Head of Maintenance

COMPANY DETAILS: At SHAFA Agro Limited, we are building one of the most ambitious agricultural and food production businesses in East Africa. As Tanzania’s largest fully integrated dairy operation, our activities span dairy farming, animal nutrition, feed manufacturing, and food processing, enabling us to deliver high-quality products while advancing innovation, sustainability, and food security across the region. Our success is built on our people. We believe that exceptional talent thrives in an environment that values professionalism, collaboration, continuous learning, and personal growth. As our business continues to expand, we are constantly seeking passionate, skilled, and motivated individuals who want to make a meaningful impact. SHAFA Agro is part of a multinational group with operations and business interests across Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe. We are proud of our diverse and multicultural workforce, which includes professionals from Yemen, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, India, Brazil, Tanzania, and other countries. This international environment brings together different perspectives, experiences, and expertise, creating unique opportunities for employees to learn, grow, and contribute to a world-class agribusiness organization. COMPANY WEBSITE: https://shafafarm.com/ JOB TITLE: HEAD OF MAINTENANCE ROLE PURPOSE The Mills Head of Maintenance is a hands-on leader responsible for supervising all milling maintenance activities and maintenance personnel — including fitters, electricians, welders, plumbers, painters, and builders — engaged in the planned and reactive maintenance of machines and equipment to meet set objectives. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Equipment & Machinery Maintenance Maintain and monitor all milling equipment and machinery in accordance with SOPs and the Preventive Maintenance Schedule (PMS) Ensure lost time due to maintenance issues remains below 5% of available run time Ensure the Preventive Maintenance Schedule is followed with no work backlogs Continuously revise and update the PMS and implement with maximum dedication Maintain a signed-off PMS tracker at all times 2. Breakdown Response & Resolution Effectively troubleshoot and resolve plant breakdowns and facility problems to restore availability in the shortest possible time Achieve low Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) and low Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) Maintain zero work backlog — close all job cards with no procrastination Ensure top 5 maintenance issues are always being actively resolved Conduct weekly reviews of all open maintenance items 3. Facility Condition Monitoring Take a leading role in condition monitoring across the whole facility Ensure daily condition monitoring check sheets are updated consistently and signed off Ensure weekly condition monitoring check sheets are updated consistently and signed off Revise and update check sheets to ensure they remain relevant and efficient at all times 4. Auxiliary Supply Lines Optimisation Continuously monitor and optimise all auxiliary supply lines — steam, compressed air, water, and standby power Achieve 100% dry steam production with effective diesel usage and zero steam leaks or losses Maintain dry quality compressed air for the pneumatic control system Ensure reliable water supply and circulation throughout the facility at all times Ensure standby genset is always ready to supply power in the event of a TANESCO outage 5. Spares Inventory Management Ensure zero downtime due to unavailability of spares Maintain adequate spares and consumables stocks at all times Strictly adhere to spares and consumables re-order levels Conduct periodic spares stock checks and counts Produce monthly accurate spares reconciliations Maintain well-organised storerooms and tools management with zero thefts 6. SHEQ Compliance Champion SHEQ compliance across the maintenance department Achieve zero maintenance-related accidents Apply HIRA and the hazard hierarchy of controls Keep all compliance certificates updated Review and maintain up-to-date service records 7. People Management & Performance Take charge of subordinates' conduct and performance Ensure the maintenance department is filled with high performers Conduct quarterly performance reviews for all staff Coach, train, and develop subordinates; identify training needs Resolve misconducts and conflicts immediately — maintain zero disciplinary issues 8. Plant Improvement & Projects Participate in plant improvement initiatives, new installations, and departmental meetings Drive plant process optimisation initiatives through brainstorming sessions Lead daily departmental safety talks and ensure minutes are recorded KEY DELIVERABLES Signed-off PMS tracker with no backlogs Daily and weekly condition monitoring check sheets Genset and auxiliary supply line check sheets updated daily Monthly spares reconciliation report Quarterly performance reviews for all maintenance staff Daily safety talk minutes ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Qualifications & Training Degree or Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related field) Class 1 Journeyman / Apprenticeship-trained qualification Previous hands-on milling industry experience — mandatory Proven supervisory skills High integrity, accuracy, and strong attention to detail Experience At least 5 years of maintenance supervisory experience in a milling setup Proven record of supervising mechanical and electrical maintenance activities Experience overseeing installations of new machinery KEY COMPETENCIES Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of milling machinery, mechanical and electrical systems, and maintenance best practices. Leadership & People Management: Ability to coach, hold teams accountable, and develop high performers within the maintenance function. Problem-Solving: Systematic troubleshooting approach — ability to identify root causes and implement lasting solutions quickly. Planning & Discipline: Structured approach to PMS management, spares planning, and maintenance scheduling with zero backlogs. Safety-First Mindset: Committed to SHEQ compliance, risk assessment, and maintaining a zero-accident workplace culture. Communication: Clear communicator able to liaise effectively with operations, management, contractors, and maintenance teams.