Plant & Equipment Manager

The Plant and Fleet Manager is responsible for the strategic management, procurement, maintenance, allocation, and disposal of all company-owned and hired construction plant, heavy machinery ("yellow plant"), and commercial transport fleets.

This role ensures maximum equipment mechanical availability, strict regulatory compliance, and cost-effective utilization across multiple construction sites to support project delivery on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant Strategy & Asset Management

· Manage the entire lifecycle of assets from procurement and licensing to decommissioning and disposal.

· Determine the optimal mix of owned versus hired plant based on project demands and cost-benefit analysis.

· Develop long-term fleet renewal and capital expenditure (CapEx) tracking plans.

· Ensure and effective monitoring of equipment rental rates (hourly, daily, monthly)

· Ensure cost effective establishment and de-establishment transport costs

· Monitor standby rates

· Eliminate and/or significantly reduce penalties for downtime or late return

• Fleet Availability & Maintenance

· Oversee the central and site-based workshops, managing in-house diesel mechanics, technicians, and external service providers.

· Establish and implement preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs for heavy machinery (e.g., excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks) and light commercial vehicles.

· Track and optimize critical metrics, including Mechanical Availability, Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF), and equipment downtime.

· Coordinate prompt breakdown recoveries, repairs, and short-term replacement logistics to keep sites operational.

· Ensure maintenance and service plan for all plant takes place as and when required, the same should apply for the effective breakdown response strategy.

· Ensure diesel supply and management thereof are effectively managed through our 27 000-litre self-bunded tank.

• Site Logistics & Operational Support

· Collaborate closely with Project Managers and Site Agents to schedule and deploy machinery effectively.

· Monitor real-time equipment utilization using telematics, GPS tracking, and fleet management software to prevent under-utilization or hoarding of machinery on sites.

· Ensure the Plant is installed with tracking devices that have diesel monitor sensors, tracking mechanisms, dashcams and anti-jammer (anti-hijacking) system.

• Financial & Cost Control

· Draft, manage, and report on the overall plant department operating budget.

· Monitor and control critical variable costs, including fuel consumption, tire management, and spare parts inventory.

· Conduct ongoing cost-per-operating-hour analysis for all heavy equipment classes.

· Ensure timeous licenses and insurance renewals, including working capital

· Outline revenue forecasts regarding the expected fuel/diesel utilization. including billing rates per hours

· Report on fleet monthly costs regarding fuel, maintenance and repairs, salaries, Insurance loan repayments, etc.

Ensure we achieve these key metrics: Break-even point, return on investment (ROI) as well as monthly cash flow projections.

• Compliance, Safety & Governance

· Ensure all equipment and transport fleets strictly adhere to regional statutory requirements, roadworthiness, and licensing.

· Enforce Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) standards within workshops and during equipment operation.

· Monitor compliance with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications to protect warranties and service histories.

Ensure continued compliance with all Insurance requirements relating but not limited to plant, liability, operator cover, etc.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· % Mechanical Availability of yellow plant and logistics fleet

· % Equipment Utilisation rate versus idle time on-site

· Response and turnaround time for emergency field breakdowns

· Departmental budget variance (maintenance cost per operating hour)

· Zero regulatory or licensing penalties

• Qualifications and Experience

· Education: A Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, Transport Management.

· Experience: minimum of 3 years of experience in fleet, plant, or workshop management, specifically dealing with heavy construction/earthmoving equipment.

· Technical Skills: Proficiency with fleet management software (CMMS/ERP systems (Builtsmart) and telematics platforms. Deep knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulics, and electrical systems.

· Licensing: Valid professional driver's license (e.g., Code 14 / Heavy Vehicle equivalent depending on location) is highly preferred.

Pay: From R800 000,00 per year

Work Location: In person