Workshop Manager

WORKFORCE PLAN: APPOINTMENT OF WORKSHOP MANAGER

Sector: Engineering

Reporting to: Chief Operations Officer (COO)

The Company seeks to appoint a Workshop Manager with deep technical expertise and passion for pumps and motors, strong leadership and process discipline, ability to implement procedures and meet operation targets, display commitment to uncompromised quality, and strong customer relations.

Recruitment Justification

• Support the company’s COO who is based in Cape Town, currently required to balance multiple roles, including sales and marketing, project management, and business development.

• The absence of a dedicated Workshop Manager results in poor coordination between workshop and sales, slower turnaround time from quotations to purchase orders, poor cost control, lack of systems and process enforcement, reduced team accountability and an overall decline in workshop performance and profitability.

• Company ambitions will be limited by the current staff’s capacity, primarily able to perform the existing scope of work rather than supporting growth and expansion initiatives.

1. Role Overview

Title: Workshop Manager

Grade: B3 Department:
Production

Sub-Unit: Refurbishment Workshop

Departments supported: Procurement, Marketing & Sales

Location: Based at the White River Refurbishment Workshop

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer (COO) Direct Reports: Workshop Team

Purpose of the Role:

To take full responsibility for the technical oversight of the workshop, including operational planning, budget and cost control, while also ensuring full compliance with SABS and the OHS Act. Actively overseeing marketing and sales activities.

2. Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Excellence

• Ensure efficient and fast processes

• Eliminate waste and bottlenecks

• Optimize workflow

2. Quality Assurance

• Implement strict inspection gates

• Enforce procedural compliance

• Conduct root cause investigations

• Prevent repeat failures

3. Technical Leadership

• Guide complex motor and pump rebuilds

• Mentor technicians

• Review difficult failure cases personally

4. Team Management

• Lead, discipline, motivate

• Conduct daily toolbox meetings

• Manage performance

5. Financial Control

• Monitor cost per job

• Control consumables

• Improve profitability

6. Safety & Compliance

• Enforce safety standards

• Maintain workshop discipline

• Ensure compliance with engineering standards

3. Qualifications and Experience

• National Diploma or Mechanical/Electrical Engineering.

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in rotating equipment.

• Minimum 3-5 years’ workshop leadership experience.

• Proven experience with:

• Pump refurbishment (centrifugal, multistage, slurry, submersible)

• Motor rewinds and overhauls (LV and MV)

• Root cause failure analyisis

• ISO or formal quality systems

• Workshop planning and production control

4. Key Competencies

• Deep passion for motors and pumps (demonstrated through career history)

• Strong procedural discipline

• Operational efficiency mindset

• Leadership and accountability

• Quality-driven decision making

• Strong cost control awareness

5. Appointment Terms

• Position: Workshop Manager

• Employment Type: Permanent Reports To: COO

• Location: White River Refurbishment Workshop Office

Effective Date: 01 May