Location: Ibese Plant, Ibese Plant

Company: Dangote Industries Limited

The Manager, Mechanical Operations is responsible for leading, coordinating, and optimizing all mechanical activities across the cement plant to ensure continuous, efficient, and safe operation of equipment and systems. The role involves strategic maintenance planning, execution of preventive and corrective maintenance programs, supervision of technical teams, and implementation of engineering best practices to drive reliability, cost-efficiency, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in mechanical systems with proven leadership skills and a commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and safety.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee all mechanical operations within the cement plant to ensure high equipment reliability and minimal downtime.
• Develop, implement, and manage preventive and predictive maintenance programs for key equipment such as crushers, kilns, vertical roller mills (VRM), coal mills, and cement mills.
• Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers, supervisors, and technicians in troubleshooting and resolving mechanical issues promptly and effectively.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute scheduled maintenance activities, including shutdowns and major equipment overhauls, within scope, time, and budget.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess equipment performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Ensure all maintenance and operational activities comply with company safety, quality, and environmental standards as well as statutory regulations.
• Review technical designs, drawings, and maintenance procedures to guarantee operational quality and compliance with engineering standards.
• Evaluate and recommend equipment upgrades, modernization initiatives, and new maintenance technologies to enhance plant performance.
• Manage spare parts inventory efficiently to ensure availability while minimizing holding costs.
• Prepare, justify, and control annual maintenance budgets, ensuring optimal use of financial and material resources.
• Collaborate with production, process, and electrical teams to optimize equipment utilization and achieve overall plant performance targets.
• Train and develop team members to enhance technical competence and promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Utilize Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) such as SAP for maintenance planning, execution, and reporting.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Head, Mechanical Maintenance or Plant Director.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 15–18 years of relevant experience in mechanical operations or maintenance, preferably within the cement or heavy manufacturing industry.
• Proven track record in a managerial or supervisory role, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Skills and Competencies

• Comprehensive understanding of cement plant mechanical systems (e.g., kilns, mills, compressors, crushers, conveyors).
• Strong knowledge of preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, planning, and team management abilities.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency in CMMS (e.g., SAP) and MS Office Suite.
• Working knowledge of engineering analysis and maintenance optimization tools.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, prioritize tasks, and deliver results under pressure.
• Strong commitment to operational safety, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance.