Maintenance Specialist

Recruiter: Staff Solutions Recruitment

Job Ref: PE006718/AS

Date posted: Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Location: Durban, South Africa

SUMMARY: Our client, a well-established manufacturer within the automotive sector, is seeking an experienced Maintenance Supervisor to join their technical team. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the maintenance function, ensuring maximum equipment availability, driving preventative maintenance initiatives, and supervising a team of skilled artisans.

POSITION INFO: Key Responsibilities Maintenance Operations Lead and coordinate daily maintenance activities to ensure equipment reliability and minimise production downtime. Allocate labour and maintenance resources effectively, including overtime planning where required. Analyse maintenance performance, breakdown trends and downtime reports to identify improvement opportunities. Investigate equipment failures, carry out fault finding and implement effective corrective actions. Recommend equipment upgrades, modifications and replacement strategies where necessary. Maintain accurate records of electrical equipment, hardware and software backups. Preventative Maintenance Develop, implement and monitor preventative maintenance schedules for all plant equipment. Review and update maintenance task schedules to ensure optimal equipment performance. Maintain critical spares registers and ensure essential replacement parts are available. Breakdown Management Coordinate and oversee machine breakdown repairs. Ensure urgent maintenance issues are resolved efficiently and escalate complex technical problems when required. Keep management informed of major equipment failures and potential risks to production. Engineering Projects Support the planning, execution and implementation of engineering and plant improvement projects. Assist with project budgeting, scheduling and cost control. Monitor project progress to ensure milestones and quality standards are achieved. Identify project risks and contribute to effective mitigation strategies. Supervise technical project teams where required. Administration & Procurement Maintain accurate maintenance and project documentation. Coordinate maintenance-related procurement activities, including spares and consumables. Support project administration and ensure documentation is completed in line with company procedures. Continuous Improvement Identify opportunities to improve maintenance systems, equipment performance and operational efficiency. Stay informed of new technologies and industry best practices. Drive continuous improvement initiatives that support business objectives. Team Leadership Supervise, motivate and develop the maintenance team to achieve departmental objectives. Plan and manage workforce allocation within the department. Participate in recruitment, performance management, coaching and employee development. Address performance concerns, grievances and disciplinary matters in accordance with company policies. Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance Promote a strong safety culture within the maintenance department. Conduct regular risk assessments and workplace inspections. Identify and address hazards to ensure a safe working environment. Ensure maintenance activities comply with all applicable health, safety and environmental legislation and company standards. Minimum Requirements Grade 12 (Matric). Relevant qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field. Qualified Trade Test as a Millwright, Fitter, Toolmaker or Electrician. Minimum of 5 years' maintenance supervisory experience within a manufacturing environment, preferably automotive. Proven leadership and team management experience. Sound knowledge of PLC systems. Project management experience will be advantageous