C

CHEP

Pallet pooling and supply chain optimization

Maintenance Manager

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/14/2026
No salary listed
Senior, Expert
Creighton, South Africa
In Person
Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Maintenance and Reliability Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A diploma is required.
  • PLC programming is required.
  • A trade-tested Millwright or Electrician qualification is required.
  • At least 8–10 years of experience in a maintenance leadership role, preferably in a sawmill.
  • 10 years of experience in preventive maintenance, breakdown analysis, and reliability improvement are required.
  • Experience with conveyor belts is required.
  • Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is required.
  • Microsoft Office proficiency is required.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.
  • Ability to multitask and operate under pressure to meet tight deadlines is required.
  • Negotiation and influencing skills are required.
  • Cross-functional collaboration and teamwork skills are required.
  • A strong work ethic is required.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required.
  • Ability to adapt to changing situations is required.
  • Self-driven and motivated approach is required.
  • Knowledge of safety policies, procedures, and regulations is required.
  • Understanding and respect for organizational goals and objectives are required.
  • Ability to prioritize organizational success over personal objectives is required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead implementation of process reliability systems to improve production equipment performance and align it with operational targets.
  • Manage and maintain plant-wide preventive maintenance systems, promote best practices, and share knowledge with other plants to optimize maintenance programs.
  • Lead technical improvement initiatives, including automation enhancements, equipment capacity upgrades, and replacement or installation of machinery.
  • Develop and execute technical skills enhancement programs for plant inspection and repair teams, improving technical capabilities and alignment with safety standards.
  • Oversee building and facilities upgrades, ensuring efficient execution and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
  • Collaborate with the Engineering team to manage and implement technical improvement projects aligned with strategic goals.
  • Analyze annual maintenance costs and equipment lifecycle costs to optimize resource allocation and future project budgeting.
  • Enforce health and safety standards and drive continuous improvement in plant safety performance.
  • Ensure plant equipment is safe to operate, maximize equipment reliability, maintain facility functionality and efficiency, and minimize downtime through proactive planning.
  • Oversee installations, repairs, and upkeep of the mill’s facilities, equipment, and houses.
  • Lead the maintenance department, vehicle workshop, building team, and cleaning team.
  • Promote safety compliance within the maintenance team and ensure the sawmill plant and facilities comply with Brambles global safety standards and zero-harm policies.
  • Ensure plant equipment complies with safety and industry standards and regulations, and ensure company standard operating procedures are followed.
  • Promote and manage safe, efficient, and effective use of plant equipment.
  • Conduct regular safety inspections, audits, and risk assessments on machinery and facilities, identifying and resolving hazards.
  • Uphold GAP/Couch Positive requirements within the maintenance department.
  • Develop the maintenance strategy for Weatherboard.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance schedules that prioritize safe operating conditions, minimize unexpected and hazardous breakdowns, and increase equipment efficiency and lifespan.
  • Develop and implement a job-card and planning system to ensure maintenance jobs are planned and executed on time.
  • Manage a computerized maintenance management system to track work orders.
  • Plan equipment upgrades, replacements, and decommissioning.
  • Track equipment condition and maintenance history, and develop and manage a maintenance budget for plant equipment and site facilities.
  • Plan, organize, lead, and control day-to-day maintenance department activities.
  • Develop maintenance standard work for routine activities to improve efficiency, consistency, and safety while minimizing human error and variability.
  • Ensure breakdowns are attended to promptly and resolved quickly to minimize plant downtime.
  • Work with production teams to improve mechanical reliability, changeover performance, and operating efficiency.
  • Maintain a maintenance tracker to identify recurring issues and develop solutions to eliminate or minimize them.
  • Oversee repairs and installations involving heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical systems, and machinery.
  • Ensure inspections are completed and records kept current at the required frequency; record and report information that may impede plant operations.
  • Develop and maintain optimal maintenance-spares inventory; source required spares and equipment and prevent stock runouts.
  • Maintain statutory inspections, calibration coordination, maintenance records, and asset documentation.
  • Ensure quality standards are maintained and recorded, and that products meet specifications.
  • Ensure performance targets and deadlines are achieved.
  • Lead, develop, and motivate the maintenance team; maintain effective verbal and written communication with direct reports.
  • Supervise, train, and mentor Fitters, Electricians, Millwrights, Boilermakers, Diesel Mechanics, Auto Electricians, and Cleaners.
  • Allocate workloads and ensure planned jobs are completed within prescribed timeframes.
  • Conduct performance reviews and ensure the team follows safety protocols.
  • Manage a staff complement of 22 employees.
  • Coordinate training activities and maintain current skills and training metrics to ensure the maintenance team is competent and skilled.
  • Maintain an up-to-date training matrix and ensure job-specific training is completed.
  • Develop succession plans for critical and people-leadership roles within the maintenance team.
  • Ensure external contractors comply with safety policies and deliver according to scope, budget, and timelines.
  • Plan and coordinate contractor work schedules and site access to minimize operational disruption while managing technical maintenance tasks.
  • Track external contractor performance, verify completed work, and coordinate contractor activities.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in a sawmill maintenance leadership role is preferred.

About the company

CHEP provides pallet pooling and supply chain solutions. It rents out reusable pallets and containers to clients in consumer goods, retail, and manufacturing, using a subscription-based model and a networked pooling system to move goods efficiently. The service works by supplying standardized, reusable pallets that are circulated among customers, tracked, cleaned, and reused, with optional supply chain consulting and logistics optimization to increase efficiency. Compared with competitors, CHEP operates at a global scale with an integrated, end-to-end pallet pooling network and value-added services, focusing on reducing costs and waste across the supply chain. Its goal is to help customers streamline logistics, lower total costs, and improve sustainability by maximizing reuse of packaging and minimizing waste.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$30K

Headquarters

Orlando, Florida

Founded

2001

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • FY26 free cash flow before dividends reached US$1.05 billion, funding buybacks and dividends.
  • CHEP Americas and Europe drove FY26 net new business growth despite weaker consumer demand.
  • Brambles completed the CHEP India sale to LEAP on 8 January 2025, sharpening capital allocation.

What critics are saying

  • Brambles filed its class-action appeal on 1 July 2026; damages remain unquantified.
  • CHEP’s US repair capacity constraints cut FY26 profit by about US$90 million.
  • CHEP South Africa’s August 2025 Boksburg strike exposed labor instability and service disruption.

What makes CHEP unique

  • CHEP’s reusable pallet network lowers customer capital needs and reverse-logistics complexity globally.
  • Brambles reported FY26 sales revenue US$7.0 billion and 3% net new business growth.
  • Barilla expanded its Italian pallet conversion with CHEP starting February 2025.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

8%
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