Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the Instrumentation function to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation of instrumentation, control and automation systems.
Develop, implement and continuously improve instrumentation standards, procedures and engineering practices to support operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
Drive asset reliability through the approval and oversight of maintenance, calibration, inspection and asset management strategies.
Provide specialist engineering support for complex instrumentation and control system failures, ensuring effective root cause analysis and sustainable solutions.
Oversee instrumentation-related shutdown planning, system upgrades and improvement projects to optimise plant performance and equipment availability.
Monitor instrumentation performance, reliability and risk indicators, driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring alignment with business objectives.
Financial Management
Develop and manage the Instrumentation Engineering budget, including forecasting, cost optimisation and resource planning to support operational and capital requirements.
Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and implement corrective actions to ensure financial performance remains within approved limits.
Analyse operational, maintenance and asset performance data to identify cost-saving opportunities and support informed financial decision-making.
Ensure compliance with all financial, procurement, governance and company policies to mitigate financial and operational risk.
Review and approve instrumentation-related procurement requirements, contracts and service agreements to ensure value for money and operational effectiveness.
Optimise the allocation and utilisation of financial, technical and contractor resources to achieve departmental objectives and improve asset performance.
People Management
Lead and manage the Instrumentation team in accordance with company values, leadership principles and human resources policies to foster a high-performance culture.
Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentorship to develop team capability, succession strength and continuous professional growth.
Establish clear performance objectives, monitor progress and provide regular feedback to ensure the achievement of departmental and organisational goals.
Drive performance management, employee development and talent retention initiatives to ensure a competent and motivated workforce.
Identify current and future skills requirements and implement training, development and upskilling programmes to meet business and operational demands.
Promote a safe, inclusive and productive work environment that encourages collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Relations
Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support operational objectives, align expectations and ensure effective communication on instrumentation-related matters.
Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering and Project teams to resolve technical issues, improve plant performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Provide specialist instrumentation and control systems advice to support informed decision-making and business objectives.
Foster positive engagement between management, employees and organised labour to promote collaboration, trust and constructive working relationships.
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with suppliers, contractors and service providers to ensure reliable technical support and service delivery.
Promote knowledge sharing and cross-functional collaboration to enhance operational efficiency, innovation and overall departmental performance.
Risk, Safety and Compliance
Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, standards and company policies, including the Mine Health and Safety Act, by providing governance oversight for the Instrumentation function.
Develop, maintain and monitor the Instrumentation risk register, implementing mitigation strategies to manage operational, safety and asset reliability risks.
Promote and drive a culture of safety, health and wellbeing, ensuring adherence to safe work practices and taking corrective action where required.
Ensure instrumentation systems, maintenance activities and engineering practices comply with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
Monitor and review maintenance, calibration and asset performance records to ensure accuracy, traceability and audit readiness.
Lead compliance audits, risk assessments and continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen governance, minimise risk exposure and improve operational performance
Requirements
Qualifications:
Grade 12/Matric (NQF4)
Bachelor's Degree or BTech in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics or Instrumentation Engineering Prescribed.
Government Certificate of Competency (GCC Mines & Works) will be advantageous.
ECSA registration as a Professional Engineer or Professional Engineering Technologist will be advantageous.
Certifications:
Trade Certificate in Measurement, Control and Instrumentation will be advantageous.
Job specific experience:
5 to 8 years' experience in instrumentation, control systems and automation within mining, mineral processing or heavy industrial environments.
Experience with PLC, SCADA and DCS systems.
Proven experience in instrumentation maintenance, reliability engineering and project execution.
Experience with process control optimization and troubleshooting.
Experience using ERP systems with MRP modules (Microsoft Dynamics 365 etc.)