HME Specialist - Gold Fields Ghana

Gold Fields Ghana is seeking to appoint an experienced and technically qualified individual to the position of HME Specialist. The successful candidate will be accountable for providing technical support on all heavy mobile equipment in the region whilst leading continuous improvement initiatives in all aspects of maintenance and reliability engineering. Additionally, the role involves having oversight responsibility over a broad portfolio of key assets, leading and working with a team of Maintenance professionals to meet set objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the development and implementation of a portfolio of strategies for HME contract management at the Tarkwa and Damang operations, and projects
• Work with Mechanical Engineers, HME Engineering contract management, and work crews to investigate the root cause of complex failures and recommend SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) solutions
• Coach and lead others in acquiring knowledge and provide expert advice on maintenance works
• Advise, and where appropriate, lead the defect elimination process on site to improve equipment reliability
• Monitor and improve appropriate performance benchmarks and the provision of exemplary safety leadership
• Review maintenance performance reports and equipment repair history and recommend and implement corrective actions
• Provide reliability and maintenance insight to leadership teams
• Improve HME suppliers and dealers’ relations and support for operations, projects and business improvement initiatives
• Engage with internal and external partners on continuous improvement initiatives.

• Monitor and consistently evaluate and determine manpower requirements of HME business partners, and deployment, and advise senior management on how to achieve optimum utilization of resources
• Review, determine and advise senior management on HME scheduled maintenance requirements in order to optimize maintenance costs and engineering down time
• Plan and recommend future capital and manpower requirements to the VP Projects & Head of Engineering
• Ensure contract obligations (performance targets, forecasts, purchase decisions, equipment purchase evaluations,) are executed so that critical operational supplies are assured, and commercial incentive programs optimized.
• Work closely with Mining Contracts, Regional Supply Chain and through the Business Improvement structures to provide effective commercial support for strategies relating to HME OEMs, critical components, and innovative technologies
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, conditions and changing technologies and advise senior management when required and appropriate

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering
• Must have at least fifteen (15) years’ experience in HME maintenance function, five of which must have been in a management role
• Must have at least the Engineering Superintendent’s Certification from the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission, Ghana
• Experience in leading and managing people and projects
• Must be capable of operating in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment with the ability to multi-task priorities
• Good interpersonal skills to deal with clients, management, team members and site personnel
• Understand the essentiality of diversity within the work environment
• Ability to work in a team oriented and collaborative environment is essential
• Must have in-depth knowledge of the following machines: CAT 785C, CAT 785D, CAT 777D trucks; Liebherr (944, 984, 9250, 9350, 9200, 9400) backhoes and front shovels; Epiroc C50 and CL Drill Rigs; Sandvik DP1500i Drill Rigs; CAT Track and Wheel Dozers; CAT Graders; CAT and BOMAG Soil Compactors; CAT 992 Series Wheel Loaders; CAT Diggers, and CAT Backhoe
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities

• Must have a good understanding of, and how to improve the maintenance process from end-to-end (including input to work management and asset management strategies)
• Knowledge of Reliability Engineering principles and processes, i.e. root cause analysis or defect elimination
• Knowledge of Hydrocarbon fluids and management
• Exposure to condition monitoring and predictive maintenance
• Knowledge of tyres management
• Excellent mechanical and technical aptitude
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office Applications and SAP maintenance programme
• Proficiency in driving light vehicles