The Mechanical Technician is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mechanical assets within a high-volume washing powder manufacturing plant. The role involves maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and continuous improvement of key mechanical systems such as conveyor belts, high-horsepower pumps, small pumps, pneumatics, and dust extraction systems.
This role is critical to supporting Unilever’s ambition of world-class manufacturing by minimizing downtime and driving continuous improvement in line with safety, quality, cost, and sustainability objectives. If this resonates with you, then this role is just for you!
WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE
1. Plant Support
- Comply with company and plant rules, participate in safety initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
- Maintain and support electrical maintenance for making and packaging equipment.
- Perform overhaul, repair, and maintenance tasks, including during plant shutdowns.
- Repair equipment breakdowns and complete work within the plant’s SAP system.
- Serve on improvement teams and assist with emergency repairs.
- Provide support for project work and electrical needs.
- Research ongoing problems and perform project work as directed.
- Coach and develop the electrical engineering skills of maintenance staff.
- Act as subject matter experts on electrical circuits, fault finding, repair, installation, and other electrical and instrumentation-related items.
- Make recommendations to the Project team.
2. Administration
- Complete all required documentation to standard.
3. Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE)
- Ensure adherence to company safety rules and regulations.
- Implement and maintain Unilever safety and 5S standards.
4. Autonomous Maintenance (AM)
- Complete tags in the area of responsibility to the required completion ratio.
5. Technical Skills and Maintenance
- Develop maintenance standards (SMP, Machine Ledger, PM Calendar) for assigned lines to deliver zero breakdowns.
- Implement Preventive Maintenance processes and execute planned and unplanned maintenance activities.
- Build basic maintenance skills of Technical Operators and Machine Operators.
- Monitor spare parts inventory and document maintenance activities.
- Serve as the Preventive Maintenance Specialist and use various maintenance strategies to achieve zero breakdowns. Support shift teams should that become necessary.
- Troubleshoot equipment and reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).
- Ensure compliance with Safety & Quality Protocols during maintenance activities.
- Demonstrate proficiency in mechanical skills and electrical skills, including diagnosing, troubleshooting, and replacing electrical components.
- Understand and adhere to Process Safety Management (PSM) Program for Refrigeration Systems.
- Work with Cell Leader and FI Engineer to conduct daily performance reviews and plan priorities.
- Prepare and facilitate Standard, Major, and Advanced Kaizens.
- Facilitate work completion with other stakeholders such as Utilities, Projects and Contractors.
- Align with People Development Pillar to deliver training.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED
Experience & Qualifications
- N5 Diploma in Electrical Engineering and Electrical Trade Test (or equivalent)
- 5+ years relevant experience in a maintenance environment
- PLC/DCS troubleshooting
- PC skills (SAP, Access, Outlook, Excel (Word).
Skills
- Strong electrical aptitude with ability to read and interpret electrical principles (voltage, current, resistance, power)
- Knowledge Circuit diagrams and schematics
- Series and parallel circuits.
- Familiarity with CMMS e.g. SAP, BuildApp.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and hands-on technical approach.
- Ability to work shifts and be available for standby/after-hours support.
- Team player with strong communication skills to work across operations, engineering, and SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) teams.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
- Ability to anticipate needs and solve problems proactively
- Strong multi-tasking skills with a comfort in maintaining multiple, often conflicting, priorities, and deadlines.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
Leadership
You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.
As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.
Unilever Behaviors
Care deeply: caring deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people’s growth and development, and our impact on the planet. You care about your performance, to a point where it hurts when you don’t win. Always brings their best self. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations and build empathy for others. Sets high standards for themselves. Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside of Unilever.
Focus on what counts: we set clear and stretching goals and recognize maximum performance impact. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.
Stay three steps ahead: we think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. We are always curious and confident – anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends to beat the competition. Approaches delivery with an iterative and incremental, test - do - learn approach. Has an owner’s mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
Deliver with excellence: we deliver everything we do with excellence and pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to account – always finding a way to do what we said we will do. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered.
We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.
This is a factory - based role in Johannesburg (Boksburg Factory) and requires 100% of time attendance on site.
Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.
