Shift in Charge
Location: South Africa
Industry: Aluminium Smelting & Ingot Production
Operation Structure: Continuous 24/7 Operations (12-Hour Shifts) (4 days on, 2 days off, 4 nights on - rotational)
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Factory Operations Manager. Direct floor-level reports include Shift Operators, Furnace Handlers, Casters, and the On-Shift Maintenance Team (Artisans/Technicians).
1. Job Purpose
The Shift In-Charge Supervisor holds full, live operational accountability for the entire plant during a assigned 12-hour shift. In a continuous 24/7 smelting environment, this role ensures that production targets are hit while maintaining uncompromising standards of workplace safety and floor-level housekeeping. The Shift In-Charge acts as the primary custodian of the plant’s assets and workforce on shift, coordinating real-time operations and maintenance interventions while ensuring rigid compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).
2. Key Responsibility Areas (KRAs) & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KRA 1: Rigorous Safety Enforcement & HSEQ Compliance
· Enforce absolute compliance with the South African OHSA framework, specifically managing high-heat hazards, molten metal safety, and the mandatory use of specialized thermal PPE.
· Conduct a mandatory, documented pre-shift hazard identification check and safety toolbox talk before the shift commences.
· Authorize and manage live Permits to Work (PTW) for all high-risk on-shift maintenance (e.g., hot work near furnaces, confined space entry).
· Investigate and report all shift near-misses or incidents immediately to the Factory Operations Manager.
· KPIs:
o Zero (0) Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) or Section 24 reportable incidents on shift.
o 100% compliance with pre-shift safety briefings and PTW sign-offs.
o 100% close-out rate of shift-level hazard observations.
KRA 2: World-Class Shift Housekeeping (5S)
· Lead the shift team in maintaining pristine housekeeping standards, ensuring that furnace areas, casting lines, and walkways are completely clear of dross, aluminium spillages, and scrap metal.
· Enforce the "Clean-as-you-go" principle and allocate dedicated 5S responsibilities to operators during the shift.
· Prepare the factory floor to an impeccable standard for the incoming shift handover.
· KPIs:
o Achieve 92% on the shift-end housekeeping and 5S checklist audited by the incoming supervisor.
o Zero safety hazards or material blockages flagged in walkways during a shift.
KRA 3: Production Execution & Process Control
· Directly oversee the melting, skimming, and casting processes to ensure aluminium ingot production meets volume, grade, and quality specifications.
· Monitor furnace temperatures, raw material charging cycles, and energy consumption metrics in real time.
· Compile and submit a detailed Shift Production Report to the Factory Operations Manager immediately upon shift completion.
· KPIs:
o 98% achievement of the assigned 12-hour shift production tonnage target.
o Scrap and dross generation kept below the strict 1.5% operational threshold.
o 100% accuracy and on-time submission of the shift data log.
KRA 4: Integrated Shift Maintenance Coordination
· Directly manage the on-shift Maintenance Team (Artisans/Technicians) to minimize equipment downtime and ensure rapid response to mechanical or electrical breakdowns.
· Ensure that routine, shift-based preventative maintenance tasks (e.g., critical machine lubrications, crane inspections) are executed without compromising production momentum.
· KPIs:
o Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) for critical breakdown interventions kept under 30 minutes.
o 100% completion of scheduled shift-level preventative maintenance checks.
KRA 5: Shift Labor Management & First-Line Discipline
· Manage shift attendance, clock-in compliance, and emergency shift scheduling in accordance with BCEA rules for 12-hour continuous operations.
· Enforce the corporate code of conduct immediately on the floor; issue verbal and written warnings for safety breaches, late arrivals, or negligence.
· Execute a formal, documented shift-to-shift handover protocol to ensure the incoming Shift In-Charge is fully appraised of plant status.
· KPIs:
o Shift absenteeism managed proactively to prevent line stoppages.
o 100% of disciplinary infractions documented and escalated to the Operations Manager within the shift.
o Zero communication gaps logged during shift handovers.
KRA 6: Emergency Response Leadership
· Act as the on-site Incident Commander during shift emergencies (e.g., furnace run-outs, power grid failures, fires) until the Factory Operations Manager arrives.
· Maintain availability for urgent operational call-outs during high-risk production runs or critical staffing shortages on alternative shifts.
· KPIs:
o Emergency evacuation and plant stabilization procedures initiated within 2 minutes of an alarm event.
3. Minimum Requirements
· Education: National Diploma in Chemical, Metallurgical, or Mechanical Engineering, OR a relevant South African Trade Test (e.g., Millwright, Fitter, Electrician) with a recognized supervisory qualification.
· Experience: 5+ years of hands-on operational experience in a heavy heavy-industrial furnace or smelting plant, with at least 2–3 years in a Shift Lead or Shift Charge capacity.
· Skills: Exceptional knowledge of molten metal hazards and pyrometallurgical safety; practical competence in first-line labour management under the BCEA and LRA frameworks; proficiency in using digital shift-logging systems.
Pay: R11 000,00 - R15 000,00 per month
Application Question(s):
- molten metal hazards and pyrometallurgical safety
Education:
Experience:
- heavy-industrial furnace or smelting plant: 5 years (Required)
Language:
- English & African (Required)
Work Location: In person
