Manager: Technical - HFT (Spartan)

Job Advert Summary

The main purpose is to lead HFT’s technical and workshop activities to deliver reliable filtration, fluid management and associated hydraulic solutions. Manage application support, project execution, commissioning and service quality, ensuring solutions meet agreed customer requirements, safety standards, delivery commitments and commercial objectives while developing team competence.

Key Responsibility Areas

Technical Leadership and Application Engineering

• Provide technical direction on filtration, contamination control, fluid conditioning and associated hydraulic and lubrication applications within HFT’s product scope.
• Assess customer requirements and operating conditions, including fluid compatibility, flow, pressure, temperature and cleanliness objectives, and verify equipment selection against supplier data.
• Review technical proposals, calculations and drawings within delegated competence; refer specialist design or approval requirements to appropriately competent personnel.

Project Planning and Commissioning

• Define project scope, deliverables, resource needs, budgets and schedules with sales, customers and relevant technical teams.
• Coordinate procurement inputs, assembly, installation, testing and commissioning; control scope changes and escalate cost, quality or delivery risks.
• Agree acceptance criteria before execution and ensure required test results, commissioning records, operating instructions and customer handover are complete. 

Technical Proposals and Commercial Support

• Compile and review project and workshop estimates, bills of materials, labour requirements and technical proposals.
• Confirm technical scope, assumptions, exclusions and lead times and obtain approval for pricing or commitments outside delegated limits.
• Support sales teams with site surveys, product selection, tenders and technical presentations and review actual job costs against estimates.

Workshop and Service Delivery

• Plan technical and workshop workloads according to competence, capacity, parts availability and agreed customer priorities.
• Maintain effective job-card, parts, labour, test-equipment and calibration controls and ensure completed work receives required inspection before release.
• Monitor turnaround, labour utilisation, rework and job costs and implement corrective actions for delays or quality failures.

 Customer Support and Fluid Performance

• Coordinate technical troubleshooting and service escalations and maintain clear customer updates and action plans.
• Work with laboratory or condition-monitoring specialists to interpret relevant oil and fluid test information and recommend appropriate filtration, maintenance or corrective actions.
• Investigate recurring failures and warranty concerns with customers and suppliers and verify the effectiveness of corrective action within the agreed service scope.

Quality Safety and Technical Risk

• Maintain technical risk assessments and safe work controls for testing, pressure systems, stored energy, isolation and fluid handling in consultation with SHEQ.
• Ensure applicable customer, manufacturer and company requirements are identified, followed and evidenced; coordinate specialist advice where required.
• Investigate technical non-conformances and incidents, track audit findings and corrective actions, and ensure appropriate handling of oils, chemicals and waste.

Technical Documentation and Improvement

• Maintain controlled drawings, specifications, procedures, product libraries, datasheets and approved cross-reference information.
• Record technical changes, revisions and final equipment configurations so current information is available for quotation, manufacture, service and handover.
• Implement agreed improvements to filtration performance, technical processes, reliability and cost efficiency, with documented baselines and verified results.

 People Development and Technical Partnerships

• Set clear objectives for technical and workshop employees and conduct scheduled performance and development reviews.
• Maintain a skills and authorisation matrix, coach team members and arrange training and practical assessments for assigned work.
• Coordinate supplier technical support, share product updates with sales and service teams, and build succession and knowledge-transfer plans for critical skills.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks requested by management from time to time within the scope of your role, while upholding company values and maintaining professional conduct.

• Grade 12 (Matric).
• Trade Test: Mechanical Fitter or Millwright compulsory.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in industrial filtration, fluid management, hydraulics or associated mechanical engineering applications.
• At least 3 years of technical team leadership, workshop management or project supervision experience; this may form part of the overall experience above.
• Sound understanding of contamination control, filtration performance, fluid compatibility and the interpretation of relevant oil-condition information.
• Ability to read hydraulic schematics and technical drawings and review bills of materials, calculations, service records and test reports.
• Working knowledge of quality systems, root-cause investigation, technical safety controls, job costing and project budgets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant engineering, project or ERP systems; CAD and Syspro exposure advantageous.
• Valid driving licence and willingness to travel to customer sites as required.