Director of Mechanical Maintenance Operations

Date: Jul 30, 2026 Location: Mtwara Plant Tanzania, Mtwara Plant Tanzania Company: Dangote Industries Limited Recruitment Statement Denote Cement Tanzania is in search of a skilled, proactive, and goal-driven Mechanical Head, equipped with robust technical expertise and strong leadership capabilities to enhance reliability, cultivate talent, and maintain safe operations at design capacity. The ideal candidate will assume complete responsibility for mechanical performance and provide hands-on leadership in the field. 1. Position Purpose This position will deliver strategic and operational leadership for all mechanical maintenance initiatives throughout the integrated cement plant, guaranteeing safe, dependable, and economic performance of the production equipment. The role holds full accountability for optimizing equipment uptime, minimizing unplanned downtime, strengthening preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, and cultivating a high-performing maintenance team capable of sustaining stable operations at design capacity. A dynamic and proactive leader, this individual demonstrates strong ownership, excels under pressure, and maintains a visible presence in the field. With a focus on mentoring and development, they consistently translate technical insights into decisive, timely action. 2. Key Accountabilities A. Maintenance Strategy and Reliability Formulate and implement the plant’s mechanical maintenance strategy to align with production objectives, adhere to OEM guidelines, meet statutory obligations, and uphold Denote standards. Execute preventive, predictive, condition-based, and corrective maintenance initiatives with strict adherence to disciplined planning, scheduling, execution, and close-out procedures. Enhance equipment reliability by conducting root-cause analyses, eliminating failures, managing underperforming assets, planning lifecycle stages, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Establish and uphold maintenance standards encompassing lubrication, alignment, balancing, vibration monitoring, thermography, oil analysis, inspection routes, and equipment preservation protocols. Maintain precise equipment history, bills of materials, task lists, backlog priorities, and maintenance records within the CMMS/SAP system. B. Plant Equipment and Technical Scope Oversee the mechanical upkeep of a diverse array of equipment, including crushers, stackers/reclaimers, raw mills, coal mills, rotary kilns, preheaters, clinker coolers, cement mills, separators, packing plants, and bulk-loading systems. Responsibilities include maintaining the dependability of gearboxes, girth gears, pinions, bearings, couplings, hydraulic systems, fans, compressors, pumps, conveyors, elevators, feeders, dust collectors, and utility equipment. Responsibilities include ensuring the mechanical integrity of the kiln system, which encompasses the shell, tires, rollers, thrust rollers, drive train, seals, cooler, and associated refractory-support interfaces. Direct precision maintenance tasks encompass hot/cold alignment, laser alignment, balancing, welding, fabrication, machining, non-destructive testing (NDT), and dimensional inspections to ensure optimal equipment performance and reliability. Coordinate technical support from OEMs and specialists to address critical issues, implement upgrades, perform overhauls, and restore system performance to optimal levels. C. Shutdown and Project Management Direct annual shutdowns and major overhauls from initial scope definition through resource allocation, risk evaluation, implementation, quality assurance, commissioning, and post-project review. Before commencing execution, comprehensive planning of shutdown activities must be completed, including finalized drawings, detailed methods, allocated manpower, necessary tools, approved lifting plans, valid permits, required materials, spare parts, and contingency measures. Oversee mechanical capital expenditure and enhancement initiatives, ensuring alignment with approved parameters regarding scope, timeline, and budget; validate technical specifications and contractor outputs. Engage in design reviews, conduct factory acceptance tests, oversee installation, manage commissioning, and execute performance testing for new equipment. D. Safety, Compliance and Work Quality Visible safety leadership must be consistently demonstrated while strictly enforcing permit-to-work, lockout/ragout, confined-space, hot-work, work-at-height, and lifting requirements. Conduct thorough risk assessments, method statements, and isolation plans for every job, ensuring compliance and safety. Additionally, establish and maintain quality inspection checkpoints to verify adherence to standards throughout the project lifecycle. Ensure adherence to all relevant Tanzanian legal requirements, environmental commitments, corporate policies, and established engineering standards. Immediately halt any unsafe operations, thoroughly investigate incidents and near misses, and verify that all agreed-upon corrective actions are effectively implemented and maintained. Maintain impeccable housekeeping standards, ensure the security of guarding systems, and uphold rigorous control measures for workshops, cranes, lifting gear, and tools throughout all mechanical work areas. E. Cost, Spares and Contractor Control Prepare and oversee the mechanical maintenance budget to ensure optimal cost efficiency while upholding stringent safety standards and maintaining the integrity of all assets. Leverage equipment criticality, lead time, consumption rates, failure consequences, and obsolescence risks to refine and enhance critical-spares inventory levels. Evaluate technical specifications, purchase requisitions, bids, and vendor proposals to verify adherence to quality standards and ensure materials are delivered in a timely manner. Oversee contractors by establishing precise scopes, verifying competencies, tracking performance, ensuring safe execution, accepting deliverables based on quality standards, and maintaining commercial integrity. Evaluate and document repair-versus-replace choices for key assets, analyzing their overall life-cycle expenses to ensure cost-effective management. F. Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration Direct the mechanical maintenance team by establishing clear objectives, providing daily guidance, and conducting consistent performance evaluations to ensure accountability and productivity. Develop comprehensive succession plans and technical competency matrices tailored for engineers, supervisors, technicians, welders, fitters, and planners to ensure a skilled and prepared workforce. Collaborate effectively with Production, Process, Electrical, Automation, Quality, Mining, Procurement, and Health & Safety departments to address and resolve plant operational constraints. Conduct daily and weekly reliability assessments, proactively communicate potential risks, and deliver clear recovery strategies that include designated owners and defined completion timelines. Foster a dynamic environment characterized by a sense of urgency, structured discipline, collaborative teamwork, an inquisitive mindset toward technical advancements, and a commitment to ongoing enhancement. 3. Performance Measures (KPIs) KPI Area Expected Outcome Equipment availability Ensuring all critical production areas consistently meet their agreed-upon availability and reliability objectives. Unplanned downtime Enhanced equipment reliability, with notable decreases in mechanical breakdown hours, repeat failures, and production losses, ensuring smoother operational efficiency. Maintenance compliance Ensure the timely and accurate completion of preventive and predictive maintenance tasks, adherence to established schedules, and meticulous closure of work orders. Shutdown performance Ensuring safety protocols are followed, achieving scope completion, managing duration, maintaining high quality standards, controlling costs, and guaranteeing a reliable restart following shutdowns are essential priorities. Cost control Mechanical maintenance expenses per ton, deviations from the allocated budget, and the standard of repair work represent critical performance indicators for this role. Asset health Critical equipment condition, backlog risks, lubrication compliance, and the elimination of underperforming assets demand meticulous oversight. Safety performance Achieving zero fatalities and lost-time injuries while maintaining rigorous compliance with permits, isolation procedures, lifting protocols, and contractor regulations. People development To enhance team competencies, ensure leadership readiness, optimize productivity, and strengthen team engagement. 4. Minimum Qualifications and Experience A recognized institution must confer a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering; possession of a master’s degree or professional engineering certification is considered beneficial. A minimum of two decades of hands-on mechanical maintenance expertise within heavy industry is required, with no less than 15 years dedicated to the cement sector and at least six years in a senior leadership capacity. Professional experience is required in an integrated cement plant of similar size, with comprehensive familiarity in kiln operations, mill functioning, crusher performance, material handling methods, packing procedures, and utility system management. Accomplished in overseeing significant shutdowns, reliability initiatives, maintenance budgets, contractors, and cross-functional teams. Proficiency in utilizing CMMS/SAP systems, interpreting equipment drawings, executing maintenance planning, conducting condition monitoring, performing root cause analysis (RCA), and adhering to engineering standards is essential. Proficiency in professional English is essential, along with the capacity to collaborate seamlessly in multicultural settings. While working knowledge of Kiswahili is beneficial, it is not mandatory. 5. Technical Competencies Rotating equipment and precision maintenance Kiln mechanical systems, alignment and shell/roller condition Grinding, crushing, conveying and packing equipment Hydraulics, pneumatics, lubrication and filtration Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring Welding, fabrication, machining, NDT and repair quality Shutdown planning, project execution and commissioning RCA, FMEA, equipment criticality and reliability improvement Maintenance budgeting, inventory optimization and contractor management 6. Leadership and Behavioural Competencies Energetic and proactive, with a strong ability to maintain high visibility in the field. Strong ownership, urgency and follow-through. Maintains composure and makes well-informed decisions when facing breakdowns or high-pressure scenarios. Data-driven problem solver with sound engineering judgement. Adept at conveying ideas persuasively to leadership, contractors, and operational teams alike. A highly organized and methodical individual who adeptly manages current production demands while also prioritizing the sustained health and longevity of assets. Maintains unwavering integrity, prioritizes safety in all actions, and upholds a deep respect for individuals. Dedicated to providing coaching, facilitating knowledge transfer, and fostering local capacity-building initiatives. 7. Working Conditions A plant-based role necessitating consistent engagement across operational areas, workshops, and shutdown work fronts is required. Availability is required outside standard work hours in the event of significant disruptions, such as critical system failures, scheduled maintenance outages, or plant-wide emergencies. Proficient in maintaining safety standards in environments with high temperatures, airborne particulates, loud noise levels, elevated positions, restricted areas, and heavy machinery, strictly adhering to necessary personal protective equipment and established safety protocols. Denote Cement Tanzania is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace by offering equal employment opportunities to candidates based on merit, competence, and the organization’s needs. Please note that only applicants selected for further consideration will receive a response. At this esteemed organization, collaboration and community engagement are paramount, as we firmly believe in the power of shared knowledge and collective success. We encourage team members to actively promote our initiatives and values by utilizing the provided social media icons below to disseminate important updates, milestones, and opportunities to their networks. Through this collective effort, we aim to expand our reach, foster meaningful connections, and drive positive impact together. Submit your resume and application through the company’s official website by following the provided link. Closing Date : 10th August, 2026. Don’t miss out on the most recent job opportunities in Tanzania—subscribe now to stay updated. Click here to access the listings.

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