control, and project execution.
• Experience with digital maintenance systems, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance or plant data analytics is advantageous.
• Experience leading sustainability, energy reduction, water reduction or decarbonisation projects is advantageous.
• Experience in engineering governance, statutory compliance assurance and critical asset risk management is advantageous.

Unilever Behaviours

• Focus on what counts: We ruthlessly prioritise what really, really matters and so do fewer things brilliantly. We set clear and stretching goals and recognise maximum performance impact. It is not about reducing ambition or effort or running after the ‘new and shiny’
• Care deeply: We care deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people's growth and development, and our impact on the planet. We care about our performance, to a point where it hurts when we don't win. It is not just about being nice or avoiding honest conversations about performance and opportunity.
• Stay 3 steps ahead: We think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. We are always curious and confident - anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends to be the competition. It is not taking our eye off the ‘here and now’.
• Deliver with excellence: We deliver everything we do with excellence and pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to account - always finding a way to do what we said we will do. It is not about analysing the inevitable roadblocks, admiring the problem or tolerating mediocrity

Why Join Unilever?

• Work for one of the world’s most purpose-led and trusted brands.
• Drive meaningful impact on business capability and performance.
• Be part of a supportive, culture‑driven environment that values people and growth.
• Enjoy opportunities for regional exposure and professional development.

Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.  We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country, and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered.  

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

This is an factory - based role in Johannesburg and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.