Description:

Project and Engineering Manager-FMCG(-Africa)

We are seeking an experienced Project & Engineering Manager to oversee projects from initiation to completion, while also managing plant maintenance activities. The role requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to deliver projects on time, within budget, and in compliance with all applicable standards. The ideal candidate should have prior experience in FMCG manufacturing processes, with exposure to bakery or biscuit operations considered a strong advantage.

Reports to: Head of Engineering.

Experience: 8 Years +

Objectives:

- Orchestrate full lifecycle delivery of capital and improvement projects with active shop-floor engagement and seamless handover to operations.

- Achieve high-quality outcomes at optimal cost, delivered in full and on schedule, in line with statutory and regulatory requirements.

- Lead mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation maintenance, reducing downtime and improving asset reliability.

- Build and develop a high-performance, multicultural team to deliver results consistently.

Key responsibilities:

- Define scope, goals, timelines, budgets, resources, and success criteria for each project; secure stakeholder alignment and governance approvals.

- Develop and run detailed project plans; track milestones, surface deviations early, and implement corrective actions.

- Own project budgets; monitor costs, manage change, and ensure value-for-money across procurement and execution.

- Coordinate internal teams and external partners for flawless execution, contracts, deliverables, and vendor performance.

- Identify and mitigate delivery risks; manage scope, schedule, and cost changes with formal controls to ensure smooth operational handover.

- Validate technical quality; ensure documentation, standards, and acceptance criteria are met before closeout.

- Drive continuous improvement and adoption of best practices, methods, and standards across projects and maintenance.

- Act as backup for the Head of Engineering on maintenance matters; run parallel maintenance workstreams when required.

- Lead troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation; ensure spares and store inventory align to uptime goals.

- Maintain proactive communications with leadership, stakeholders, and end users to keep scope and expectations aligned.

Qualifications and experience:

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering; formal project management training is an advantage.

- 8+ years of hands-on project execution and plant maintenance in industrial/manufacturing environments.

- Strong working knowledge of civil works, mechanical installation, electrical systems, and plant relocations.

- Proven leadership with excellent communication, coordination, and decision-making under pressure.

- Experience in FMCG processes; exposure to bakery or biscuit operations is a plus.

Desired Skills:

- Site-based project management with robust planning, risk, and change control.

- Vendor and contract management, resource planning, and cross-functional coordination.

- Reliability-cantered maintenance fundamentals and shop-floor troubleshooting across Mech./Elec./Instrumentation.

- Resilience in challenging environments; talent development and succession mindset.

- Continuous improvement orientation with practical problem-solving and standards discipline.

Performance Metrics:

- On-time, in-full delivery against plan.

- Budget adherence and cost control effectiveness.

- Quality of deliverables and operational readiness at handover.

- Team capability uplift and collaboration effectiveness.

- Reliability metrics: MTTR, MTBF, breakdown percentage.

- Maintenance cost and inventory health