Service Engineer – Maintenance

Karan is seeking an experienced Service Engineer – Maintenance to manage preventive, predictive, and breakdown maintenance activities across its fuel station network in Zambia.

The role requires strong civil engineering expertise, combined with working knowledge of electrical systems, fuel station infrastructure, BOQ preparation, estimation, vendor management, cost control, and on-ground maintenance execution.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining station infrastructure, minimizing operational downtime, ensuring safety compliance, controlling maintenance costs, and ensuring timely completion of maintenance and renovation activities.

Key Responsibilities1. Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Develop and execute annual and quarterly preventive maintenance plans for fuel stations.
• Conduct routine inspections of:
• Forecourt and driveway civil structures
• Canopies, signage, and building structures
• Underground tank areas through surface inspections
• Drainage and stormwater systems
• Boundary walls and paving
• Identify early signs of structural fatigue, cracks, settlement, corrosion, leakage, and other defects.
• Maintain preventive maintenance checklists and records.

2. Breakdown & Corrective Maintenance

• Respond to urgent civil and electrical maintenance requirements.
• Coordinate with electricians and local contractors for:
• Electrical wiring issues
• Lighting and panel faults
• Pump island civil repairs
• Office and store structural repairs
• Ensure breakdowns are resolved quickly and operational downtime is minimized.

3. BOQ, Estimation & Costing

• Prepare BOQs (Bill of Quantities) for repair, maintenance, and renovation projects.
• Conduct site measurements and verify quantities.
• Prepare cost estimates based on:
• Zambia market material prices
• Labour rates
• Transportation costs
• Contingency requirements
• Evaluate and compare vendor quotations.
• Recommend cost-effective solutions while maintaining required quality standards.
• Maintain and update the approved vendor database.

4. Project & Renovation Execution

• Supervise minor renovation and repair works across fuel stations.
• Ensure execution complies with technical and quality standards.
• Verify material specifications and brand compliance.
• Monitor project progress and ensure timely completion within approved budgets.
• Conduct final measurements and work certification.

5. Maintenance System & Documentation

• Use the maintenance ticketing system for:
• Logging complaints
• Updating work progress
• Closing maintenance tickets
• Uploading supporting documentation
• Maintain accurate digital records of:
• Work orders
• BOQs
• Vendor invoices
• AMC contracts
• Track key maintenance performance indicators, including:
• Downtime %
• MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)
• Maintenance cost per station

6. Electrical & Fuel Station Infrastructure

The candidate should have basic to intermediate understanding of:

• Fuel pump electrical panels
• Earthing systems
• DG backup systems
• Station lighting systems
• Safety requirements in fuel station operations
• Basic hazardous-area compliance requirements

7. Vendor & Team Management

• Coordinate with local contractors, electricians, fabricators, and plumbing vendors.
• Supervise maintenance technicians and field teams.
• Ensure contractors follow required safety practices.
• Negotiate vendor pricing and maintain commercial prudence.
• Monitor vendor performance and work quality.

8. Material & Pricing Management

Maintain working knowledge of:

• Cement grades
• Steel quality
• Paver blocks
• Waterproofing materials
• Electrical cables and fittings
• Paint and anti-corrosion materials

Additional responsibilities include:

• Monitoring material price trends.
• Identifying opportunities for cost optimization.
• Controlling material wastage and preventing pilferage.

9. Compliance & Safety

• Ensure safe execution of all maintenance and repair activities.
• Ensure adherence to applicable local building regulations.
• Maintain fuel station aesthetic and brand standards.
• Conduct periodic safety and infrastructure checks.
• Promote a strong safety culture across maintenance activities.

Key Deliverables / KPIs

• 95%+ preventive maintenance compliance
• Reduction in emergency breakdowns
• Maintenance expenditure within approved budgets
• Zero safety incidents during maintenance activities
• Timely closure of maintenance tickets as per SLA
• Improvement in infrastructure audit scores
• Reduction in station downtime and maintenance response time

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering – Mandatory
• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in:
• Commercial building maintenance
• Retail outlet maintenance
• Fuel station maintenance
• BOQ and estimation
• Site supervision

Required Technical Skills

• BOQ preparation
• Quantity surveying
• Cost estimation and costing
• Site supervision
• Maintenance planning
• Vendor management
• MS Excel – Advanced level for costing and analysis
• AutoCAD – Preferred
• Basic to intermediate understanding of electrical systems
• Knowledge of Zambia material market pricing
• Fuel station infrastructure knowledge

Key Competencies

• Strong ownership mindset
• Hands-on and field-oriented approach
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Cost-conscious approach
• Team leadership
• Vendor negotiation
• Planning and coordination
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong safety awareness

Preferred Experience

• Experience in fuel stations or retail infrastructure
• Experience working in African markets
• Knowledge of safety standards and practices within the petroleum industry
• Experience managing multiple sites or geographically distributed facilities

Working Conditions

• Based in Lusaka, Zambia
• Frequent travel across Lusaka and other fuel station locations in Zambia.
• Role involves significant outdoor and field-based work.
• The candidate should be available to respond to emergency breakdown and maintenance requirements when necessary.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a Civil Engineer with 5+ years of hands-on maintenance and site experience, preferably within fuel stations, retail infrastructure, or commercial facilities. The candidate should combine strong technical knowledge with practical field execution, vendor management, cost control, and a strong focus on safety and uptime.

Pay: R11 933,07 - R44 172,46 per month

Experience:

• Service/Maintenance Engineer: 5 years (Required)

Location:

• Lusaka, Free State (Preferred)

Work Location: In person