Greenhouse Facilities & Equipment Maintenance Manager

East London - South Africa

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 5 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

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 drivers 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

Required Experience:

Manager

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 REQUIREMENTSDiploma or degree in ...

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 drivers 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

Required Experience:

Manager

Key Skills

Customer Service
Facility
Hand Tools
Equipment Maintenance
HVAC
CMMS
OSHA
Electrical Systems
Safety Procedures
Chillers
Mechanical Equipment
Boilers
Maintenance Tasks
Snow Removal
Air Compressors

Apply Now

About Company

Farm

Agriculture is the world’s largest industry and demand for agricultural commodities is rising rapidly as the world’s population grows. Farm Manager SA strives to provide professional placements in all areas of agri-business and production agriculture - every level and field of agricul ... View more

View Profile View Profile

AI AutoApply

Apply to 100+ jobs with one click