An international recruitment advertisement is seeking an experienced SMS Maintenance Manager (Steel Melting Shop) for a steel manufacturing operation in Ethiopia.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring maximum equipment availability, operational reliability, plant safety and minimum production downtime through effective preventive, predictive and breakdown maintenance practices.
The position requires extensive hands-on mechanical maintenance experience involving steel melting shop equipment and industrial plant machinery.
The successful candidate will work closely with production, electrical, instrumentation and utility teams to improve equipment performance, minimise recurring breakdowns and achieve production targets.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Mechanical Maintenance – Steel Melting Shop
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Lead mechanical maintenance activities across the Steel Melting Shop.
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Ensure reliable operation of SMS equipment.
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Minimise breakdowns and unplanned production interruptions.
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Manage maintenance of Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), Ladle Furnaces (LF), Continuous Casting Machines (CCM) and auxiliary equipment.
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Oversee furnace tilting, electrode lifting and related assemblies.
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Ensure proper operation of hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
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Maintain lubrication, pumps, valves, gearboxes, bearings and couplings.
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Maintain cooling systems, piping and industrial cooling equipment.
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Supervise cranes, ladle handling, charging and material-handling equipment.
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Diagnose recurring equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
2. Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
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Develop preventive, predictive and condition-based maintenance schedules.
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Establish maintenance plans for critical machinery.
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Monitor equipment condition, including vibration, temperature and oil analysis.
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Conduct inspections and identify potential failures.
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Maintain equipment history, breakdown records and maintenance checklists.
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Lead root-cause analysis and corrective maintenance.
3. Breakdown Management & Plant Reliability
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Lead emergency breakdown maintenance activities.
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Coordinate maintenance priorities with production teams.
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Analyse Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR).
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Identify bottlenecks affecting furnace and casting operations.
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Implement equipment reliability improvements.
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Plan and execute shutdowns and major plant overhauls.
4. Continuous Casting Machine Maintenance
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Maintain dummy bar systems, withdrawal and straightening units, roller tables and oscillation mechanisms.
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Ensure proper operation of casting segments, guide rollers, bearings and drives.
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Monitor equipment alignment, lubrication, wear and cooling performance.
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Coordinate maintenance activities to minimise casting interruptions.
5. Hydraulic, Mechanical & Utility Systems
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Maintain hydraulic power packs, cylinders, pumps, pipelines and valves.
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Monitor lubrication systems, water circuits, cooling towers and heat exchangers.
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Supervise compressed-air systems and other utilities.
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Ensure proper alignment, balancing and installation of rotating equipment.
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Maintain critical spare-parts inventories.
6. Team Management & Safety
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Lead and develop mechanical maintenance teams, including engineers, supervisors and technicians.
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Allocate work and ensure adherence to maintenance procedures.
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Enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), permit-to-work and safe maintenance practices.
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Ensure compliance with plant safety standards.
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Train personnel in equipment troubleshooting and reliability.
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Coordinate with production, electrical, instrumentation, stores and procurement departments.
7. Spare Parts, Budget & Performance Management
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Prepare and monitor maintenance budgets.
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Identify critical spare parts and maintain appropriate inventory levels.
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Coordinate procurement of spare parts, consumables and equipment.
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Evaluate vendor performance and technical specifications.
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Prepare reports on breakdowns, costs, availability and equipment reliability.
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Implement cost-effective maintenance practices without compromising safety.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering is preferred.
Professional Experience
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Typically 12 or more years of mechanical maintenance experience in steel manufacturing.
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Substantial hands-on experience in Steel Melting Shop operations.
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Experience managing mechanical maintenance teams in continuous-process environments.
Technical Knowledge
Applicants should demonstrate experience with:
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Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF).
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Ladle Furnaces (LF).
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Continuous Casting Machines (CCM).
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Hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
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Industrial gearboxes, pumps, bearings and rotating equipment.
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Industrial cooling and lubrication systems.
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Preventive and predictive maintenance.
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Root-cause analysis and equipment reliability.
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Maintenance shutdown planning and troubleshooting.
Leadership Skills
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Strong maintenance-team management.
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Decision-making and coordination skills.
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Ability to manage breakdowns and improve plant reliability.
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Experience working in demanding industrial environments.
Preferred Candidate Background
Priority is given in the advertisement to candidates currently working in roles such as:
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SMS Maintenance Manager – Steel Plant.
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Mechanical Maintenance Manager – Steel Melting Shop.
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Deputy Manager / AGM – Mechanical Maintenance, SMS.
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Senior Manager – Mechanical Maintenance, Steel Plant.
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CCM Mechanical Maintenance Manager.
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Mechanical Maintenance Head – EAF-Based Steel Plant.
Candidates from steel plants manufacturing billets, TMT bars, wire rods and other long steel products are particularly relevant.
Previous African or other overseas steel manufacturing experience is an advantage.
Key Performance Indicators
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to:
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Equipment availability and reliability.
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Reduction in unplanned downtime and breakdowns.
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Improvement in MTBF and reduction in MTTR.
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Preventive maintenance schedule compliance.
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Maintenance cost per tonne of steel produced.
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Reduction in critical failures and spare-parts consumption.
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Safety compliance and maintenance procedures.
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Timely execution of shutdowns and planned maintenance.
Advertised Compensation and Benefits
The advertisement states:
Expected Net Savings: Around INR 2.00–2.50 lakh per month.
This figure is described as potential monthly net savings, not a confirmed gross or basic salary.
Additional Advertised Benefits
Applicants should confirm the actual salary currency, gross salary, deductions, benefit conditions and expected savings directly with the recruiter.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their updated CV to:
Recruitment Email: info@synergyexpatjobs.com
Suggested Email Subject: Application – SMS Maintenance Manager – Ethiopia
Application Deadline: Not Specified.
Important International Recruitment Notice
The hiring employer is not identified in the advertisement, and the recruiter has not specified whether applications from Tanzanian nationals are accepted.
Before applying, candidates should verify:
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The legal identity of the employer and recruiter.
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Eligibility for Tanzanian or other non-Indian applicants.
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The exact work location in Ethiopia.
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Employment contract and salary conditions.
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Work permit and relocation arrangements.
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Security, medical coverage and expatriate benefits.
Applying for ordinary vacancies through JobsTanzania is free.
