- Location
- Cotonou - Puma Terminal, Benin
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Engineering
- Seniority
- Manager
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Source
- Workday
Description
Role Purpose
The Engineering & Maintenance Manager is responsible for planning, leading, and controlling all engineering and maintenance activities across the company’s downstream fuel operations, including Retail, Distribution, Ground Fuels, LPG, Aviation, and B2B assets.
The role ensures assets are safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective, while supporting business continuity, growth, and capital projects in diverse African operating environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Engineering & Maintenance Leadership
- Lead all engineering and maintenance functions across multi-asset downstream operations.
- Implement engineering policies, standards, and maintenance strategies aligned with corporate objectives.
- Act as the technical authority for maintenance and operational engineering decisions.
2. Asset Integrity & Reliability
- Establish and manage preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
- Ensure implementation of asset integrity frameworks, including inspections, testing, and certifications.
- Drive improvements in asset availability, reliability, and lifecycle cost management.
- Review and resolve major equipment failures and integrity risks.
3. Capital Projects & Construction Support
- Support and govern capital projects, refurbishments, and upgrades across retail, distribution, LPG, aviation, and B2B assets.
- Review and approve maintenance-related designs, scopes, and technical solutions.
- Ensure effective handover from construction to operations and maintenance.
4. HSE, Process Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with HSE, process safety, petroleum, LPG, and aviation regulations.
- Lead maintenance-related risk assessments, audits, and incident investigations.
- Drive a strong safety culture and environmental stewardship across teams and contractors.
5. Budgeting & Cost Control
- Develop and manage maintenance OPEX and engineering-related CAPEX budgets.
- Monitor cost performance and implement cost optimization initiatives.
- Support procurement and contractor strategy development.
6. Contractor & Vendor Management
- Manage maintenance contractors, service providers, and OEMs.
- Ensure contractor competency, safety compliance, and performance.
- Approve work completion and certify invoices.
- The Engineer should Ensure Quarterly contractor performance review
7. People Leadership & Capability Development
- Lead and develop engineering and maintenance teams, including supervisors and technicians.
- Establish training, competency frameworks, and succession plans.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
8. Performance Management & Reporting
- Establish KPIs for maintenance, reliability, safety, and cost performance.
- Track and report engineering and maintenance performance to senior management.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives using performance data and lessons learned.
9. Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Engagement
- Partner with retail, distribution, supply, HSSE, finance, and commercial teams.
- Engage regulators, airport authorities, B2B customers, and JV partners as required.
- Represent engineering and maintenance in management and governance forums.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Petroleum, or Process Engineering
- Professional engineering registration (preferred)
- Maintenance, reliability, or project management certification (advantageous)
Experience
- 10–15+ years experience in downstream oil & gas engineering and maintenance
- Proven leadership across multi-asset portfolios (retail, distribution, LPG, aviation, B2B)
- Experience operating in African markets with complex regulatory environments
Technical Expertise
- Downstream fuel asset engineering and maintenance
- Asset integrity and reliability management
- Maintenance planning and CMMS/EAM systems
- HSE and process safety management
- Contractor and cost management
- Knowledge of API, NFPA, EI/JIG, ISO, and local regulations
Leadership & Behavioural Competencies
- Strong technical and people leadership skills
- Safety-first and risk-aware mindset
- Commercial and cost-conscious approach
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving ability
- Effective communication across technical and non-technical audiences
- Resilience and adaptability in challenging environments
Working Conditions
- Frequent travel to retail sites, depots, LPG plants, and airports
- Exposure to operational and industrial environments
- Combination of field-based leadership and office-based planning
