Job Vacancies at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

Partners with retailers to achieve profitable operations, growth in volumes and improved profitability. Monitors that service station facilities and dispensing equipment are properly maintained. Resolve any field related problems that may arise whilst ensuring attainment of Credit KPI’s Sales and Operations Management

• Ensure Marketing customers are profitable in terms of supply chain and customer profitability direction
• Utilizes MOS system and tools to inform account planning and NOI improvements to high-grade the customer network
• Responsible for area value chain optimization plans to maximize gross margin. Plans and executes marketing strategies, processes, programs, standards and operations across the various classes of trade for fuels, lubricants and additional profit centers, consistent with the business plan and the AE way
• Achieves financial and operational goals, and for integration of all marketing-related activities within designated territories
• Manages a professional and healthy business relationship between AE and Retailers within the designated territory
• Partners with retailers to achieve profitable operations, growth in volumes and improved profitability
• Achieves financial and operational goals including image stewardship, customer first, brand, health environment and safety. Conducts business advising calls as per agreed call cycle to review, measure, report and assist retailers towards achieving agreed business plan targets, counseling retailer on profitability and suggesting actions, then reporting progress and/or recommendations to AE management
• Ensures complete and robust account plans for the district to ensure profitability at customer level, plus monitors monthly performance and agreed action plans to ensure NOI targets are achieved
• Ensures consistent and disciplined execution of processes/procedures/programs and systems towards achieving business plan commitments within the sales area and channel, across class of trade for fuels, lubricants and additional profit centers as appropriate, consistent with the business plan and the AE way
• Monitors that service station facilities and dispensing equipment are properly maintained. Resolve any field related problems that may arise whilst ensuring attainment of Credit KPI’s

Planning & Reporting

• Utilizes MOS system and MOS tools on a daily basis to manage customer profitability and track OEAT and NOI metrics. Annually conveys AE business plan targets and requirements for inclusion in future plans and reviews and aligns and negotiates retail site plans, customer account plans and profitability improvement plans to achieve these on a regular basis
• Handles and submits on time any documentation required as well as all internal company reports and surveys. Shares this information with the Retailers and AE management to assist with business strategies

Retailer Selection / Identification of new business opportunities

• Assists with retailer selection process of new retailers - this includes initial interview, business plan panel and thereafter site installation
• Interfaces with all affected business units to manage a seamless implementation. Carefully monitors the market and competitor moves and strategies to identify new business opportunities, volume growth opportunities and solutions for Retailers related to growing business and shared strategic planning which dovetails AE growth areas and anchor markets with that of the customer

Retailer Development

• Assists the retailers with in-house training as and when required, ensuring that all retailers and relevant staff are developed to a high standard of proficiency in the sale of our product range and the AE systems to run the business

Market Intelligence

• Monitors and benchmarks external trends including competitors, regulations, industry trends and structure, as well as new business opportunities and keeps informed of competitive acquisition activity
• Recommends policy updates to Management to meet competitive market conditions. Tracks and benchmarks competitive activity within the territory, then analyses to understand the implications of external environment changes on the business to enhance decision making

OE and Compliance

• Implements and monitors Corporate operational excellence safety standards and programs for all customers
• Ensures that the retailer is aligned with all AE processes as well as government regulations such as health environment and safety, licensing and local ordinances
• Complies with the operational excellence / health environment and safety Corporate standards and incorporates into daily guidelines. Ensures full compliance with company policies/SOX as it relates the marketing

Work Experience:

• At least 3-5 years of business operations and sales experience preferably in a retail environment, ideally in a petroleum industry
• Track record in driving performance improvement
• Knowledge of both fuel and non-fuel retailing
• Sound verbal/written communication skills
• An affinity for brand building, well developed negotiation, relationship building and problem-solving skills
• An unendorsed driver’s license and availability to travel and deal with retailer emergencies after hours
• Track record of operational excellence delivery and ensures that all employees under his/her responsibility understand and fulfil their compliance obligations
• Creative and critical problem-solving skills
• Numerical and analytical thinking skills

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The Control Systems Specialist (CSS) role is responsible for the configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, programming, and hardware support of OT specific application.

Responsibilities (not limited to):

• Interface and coordinate system maintenance and support activities with OT Specialists
• Develop, document, and sustain, standard processes for support including proactive and predictive tools.
• Provide remote client server operating system hardware, base application support, security and troubleshooting
• Plan, develop and implement procedures and facilitate upgrades to system software and hardware
• Engage with Process Control and Plant Engineering staff on industrial automation and control system modifications, enhancements and expansions to ensure IT infrastructure alignment with Astron Energy standards
• Repairs, maintains and supports Refinery Yokogawa DCS and GE-Fenuc, PLCs production hardware, firmware and software systems. Assists instrumentation technicians in the field with fault finding of production instrumentation
• Repairs, maintains and supports Saldanha-Milnerton crude oil supply pipeline SCADA control system, peripheral protection, control devices and telemetry data links. Maintains product storage level and blending systems
• Repairs, maintains and supports and is responsible for periodic mandatory integrity testing of Refinery ESD (Emergency Shutdown System)
• Supports Refinery ADCON (Advance Control) engineering group in the design and configuration of advanced control loops. Develops DCS control graphics and configurations from functional control specifications
• Maintain calibration of tank gauges and the support to the tank team that refurbishes the tanks 
• Support TA’s with mandatory ESD checking and support R&M and OPS TA activities
• Provide input to all key technology decisions and changes required
• Provide input to contract management for consulting services, software license management as well as application support and outsourcing
• Provide input to the business planning cycle to ensure assets are maintained and upgrades planned for. Builds business cases for new technology.
• Project Management
• Communicates effectively and participates constructively during regular management briefing sessions. Provides timely feedback and information sharing to supervisor and peers within group
• Perform standby duties on rotation basis
• Embraces and promotes safety and environmental initiatives at all times and constructive engagement with the workforce through targeted safety observations and plant/unit audits

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or other related field, or equivalent work experience.

Work Experience: 

• 6+ years IT experience in a refinery or chemical processing environment
• 5+ years of experience in OT operations
• In depth knowledge of relevant Refinery technology stacks and platforms.

Knowledge and skills:

• Significant operational experience in refinery environment / relevant industry
• Demonstrated experience in industrial automation and control system modifications, enhancements and expansions
• Demonstrated DCS, SCADA and PLC support and upgrade knowledge and experience
• Knowledge of motor control and power systems
• Experience in an OT support and coordination role - for industrial computer systems and networks
• Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting - problem solving, and resolving IT technical issues
• Ability to articulate highly complex information to supervisor and BRM

Key Processes Supported:

This role supports to following critical Refinery processes:

• Yokogawa
• Control Systems
• Support to Operations
• Support to Reliability and Maintenance Instrumentation and Electrical
• Support to Technical Services Instrumentation projects

Application deadline:

16 February 2023

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Job Opportunities

• Manage the implementation and execution of agreed fuels and lubricants sales key performance indicators and targets as it relates to Mining sector.
• Utilize tailor made mining CVPs to drive value for deal proposals on incremental volumes and new business acquisition.
• Monitor and analyse industry trends, competitor strategies and economic indicators. 
• Demonstrate strong leadership by managing, coaching, motivating, inspiring sales team to achieve sales targets, while ensuring they achieve high levels of professional competence within their sales roles. 
• Proactively engage new business prospects before tender processes to build relationships that will be key to grow volumes within mining portfolio.
• Build relationships with customers and work together to identify and solve needs and resolve issues. Collaboratively work with other Business units to achieve positive results.
• Manage the implementation and execution of agreed fuels and lubricants sales key performance indicators and targets related to the General Commerce portfolio, which includes, Power Generation, manufacturing plants, OEM Aftermarket etc.
• Utilize tailor made General Commerce CVP’s to drive value for new clients on incremental volumes and new business acquisition.
• Monitor and analyse industry trends, competitor strategies and economic indicators.
• Demonstrate strong leadership by managing, coaching, motivating, inspiring sales team to achieve sales targets, while ensuring they achieve high levels of professional competence within their sales roles.
• Proactively engage new business prospects before tender processes to build relationships that will be key to grow volumes within general commerce portfolio.
• Build relationships with customers and work together to identify and solve needs and resolve issues. Collaboratively work with other Business units to achieve positive results.

Stakeholders

• Credits, Compliance, Business Support, Marketing, Supply, Technical, Lubricants, BM, HR, Sales Enablement
• PCP, COPS, Technical, Marketing, Logistics, supply, legal, HES, IDC, Credit

Professional Qualification and Certifications: 

• Commercial degree/diploma or equivalent

Work Experience: 

• At least 5-10 years of experience with a proven track record in sales, new business development and key account management.

Knowledge and skills:

• Customer Relationship Management - Mastery
• Conflict resolution – Mastery
• New Business Development - Skill
• Negotiation skills - Mastery
• Coaching & Development - Skill
• Sales analysis and analytical skills - Skill
• Sales management - Mastery
• Collaboration - Mastery
• Leadership and people management – Skill
• Working knowledge of SAP and Microsoft Office(Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) – Skill
• Finance & Economics – Skill
• Strong written, Presentation and verbal communication - Mastery

Application deadline:

16 February 2023