Electrical Foreman

COFCO International is a global agri-business with a clear vision, strong values and a positive culture, focused on being a leader in the global grains, oilseeds and sugar supply chains. We provide the food the world needs in a responsible way. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we are ambitious, with the right structures and culture to meet the world's increasing and changing needs. With 12,000+ people in 35 countries, our global portfolio includes assets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We trade with over 50 nations, while providing farmers unique direct access to the growing Chinese market.

Company: COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Vacancy:   Electrical Foreman

Location: Standerton, South Africa

Department: Maintenance

Job Purpose

The Electrical Foreman will provide operational and technical leadership over electrical maintenance, plant utilities and related electrical support services at Standerton Oil Mills. The role is responsible for ensuring that electrical equipment, plant utilities, water supply, effluent and sewage systems, fire detection and prevention systems, generators, transformers, medium-voltage supply equipment and associated infrastructure are maintained safely, reliably and in accordance with operational, statutory and business requirements. Through effective planning, supervision, technical support and hands-on coordination, the Electrical Foreman will support plant availability, utility reliability, energy efficiency, environmental compliance and safe electrical operations.

Key Performance Areas / Key Responsibilities

Electrical Maintenance Leadership and Work Execution

• Provide technical leadership over electrical maintenance work and ensure that work is planned, prioritised, supervised and completed safely and to the required standard.
• Ensure planned maintenance schedules, job cards and approved work practices are followed and accurately closed out in SAP or the applicable CMMS.
• Provide practical technical guidance during fault-finding, repairs, inspections, planned work and breakdown response.
• Identify recurring electrical failures, support root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Escalate unresolved electrical risks, operational constraints and repeated equipment failures within the required timelines.

Plant Utilities and Infrastructure Management

• Coordinate the maintenance of plant utilities and infrastructure, including lighting, doors, air-conditioning systems and related support services.
• Monitor and maintain plant water-supply and distribution systems and ensure that daily water-meter readings and usage records are completed.
• Ensure sewage systems, ablution facilities and change rooms remain functional, safe and hygienic.
• Coordinate the maintenance and operational readiness of fire detection and prevention systems.
• Ensure utility breakdowns and infrastructure risks are addressed or escalated promptly.

Generators, Transformers and Medium-Voltage Supply

• Maintain generator readiness and coordinate monthly generator tests and annual servicing requirements.
• Coordinate annual transformer oil analysis through accredited service providers and ensure findings are addressed.
• Maintain accurate municipal electricity readings and related records.
• Coordinate planned maintenance of medium-voltage switchgear, transformer areas and associated power-supply equipment.
• Ensure 11 kV supply, MCC and transformer areas are maintained safely and reliably.

Energy, Reporting and Plant Efficiency

• Analyse SCADA and production data relating to water, steam and electricity consumption.
• Update plant-efficiency charts and information boards accurately and timeously.
• Prepare and submit weekly EDT, SDT and CDT reports.
• Identify and escalate abnormal utility-consumption trends and support energy-efficiency initiatives.
• Maintain complete and accurate utility and plant-efficiency records for management and audit review.

Safety, Compliance, Spares and Stock Control

• Ensure electrical work complies with site safety procedures, permit-to-work requirements, lockout and tagout standards, PPE requirements and applicable statutory obligations.
• Promote safe housekeeping and ensure electrical and utility-related compliance findings are closed out.
• Coordinate critical electrical spares and stock to support planned maintenance and breakdown response.
• Immediately escalate electrical, utility, environmental and fire-system risks and track corrective actions to closure.

People and Contractor Coordination

• Coordinate electricians, instrumentation support, contractors and service providers to ensure work is completed safely, correctly and within agreed timelines.
• Ensure contractors comply with the approved scope of work, site safety rules, permits, lockout requirements and technical standards.
• Review contractor workmanship before close-out and ensure that defects, incomplete work and non-conformances are corrected.
• Coach and guide electrical team members to improve technical capability, work quality, safety discipline and reliability.
• Coordinate effectively with Maintenance, Production, SHEQ, Stores and Procurement to reduce delays and support efficient work execution.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• BEng, BTech or a valid electrical Trade Test / Red Seal qualification.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Five to seven years of industrial electrical maintenance experience in an FMCG or similar manufacturing environment.
• Good working knowledge of 11 kV supply systems, MCCs and transformer areas.
• Good knowledge of electrical drawings, PLC applications and technical documentation.
• Demonstrated experience in electrical fault-finding, breakdown response, planned maintenance and work supervision.
• Experience coordinating employees, contractors and service providers in an operational plant environment.

Advantageous Requirements

• Experience in a soya or sunflower crushing plant, silo operation or edible-oil extraction environment.
• Experience managing plant utilities, water supply, effluent or sewage systems, generators and fire systems.
• Experience with medium-voltage switchgear, transformer oil analysis and utility reporting.
• Experience monitoring electricity, water and steam consumption through SCADA or related systems.
• SAP or CMMS experience.
• Strong critical-spares planning and stock-control experience.

Knowledge and Experience

The successful candidate should have:

• Industrial electrical maintenance, MCC, transformer, generator and medium-voltage supply systems.
• Electrical drawings, PLC applications and technical documentation interpretation.
• Electrical safety, lockout, permit-to-work and statutory compliance.
• Fault-finding, problem-solving, root-cause analysis and breakdown response.
• Preventative maintenance planning, work supervision and job-card control.
• Plant utilities, water, effluent, sewage and fire-system management.
• Energy and utility consumption monitoring and reporting.
• Contractor coordination, work-quality control and technical close-out.
• Critical-spares planning, stock control and supplier coordination.

Essential Skills and Behaviours

• Safety-first leadership and sound judgement.
• Strong electrical fault-finding and technical problem-solving ability.
• Planning, organising and work-prioritisation skills.
• Integrity, accountability and ownership.
• Technical discipline and attention to detail.
• Clear communication, reporting and stakeholder-coordination skills.
• Ability to lead teams and contractors respectfully and effectively.
• Ability to remain reliable and decisive under operational pressure.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and plant reliability.

Working Conditions

• Plant-based role within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• May be required to work overtime, perform standby duties or respond to breakdowns outside normal working hours.
• Must be able to work in operational plant areas and around electrical, utility and medium-voltage infrastructure.

• Must comply with all site access, PPE, permit-to-work and lockout requirements.

General

• Reports to Maintenance Manager

• Salary and Benefits: Market related salary, Provident Fund and Medical Aid benefits.

How to apply

The company is offering a competitive salary with provident and medical benefits.  Exciting incentive opportunities, a rewarding work environment, product and supply chain knowledge and career growth opportunities for the right candidate.

Interested parties should please submit a comprehensive CV and covering letter, outlining why you feel that you are best suited to the position on the COFCO Careers website https://www.cofcointernational.com/careers/ by searching for vacancies in South Africa, clicking on the listed positions available, and following the prompts when clicking “Apply” on the job description, and answering all related questions in full to complete your application.

Only applications submitted direct on the COFCO Careers website will be considered.

If you do not hear from us within 21 days from date of application, please regard your application as unsuccessful. Only short-listed candidates will be moved through the Talent Pipeline and contacted.

The company appoints in line with our employment equity plan and preference may be given to previously disadvantaged individuals.

Privacy Policy

By contacting COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd., you acknowledge and agree that COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd. has a legitimate business purpose to collect and process your personal information (as defined in Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 and any amendments thereto (“POPIA”)) to review your personal information and to comply with its legal obligations. COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd will process your personal information in accordance with POPIA and in accordance with and the purposes described in COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd.’s privacy policy available at https://www.cofcointernational.com/data-privacy-policy/  You hereby confirm that you have read, understood and agree with the terms of COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd.’s privacy policy, and consent to the processing of your personal information.

CLOSING DATE: 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

COFCO International is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice to know how COFCO collects and processes your personal data during your job application.