Head of Asset Maintenance

Location: East Africa
Department: Business Operations / Maintenance
Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Position Overview

The Head of Asset Maintenance is responsible for leading the organization's maintenance and asset management function to ensure maximum equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and cost optimization across manufacturing operations. The role combines strategic asset management, maintenance excellence, continuous improvement, and people leadership to support business growth and world-class manufacturing performance.

The successful candidate will drive preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Asset Maintenance & Reliability Management

- Develop and implement maintenance and asset management strategies aligned with business objectives and production requirements.
- Lead preventive, predictive, corrective, and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) programs across all manufacturing assets.
- Drive improvements in equipment reliability, plant availability, and overall asset performance.
- Establish and monitor maintenance KPIs, including OEE, MTBF, MTTR, asset utilization, and downtime reduction.
- Manage maintenance budgets, resource allocation, spare parts optimization, and capital expenditure planning.
- Oversee asset lifecycle management, ensuring optimal performance from acquisition through decommissioning.
- Ensure effective utilization and continuous enhancement of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence
- Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies.




- Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on productivity improvement, waste elimination, process optimization, and cost reduction.
- Facilitate root cause analyses, failure investigations, and corrective action programs.
- Develop and implement maintenance best practices and standardized operating procedures.
- Establish a culture of continuous improvement throughout maintenance and operations teams.

Leadership & Team Development
- Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to maintenance managers, engineers, supervisors, and technical teams.
- Develop succession plans, competency frameworks, and technical capability-building programs.
- Promote collaboration between Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and HSE functions.
- Conduct performance management reviews and support employee development initiatives.
- Foster a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Strategic Planning & Asset Innovation
- Develop and execute long-term maintenance and asset reliability roadmaps.
- Evaluate and implement modern maintenance technologies, including predictive analytics, condition monitoring, IoT, and digital maintenance solutions.
- Support digital transformation initiatives to improve maintenance effectiveness and data-driven decision-making.
- Establish strategic partnerships with equipment manufacturers,



contractors, and service providers.
- Align maintenance strategies with operational and business growth plans.

Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with company policies, integrated management systems, and applicable industry regulations.
- Lead asset risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for critical equipment and operational risks.
- Support internal and external audits related to maintenance, safety, food quality, and environmental standards.
- Drive continuous enhancement of maintenance governance and risk management practices.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Professional certifications in HSE, ISO Standards, Asset Reliability, Risk Management, or Maintenance Management are advantageous.
- Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or Continuous Improvement certifications preferred.
- Six Sigma Black Belt certification will be a robust advantage.
- Master's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or Business Administration (MBA) is preferred.

Experience Required

- Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in maintenance and engineering management within large FMCG food manufacturing environments.
- Minimum 5 years of experience leading operational excellence, business improvement, or continuous improvement programs.
- Proven track record of managing large maintenance teams and complex manufacturing assets.
- Experience working within world-class manufacturing environments with strong safety, quality, and operational standards.
- Demonstrated success in improving asset reliability, plant performance, and maintenance cost efficiency.

📌 Head of Asset Maintenance - East Africa (India)
🏢 Achyutam International
📍 India