Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager ROLE PROFILE GENERAL Date December 2025 Location Aggeneys, Northern Cape Operations (Please indicate the operation – by ticking the appropriate box) GB BMM Job Grade E1 (Paterson) / M3 (Vedanta) ROLE CONTEXT Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) operates two major mining complexes in the Northern Cape: · Gamsberg – a large-scale open ‑ pit zinc operation requiring high ‑ precision drill & blast execution to achieve fragmentation, slope stability and production targets. · Black Mountain Mine (BMM) – an underground operation where drill & blast quality directly influences development advance, stope performance, dilution control and safety. The Engineering Manager (E1) provides leadership, direction and technical governance across both fixed and mobile plant, including: · Crushing, milling, flotation and dewatering circuits · Power distribution, control & instrumentation systems · Water ‑ reticulation, pumping, pipelines and services infrastructure · Workshops, mobile equipment interfaces and mine ‑ services systems · Plant and mine infrastructure critical to operational continuity The role ensures that engineering teams deliver safe, reliable and cost ‑ effective performance, while supporting long ‑ term asset integrity, continuous improvement and cross ‑ functional alignment with Operations, Metallurgy, HSE and the Transformation COE. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE To lead the engineering and maintenance function across the operation, ensuring safe, reliable and compliant performance of all plant, mine and infrastructure assets. The Engineering Manager is accountable for: · Engineering strategy development · Legal and statutory compliance under MHSA · Asset ‑ management systems and governance · Maintenance execution and reliability improvement · Shutdown, project and modification oversight · Engineering budgeting and cost control · Technical leadership, capability development and stakeholder engagement RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Engineering Leadership & Strategy · Develop and lead the site ‑ wide engineering strategy aligned with operational and business objectives. · Establish engineering standards, policies, procedures and governance frameworks. · Drive long ‑ term asset integrity planning, optimisation and engineering innovation. 2. Maintenance Management & Execution · Oversee maintenance execution across plant and mining infrastructure. · Ensure effective planning, scheduling, backlog management and shutdown coordination. · Lead breakdown response strategies, prioritisation and recovery planning. · Maintain compliance with OEM specifications and engineering quality standards. 3. Reliability, Asset Optimisation & Technical Assurance · Drive reliability engineering practices including RCM, RCA, defect elimination and condition monitoring. · Ensure accurate and effective use of SAP PM or CMMS systems. · Champion analytics ‑ driven performance improvement and asset ‑ health monitoring. · Provide technical assurance for engineering decisions, designs, modifications and repairs. 4. Statutory Compliance & Engineering Governance · Ensure compliance with MHSA, COPs, SANS standards and legal appointment obligations. · Maintain statutory inspection records, engineering files and audit readiness. · Lead Management of Change (MOC) processes and enforce engineering discipline. · Ensure safe isolation, lock ‑ out and switching procedures. 5. Project Management & Plant Improvements · Provide engineering oversight for brownfields upgrades, new installations and capital projects. · Participate in design reviews, technical evaluations and commissioning processes. · Ensure project deliverables meet engineering, safety and operational standards. · Support execution of site expansion or plant ‑ stability initiatives. 6. Business Partner & Vendor Management · Manage performance of engineering contractors, OEMs and service providers. · Ensure compliance with contracts, scopes, site standards and safety requirements. · Drive cost ‑ effective vendor partnerships and oversee technical specifications. 7. Budgeting & Cost Control · Lead development of engineering budgets (maintenance, shutdowns, spares, projects). · Monitor expenditure, analyse variances and implement cost ‑ optimisation initiatives. · Ensure accountability for procurement, materials management and contractor costs. 8. People Leadership & Capability Development · Lead, mentor and coach engineers, supervisors, artisans and planners. · Drive skills development, professional growth and engineering succession planning. · Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety and technical excellence. 9. Cross ‑ Functional Integration & Operational Support · Work closely with Operations, Metallurgy, HSE, Supply Chain and COE teams to ensure alignment. · Resolve engineering constraints that impact production and plant stability. · Provide engineering support during process upsets, operational disruptions and risk assessments. 10. Safety, Risk & Regulatory Compliance · Champion Zero Harm and critical ‑ risk adherence across engineering operations. · Conduct VFLs, Gemba walks and PTOs to reinforce safe work behaviour. · Lead risk assessments (HIRA, IBRA) and ensure implementation of mitigations. · Embed safety and engineering critical controls across teams and tasks. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Qualifications · BEng / BTech / National Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical or related Engineering discipline. · GCC Mines & Works highly advantageous. · ECSA registration beneficial. Experience · 10+ years engineering and maintenance experience in mining or heavy industry. · 5+ years in a supervisory or managerial engineering leadership role. · Strong experience in plant operations, fixed and mobile equipment, and utilities. · Demonstrated success in leading maintenance teams and implementing engineering governance. · Experience with SAP PM/CMMS, project engineering and reliability methodologies. Technical Competence · Strong mechanical/electrical engineering knowledge. · Reliability engineering, RCM, RCA and condition ‑ monitoring expertise. · Understanding of processing circuits, utilities and infrastructure systems. · Engineering governance, legal compliance and audit readiness. · Strong analytical, diagnostic and problem ‑ solving ability. Behavioural · Strong leadership presence and communication skills. · High resilience, discipline and results ‑ driven approach. · Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability. · Effective stakeholder management and cross ‑ functional collaboration. · High safety consciousness and integrity. Organisational Fit · Alignment with VZI’s values of trust, entrepreneurship, innovation, excellence, integrity, respect and care. · Commitment to operational excellence, zero harm, and community upliftment. · Ability to thrive in a high ‑ performance, CBP ‑ integrated environment.