East London area – Eastern Cape: This leading horticultural farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture and high-quality plant production are seeking a Greenhouse Facilities & Equipment Maintenance Manager to join our production team.
This is a ‘LIVE OUT’ position.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, agricultural engineering, horticulture technology or related field (or equivalent vocational training/certification).
- 5+ years of hands-on maintenance experience, preferably in greenhouses, protected agriculture, hydroponics, or intensive farming (tomato/vegetable experience highly advantageous).
- Proven knowledge of greenhouse climate control drip irrigation/fertigation systems, and automated controls (familiarity with brands common in SA like Netafim, Richel, or similar).
- Strong understanding of electrical, plumbing, welding/fabrication and basic HVAC principles.
- Experience with preventive maintenance software or record-keeping systems.
- Valid driver’s license; forklift or similar certification advantageous.
SKILLS REQUIRED
- Technical troubleshooting and problem-solving under pressure.
- Leadership and team supervision.
- Budgeting and inventory management.
- Safety-focused mindset.
- Good communication (Eng/Afr/Xhosa/Zulu).
- Ability to work outdoors/in varying conditions and to respond to emergencies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversee preventive and reactive maintenance of all greenhouse structures, including frames (often polyethylene-covered or net houses), cladding, vents, screening systems, and shading mechanisms to withstand Eastern Cape winds and UV exposure.
- Manage maintenance and repairs of climate control systems: ventilation, shading nets, and automated environmental controllers/computers. (with Growers help-computer).
- Maintain irrigation and fertigation systems: drip lines (e.g., pressure- compensated non-leakage drippers), pumps, filters, valves, nutrients; dosing/mixing units, water storage tanks, and recirculation systems when upgraded.
- Service and repair mechanical and electrical equipment: dosing equipment, lighting, boom irrigators, and automation sensors (temperature, humidity, EC/pH).
- Coordinate maintenance of support infrastructure: drainage systems, pathways, packing/processing areas, water treatment (filtration, UV/ozone when implemented), backup generators/power systems (critical due to load shedding risks in EC, SA and vehicles/forklifts used on-site.
- Develop and implement long-term maintenance plans, schedules, and budgets; track spare parts inventory and order supplies to minimize downtime.
- Supervise and train a team of maintenance technicians, general workers, or contractors; assign tasks, ensure safety compliance (e.g., working at heights, electrical safety, PPE), and conduct performance monitoring.
- Ensure compliance with South African regulations (e.g., Occupational Health and Safety Act, environmental standards for water/chemical use).
- Troubleshoot issues quickly to avoid crop losses (e.g., pump failure affecting irrigation during critical growth stages or vent malfunction causing overheating.)
- Collaborate with production/growing teams to schedule maintenance during low-impact periods and report on system performance impacting yields.
- Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, repairs, costs, and equipment history.
- Inspecting facility in the areas of safety and maintenance requirements.
ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.
