Mechanical Team leader

Job Title:
Mechanical Team Leader

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Industry: Paper manufacturing and converting

Purpose of job:

The Mechanical Team Leader is responsible for supervising and coordinating all

mechanical maintenance activities across the paper mill and converting plant, with the

core objective of maintaining Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) above 85%. This

hands-on leadership role ensures optimal performance, availability, and safety of

mechanical systems and equipment while aligning with operational goals and regulatory

compliance. The Team Leader must proactively identify risks, opportunities, and

continuous improvement projects aimed at minimizing unplanned downtime, reducing

costs, and increasing throughput. Responsibilities include planning and scheduling all

preventive and corrective maintenance, managing critical equipment servicing, and

effectively leading project execution to meet deadlines and budget targets. A key focus

is on mentoring, coaching, and effectively managing staff, while staying abreast of

technological advancements in the paper manufacturing industry. The role also involves

identifying and addressing inefficiencies related to MUDA (waste), MURI (overburden),

and MURA (unevenness) in processes, machinery, and performance metrics.

Key duties and responsibilities:

Mechanical maintenance planning and execution:

• Develop preventive maintenance schedules: create and manage daily,

weekly, and monthly maintenance plans for critical mechanical equipment

including the paper machine, converting lines, refiners, gearboxes,

bearings, and auxiliary systems.

• Coordinate routine and planned shutdowns: plan and execute

maintenance activities during scheduled shutdowns to perform inspections,

overhauls, replacements, and upgrades.

• Ensure compliance with maintenance procedures: implement standard

operating procedures (sops) for mechanical servicing, lubrication schedules,

and equipment calibration.

Troubleshooting and technical support

• Lead root cause analysis (rca): investigate mechanical failures or repetitive

breakdowns using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 whys, fishbone

diagrams) to identify and eliminate root causes.

• Respond to emergency breakdowns: provide immediate technical

guidance and support during unplanned machine stoppages, minimizing

downtime and restoring operations.

• Optimize machine reliability: work with operations teams to proactively

identify wear, misalignments, and stress points that can lead to mechanical

issues.

Team leadership and staff development

• Supervise mechanical maintenance staff: lead a team of technicians and

artisans, assign daily tasks, monitor attendance, and evaluate performance.

• Mentor and train team members: identify skill gaps and organize on-the-

job training or technical workshops to improve team capabilities.

• Enforce discipline and safety standards: ensure all team members comply

with company policies, use proper ppe, and follow lock-out/tag-out (loto)

procedures during maintenance.

Project management and continuous improvement

• Plan and execute mechanical projects: oversee the installation of new

mechanical systems, equipment modifications, and upgrades to improve

performance.

• Apply lean principles: implement strategies to eliminate muda (waste),

muri (overburden), and mura (inconsistency) in maintenance and

production processes.

• Benchmark and recommend improvements: research industry trends, new

technologies, and innovations in papermaking to recommend plant

improvements and modernization.

Resource and inventory management

• Maintain spare parts inventory: monitor and control the inventory of

mechanical spare parts, consumables, and tools to ensure availability and

avoid delays.

• Liaise with procurement: collaborate with the procurement and stores

team to source parts and equipment based on lead times, cost-efficiency,

and quality.

• Track maintenance budgets: monitor actual vs. Budgeted spending for

mechanical maintenance and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Performance monitoring and reporting

• Monitor maintenance kpis: track key metrics such as downtime hours,

mean time between failure (mtbf), mean time to repair (mttr), and overall

equipment effectiveness (oee).

• Maintain maintenance records: document all maintenance activities,

repairs, inspections, and equipment histories using manual logs or a

computerized maintenance management system (cmms).

• Prepare technical reports: submit weekly and monthly reports detailing

mechanical performance, challenges, resource usage, and improvement

initiatives.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Support production goals: work in close alignment with the production

team to ensure mechanical availability meets or exceeds production

targets.

• Coordinate with electrical and instrumentation teams: ensure integrated

support for electro-mechanical issues and participate in root cause

diagnosis for cross-functional faults.

• Participate in meetings and audits: contribute to daily operations

meetings, health and safety audits, and continuous improvement

discussions.

Qualifications and experience:

Educational qualifications

•
Essential:

o Degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related field from

a recognized institution.

• Desirable:

o Certification in maintenance planning, reliability engineering, or condition

monitoring (e.g. Vibration analysis, thermography, etc.).

o Training in lean maintenance, root cause analysis (rca), or six sigma is an

advantage.

Professional experience

•
Essential:

o Minimum 5–7 years of hands-on experience in mechanical maintenance in

tissue machine maintenance or in paper machines is a must. Working on a

crescent former tissue machine is an added advantage.

o At least 2–3 years in a supervisory or team leadership role managing mechanical

maintenance teams.

o Experience in maintenance and troubleshooting of paper machine components

(e.g. Headbox, press section, dryers, calendar, reel) and supporting systems (e.g.

Pumps, compressors, gearboxes).

• Desirable:

o Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (cmms).

o Background in equipment installation, commissioning, and plant upgrade

projects.

o Exposure to shutdown planning and execution in a mill or heavy industry

setting.

Additional requirements

• Strong understanding of occupational health and safety standards and loto procedures.

• Proven ability to lead teams, prioritize workloads, and handle high-pressure breakdown

scenarios.

• Effective communication skills for coordinating with cross-functional departments.

• Working knowledge of paper manufacturing processes and industry-specific challenges.