Plant Engineer

Purpose of Role To manage the implementation of engineering strategies and drive adherence to legal and industry regulatory standards and company policies to ensure continuous compliance and the safe operation of the plant activities. To oversee and manage all operational aspects and the optimal functioning and maintenance of machinery and equipment of the plant to achieve production targets and ensure effective asset management. Role Context Operational Management Provide input to strategic plans of the section by compiling comprehensive operational plans, converting the Department into an enabler of the overall business strategy of the organisation. Keep abreast of changes in relevant guidelines and other legislation, to make recommendations where policies, processes and/or procedures require amendment. Develop, enhance and implement policies, processes and Operational procedures that are within the respective Department aimed at the enhancement of service delivery and overall productivity within the Department. Oversee the day-to-day operations of the processing plant, ensuring that all machinery and equipment are functioning efficiently to meet production targets. Develop and implement maintenance schedules and ensure critical daily maintenance tasks are executed to maintain proper functioning of plant equipment and minimise downtime. Develop action plans to address any breakdowns or repairs promptly by collaborating with maintenance teams to ensure continuous improvement regarding asset care management. Monitor plant processes, identify areas for improvement and drive efficiency enhancing measures in line with engineering best practice to optimise plant performance and productivity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams with regards to the selection, procurement and installation of any new machinery, tools, or equipment required for plant operations. Financial Management Analyse all relevant Department data and report on Departmental trends and operating requirements to determine funding requirements for the financial year. Monitor short-term Departmental budgets by scrutinising and aligning spend within the Department, to support and drive effective and efficient functioning within budgetary constraints. Monitor Departmental expenditure against budget allocations, requesting appropriate reallocation as required, to manage the prevention of unnecessary spend. Comply with all financial, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and other Tharisa Minerals (TM) regulations and policies by facilitating the right actions, to reduce financial risk in the Department. Compile and manage the plant operations’ budget including forecasting and cost control measures to minimise expenditure and ensure operations are adequately budgeted for. Plan and allocate resources (both financial and non-financial) including the sourcing and evaluation of vendors for instrumentation products, tools and services to meet project deadlines and operational requirements. People Management Create and maintain a conducive work environment by appropriately applying Human Resources policies and procedures to ensure optimum performance is realised for the benefit of the Department and, by extension, the organisation. Lead the team according to TM’s leadership principles and values throughout the entire employee life cycle (performance management, reward etc) to ensure, inter alia, a high-performance culture. Coach mentor, guide, and provide leadership for the Department, sharing impactful knowledge and identifying opportunities for growth and improvement to drive the success of the team. Set clear goals and objectives for the team, monitor progress and provide regular feedback and guidance to achieve the set goals in line with TM’s regulations and standards. Manage employee performance and forecasting the skills required to meet business demands and ensure training and upskilling initiatives to ensure the team remains competent and fit for purpose within their roles. Stakeholder Relations Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure information, advice or opinions on relevant matters is made available and/or communicated with all relevant stakeholders, to manage expectations and timelines. Utilise opportunities presented to enhance the relationship between management, unions and employees, and implement processes to maximise a collaborative working relationship. Collaborate with cross-functional teams including operations, engineering and maintenance to address Plant related issues and provide advice and recommendations to ensure resolution and continuous improvement. Encourage, establish and maintain strategic relationships across multiple functional areas to enable collaboration, knowledge sharing and optimisation of the departments’ processes and productivity. Compliance, Risk and Safety Promote and enforce a culture of safety by minimising risk and ensure adherence to safety procedures and guidelines in line with the MHSA to achieve safe and sustainable mining practices. Plan and execute planned shutdowns and preventive maintenance of plant section and equipment by stopping the operation if the working conditions are unsafe. Develop and implement a risk register to monitor and record potential and recurring risks to develop strategies to mitigate such risks and creating a safety culture. Maintain records of all maintenance and calibration activities, equipment performance and repairs to ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and regulatory standards. Implement a work ethos across the department that is committed to safeguarding employee safety, health and wellbeing and take remedial actions where necessary to minimise incidents. Influence the interdepartmental collaboration and coordination efforts to execute drills and escape procedures in case of emergencies and operational requirements i.e. blasting to mitigate risks and fatalities.