**Overview**
This role at Unilever is for an Artisan - Electrician responsible for the diagnosis, installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems and equipment specifically within the Packaging/Processing Area. The position focuses on ensuring machinery operates efficiently, safely, and in compliance with electrical codes and company standards. Unilever describes this as an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
**What you will do**
* Attend to and maintain plant production equipment.
* Proactively ensure preventative planned maintenance is performed cost-effectively to minimise downtime.
* Maintain equipment on production lines, in processing areas, and on high-speed manufacturing lines.
* Fault-find, diagnose and repair electrical faults in production equipment.
* Support the construction of new equipment in plants; install and wire industrial machinery, control panels and electrical systems.
* Handle breakdowns effectively and timeously in line with MTTR targets.
* Accurately complete administrative forms and use digital tools.
* Read and interpret technical diagrams, blueprints and schematics.
* Program and troubleshoot PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers).
* Collaborate with mechanical and production teams to optimise equipment performance.
* Ensure compliance with safety regulations and electrical codes.
**Requirements (from the original advert)**
* Trade Tested: Electrician or equivalent.
* Minimum of a completed N4 Electrical certificate.
* 3-5 years as an Artisan in an FMCG manufacturing environment.
* Basic knowledge of PLC and relay control circuit fault-finding.
* Strong fault-finding skills on motors, conveyors, DBs, etc.
* Proper interpretation of electrical schematic diagrams and the ability to alter them when necessary.
* Working knowledge of photoelectric and proximity switches is essential.
* Knowledge of pneumatic systems.
* Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
* Excellent problem-solving skills.
* Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
* Communication skills.
* Computer literacy and use of apps.
**Who should apply**
An ideal candidate for this Artisan - Electrician role is a Trade Tested Electrician with an N4 Electrical certificate and 3-5 years of experience in an FMCG manufacturing environment. They should possess strong fault-finding skills across various electrical components, be proficient in interpreting technical diagrams, and have working knowledge of PLCs, relay control circuits, photoelectric and proximity switches, and pneumatic systems. The role requires someone who is proactive in preventative maintenance, effective at handling breakdowns, capable of supporting new equipment installations, and adept at administrative tasks and digital tools. The candidate must be able to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating excellent problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and computer literacy skills, while ensuring compliance with safety and electrical codes.
**Deadline**
Not specified
**Reference**
Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/artisan-electrician-unilever
Source: myjobmag
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.
At a glance
Project management
Customer service
Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.
Job description
About the role
* The Engineering Manager holds overall responsibility for engineering projects and maintenance across the site, including utilities, production lines, processing plants and buildings. The primary objective is to implement improvements that contribute to the factory's performance targets and to effectively maintain all operational and support elements of the sourcing unit.
* The role manages engineering spares, assets and site services to support manufacturing activities, while leading the engineering team in delivering projects, innovation, infrastructure and services. You'll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet. Because here, we don't just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Strategy & Innovation
* Manage the technical and maintenance teams responsible for delivering Projects, Innovation, Infrastructure and Services to the site.
* Lead innovation implementation on site, evaluating best design-to-manufacturing alternatives and following USCC / category technology selections; support innovation delivery as part of the regional network.
* Develop, build and make available within the organization the product, process and packaging expertise relevant to the asset base.
* Liaise with Category and Engineering Excellence teams for technology upgrades.
* Implement engineering standards and drive their rationalization and standardization across the site.
Capital Projects & Budget Management
* Prepare and manage the Capital Budget and Capital Expenditure Proposals in coordination with cluster and category requirements.
* Lead the implementation of the capital projects portfolio post-approval through to project closure, following TPM principles for Early Equipment Management.
* Sign off on engineering project designs; raise budgets and ensure projects remain within approved budgets.
* Implement projects on the Energy Efficiency programme and sustainability agenda.
Maintenance & Asset Care
* Lead the Early Equipment Management and Planned Maintenance TPM pillar, including SIMAS application.
* Establish and maintain an effective system of preventive maintenance applicable to plant and services (TPM-based); optimize MTBF and MTTR for production lines.
* Optimize spare parts safety stock levels in line with working capital targets; implement control measures to ensure system accuracy in accounting of spares and spares consumption.
* Manage engineering contractors and ensure statutory and legal compliance.
* Create and implement plans to continuously improve site infrastructure including energy, water, treatment, steam and all infrastructure services, contracts and contractors.
Safety, Health & Environment
* Responsible for the safety of all project-related operations within the factory; maintain and set safe working procedures.
* Manage Health, Safety and Environmental aspects of project management from design (PHA, HAZOPS, MDSAS) through equipment selection, project implementation, commissioning and final project handover.
* Ensure quality of all work conducted is to the highest possible standard and at the lowest cost.
Digital Engineering & Smart Maintenance
* Drive adoption of digital maintenance systems, plant data analytics, smart factory tools, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance technologies to improve engineering reliability and performance visibility.
* Use maintenance, downtime, cost and asset data to identify improvement opportunities, prioritise technical interventions and strengthen data-driven engineering decisions.
* Partner with Supply Chain Digital, Operations and Engineering Excellence teams to embed smart maintenance routines and digital performance management across the site.
Asset Lifecycle & Reliability Strategy
* Develop and govern asset lifecycle strategies for critical production, utility, building and site services assets.
* Lead reliability improvement plans, condition-based maintenance and critical asset risk management to improve MTBF, MTTR and equipment availability.
* Ensure asset care standards, spares strategies and maintenance master data support long-term reliability, working capital discipline and operational resilience.
Sustainability & Decarbonisation
* Lead engineering initiatives that reduce energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions and resource losses in line with site and Unilever sustainability priorities.
* Identify and deliver sustainable engineering solutions across utilities, manufacturing processes, infrastructure and capital projects.
* Ensure capital projects and infrastructure improvements consider decarbonisation, resource efficiency and total cost of ownership.
Engineering Governance & Risk Management
* Own and embed engineering standards, technical risk controls, project governance and statutory assurance processes across the site.
* Maintain engineering compliance visibility through a disciplined statutory and legal compliance calendar, audit follow-up and risk-based action tracking.
* Ensure engineering project governance includes design review, safety-by-design, technical risk assessment, commissioning controls and handover discipline.
People Leadership & Technical Capability Development
* Coach and develop the engineering team across technical, maintenance, project, utility and technology domains.
* Build succession depth and future engineering leadership capability through structured development plans, exposure and coaching.
* Develop technical capability for engineers, artisans and contractors in maintenance standards, safety-by-design, reliability practices and project execution discipline.
* Develop plans to ensure the best utilisation of assets and provide guidance on the maintenance, improvement and lifecycle management of such assets.
* Collaborate with the Operations Team to drive site and line efficiencies, reduce waste and strengthen technical ownership across production teams.
Experience & Qualifications
* BSc, BEng, BTech Engineering Degree (Mechanical or Electrical).
* Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) — essential.
* Minimum 5 years' experience across Engineering roles.
* 3–5 years in FMCG / manufacturing operations experience.
* Engineering experience in FMCG Supply Chain (Planning, Customer Service, Logistics, Process).
* Proficient leadership and management experience across large teams, stakeholders and suppliers / third parties / contractors.
* Must have led projects end-to-end including design, budget creation and control, and project execution.
* Experience with digital maintenance systems, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance or plant data analytics is advantageous.
* Experience leading sustainability, energy reduction, water reduction or decarbonisation projects is advantageous.
* Experience in engineering governance, statutory compliance assurance and critical asset risk management is advantageous.
Before you apply
Confirm the requirements and closing date on the original listing (myjobmag). SPANi lists vacancies from other sites and may not reflect last-minute changes.
Legitimate employers do not charge application, registration or training fees.
Don't send your ID or bank details before you have confirmed the employer is real.