Job Vacancies at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

The Data and Information Architect is responsible for defining the current and future state of Astron Energy’s information and data architecture, and achieve the future state through initiatives and projects. The Data and Information Architect leads the business and IT initiatives to improve the quality of information and data to enable agile business decisions based on high quality information and data. This role will ensure the organisation data is captured, stored and securely accessed and controlled through appropriate mechanisms, to enable and promote a next generation data-centric organisation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Enterprise Architect by enforcing adherence to IT and data standards, policies and governance frameworks; execute the long term EA roadmap
• Identify information needs, types of content crucial to business operations and prioritise; Identify and implement KPIs to continuously measure quality, improvements, uniqueness and timeliness of data to ensure continued achievement of business goals
• Educate business and IT on data, information and analytics policies and governance where appropriate
• Lead business and IT initiatives to improve the quality of information and data to enable agile business decisions based on high quality information and data
• Setup and run appropriate information and data architecture governance forums
• Support data strategies are driven throughout the organisation and through appropriate stakeholders
• Create and maintain information and data architecture strategy and roadmap; conceptual, logical and physical data models; metadata models; data lifecycle views; data quality; data profiling and master data architectures
• Define architecture frameworks to support and enable multi speed deployment with effective management controls
• Champion data driven decision making to guide strategic business decision making
• Ensure alignment of data and information architecture roadmap and strategies to organisation needs and business imperatives
• Provide consultancy services to assist business and IT team during RFI; RFP, project scoping.  Project budgeting and high level conceptual design

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Information System or similar
• Certified to an industry recognised architecture standard e.g. TOGAF or equivalent DA model and supporting processes (preferred)
• 5 or more years in a Data Architect or similar role (required)
• 5 or more years’ operational management experience (advantageous)
• Background in information and data architecture; application development
• Experience in data warehousing and mining (required)
• In depth knowledge of relevant technologies; data modelling(conceptual, logical and physical levels); business process modeling, data analysis and profiling, data quality; master data management;
• Experience in innovation and digital transformation (preferred)

SKILLS

• Understanding of information / data on business performance; measurement capabilities and decision making
• Excellent strategic and tactical planning capabilities - proven experience in managing relationships with business leaders and external vendors
• Understanding of the system development life cycle, requirements, design and test techniques
• Broad technology knowledge and understanding of current and emerging technologies and market trends
• Strong communication skills in multiple formats and able to articulate complex concepts
• Ability to identify and setup performance metrics to drive behaviour and continuous improvements
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Ability to work under pressure in stressful situations, work to tight timelines on multiple initiatives simultaneously

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Management of: 

• Individual Customer Profitability metrics across all product sold to a given customer incl. P&L, Financial Responsibility for Product Sales and Balance Sheet in respect of allocated customers (Lubricants and Fuels). 
• Monitors monthly performance and agreed action plans to ensure Volume and Margin targets are achieved. Manages associated operating expenses and CAPEX budgeting against given set of customers. Responsible for area value chain optimization plans to maximize gross margin. 
• Ensures Direct customers are profitable in terms of Supply Chain and Customer Profitability (SCCP) direction.  
• Plans and executes sales & marketing strategies, processes, programs, standards and operations across the various classes of trade for fuels and additional profit centers, consistent with the Business Plan. 
• In the Direct channel, carefully monitors the market and competitor moves and strategies to identify new business opportunities, volume growth opportunities and solutions for customers related to growing business.
• Achieve the sales Volumes for the Fuels and Lubricants business
• Achieve the EBITDA target for the Fuels and Lubricants business
• Support Management of  Direct Opex to achieve required savings targets
• Grow and on-board new customers per agreed plan
• Drive Inventory Management by improving Forecast Accuracy %
• Complies with the OE/HES Corporate standards and incorporates into daily guidelines. Ensures that the customer is aligned with all AE processes as well as government regulations such as HES, licensing and local ordinances.

Collaboration with internal (Terminals Logistics, Supply, Credits etc.) and external (Pragma, Fairbanks etc.) stakeholders.

•  Senior Certificate with a relevant tertiary qualification.
•  The position is directly accountable for every aspect of the Sales and Marketing activity and related profitability for commercial fuels.
•  This position requires 3-5yrs Commercial Sales experience and product knowledge.
•  The incumbent needs to have a clear view of customer profitability and NOI drivers.
•  Incumbent will exhibit a clear understanding of Marketing operations within South Africa and the ability to develop strong relationships with customers.
•  Demonstrates an ability to enforce all terms and conditions of all product agreements.
•  Incumbent must have strong financial, analytical skills, and a solid working knowledge of SAP, PC software applications (i.e. Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint),
•  Must be in possession of a good understanding of the oil industry in RSA, the environment in which the company operates, and the overall Marketing objectives and vision in order to ensure alignment of goals with strategic direction.
•  Needs minimal supervision & at times will operate under tight or stringent deadlines.
•  Strong negotiation and consultancy skills required.
•  Collaboration with other functional groups in order to execute for enterprise value.

Must demonstrate and role model Key Leadership behaviors:  

• Results: 
• Business case driven and stretch goal oriented while constantly challenging the cost of how we do things.  Speed: 
• Tolerate higher risk, demonstrate urgency & decisiveness.  
• Simplicity: Set priorities and ensure work is fit for purpose

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Key responsibilities (but not limited to) are :

Social Investment - Partnership Management

In conjunction with the Corporate Affairs Manager, design and deliver effective management plans for Astron Energy’s social investment program that supports business objectives.  This includes, but is not limited to working in collaboration with internal clients and Astron Energy’s community partners to:

• Firstly ensure all CSI activities are executed in alignment with Policy 330 and the CSI process. This includes ensuring that all internal governance and approvals processes are followed.
• Develop and execute individual partnership plans that deliver internal and external stakeholder engagement opportunities; generate positive media and third party advocacy.
• Ensure partnership plans are aligned with Astron Energy’s overall reputation and community engagement strategy.
• Ensure partnerships are aligned with Astron Energy’s business drivers and that they address key business impacts and opportunities.
• Develop professional briefing materials for internal clients and external stakeholders whom we engage in our social investment program.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Corporate Affairs team to effectively leverage and communicate all aspects of Astron Energy’s social investment program to internal and external stakeholders.
• In conjunction with the Corporate Affairs Manager, proactively manage partnership budgets in line with internal approvals processes and company policy.

Social Investment Reporting and Evaluation

• Monitor and report relevant social investment data.
• Ensure alignment of SI program and reporting to BBBEE audit requirements
• Oversee annual performance reviews of individual partnerships.
• Capture and report key metrics as required by Corporate Affairs, internal clients and Astron Energy Corporate.
• Prepare and deliver partnership reports for internal and external use on regular basis.
• Spot and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of communications activities.

Stakeholder and Reputation Management

• Under the guidance of the Corporate Affairs Manager, proactively manage relationships with key community partners and associated stakeholders.
• Represent Astron Energy at various partnership meetings and events in a professional manner that is aligned to the Astron Energy values and behaviours, and Astron Energy’s overall Reputation strategy.

Teamwork and Innovation

• Work proactively and collaboratively with internal clients and other members of the Corporate Affairs team to deliver Astron Energy’s social investment program.
• Remain abreast of current thinking and new trends in relation to best practice social investment.
• Spot and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of the social investment program.
• Identify and share with the broader group new and innovative techniques relevant our SI strategy.

Professional Qualification and Certifications: Tertiary qualifications in community relations, communications, marketing and or the social sciences.

Work Experience: Minimum 5 years relevant field experience in community – business partnerships; social investment, stakeholder engagement, marketing, communications, event and/ or project management.

 Knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding & application of partnership communications.
• Proven interpersonal skills and capacity to represent Astron Energy in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact with multi-disciplinary groups, in a clear, concise, understandable manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively, foster cooperation and teamwork with a diverse group of people.
• Sound project management details

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Accountable for Health, Environment and Safety (HES) at Logistics facilities with focus on incident free operations. Support the business in its goal of being, “Most Admired Operation for its Safety, Health and Environmental principals in areas it operates. Use the knowledge of Health, Environment & Safety influencing all levels of Staff including Contractors and 3rdParty to uphold and adherences to Astron Energy Policies, Procedures and Standards at the work place. Work in a team with shared overall accountability, to develop and implement workable solutions while building and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders. Ensure compliance with all applicable legal legislations (OHS Act and Regulations), Municipal By-Laws, Regulatory Requirements and all Astron Energy requirements; related to Health, Safety, Environment, Risk Policies and Procedures. Amenable to occasional travel within SA

Financial Perspective

• Execution and Compliance with legislation and Operating Management System (OMS).
• Act as initial point of contact, SME and provide HES support.  Support across departments in Lubricants Manufacturing Plant.
• Define facility HES requirements such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), safe work practices applicable to Astron Energy.
• Lead the process leaders in liaising with local & national government in securing the required permits and licenses pertaining to health, environment & safety:
• Being QMR of ISO:9001, EMR of ISO:14001 and
• Management Rep for ISO 45001.

Customer Perspective

• Work with HES personnel of the joint facility in the Lubricants Manufacturing Plant, regarding the formulation and implementation of the security and emergency response plans for the Durban Lubricants Plant,
• Monitor and communicate local industry practices, legislative and regulatory requirements

Internal Processes

• In coordination with the Maintenance Team, Operations & Warehousing Supervisors and nominated staff, performs monthly HES/Housekeeping audits and ensures that findings are properly recorded and corrected
• Ensure an annual & a 3 year tactical plan are developed that identify key HES risks and gaps and that specific actions are well defined to address the issues.
• Ensure that the OMS/HES management system is closely linked to the business planning process

People Management

• Provide HES support and conduct relevant training to all functions within Lubricants Manufacturing Plant Lead the monthly HES meetings. Update facility leadership on HES issues. Provide needed HES training to local leadership/workforce

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Btech in Engineering (Mechanical, Construction and the like) or Environmental Health and Safety Management

Work Experience:

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in HES related roles (Pref Petro Chem)
• Basic understanding and knowledge of Construction Regulations –Registration with SACPCMP, would be advantageous)
• Unendorsed Code 08 driver’s license with experience in conducting fieldwork
• Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills
• Knowledge of the Company’s values of integrity, partnership and trust and achieving an incident and injury free environment

Knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrate the characteristics to build an inclusive and collaborative ONE Astron Energy team.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge on a wide range of Health, Environment and Safety (HES) principles and processes
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills. Skilled in developing clear, concise communications and presenting to high level management positions
• Demonstrated experience in stewarding a HES Management System with relevant stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to manage and implement projects, meeting implementation deadlines, conducting stakeholder engagements and meeting expectations
• Ability to develop and implement workable solutions while building and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders
• Fluent in using Microsoft Office

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Responsible for performing research and analytical work for Fleet Operations, focusing (for both Road Transportation of Fuel & Tool of Trade (TOT)) in areas of cost management; performance benchmarking; truck optimization and efficiencies; TOT vehicle replacement while tracking and monitoring of action plans. This role is responsible for collecting, handling, analyzing, interpreting and reporting data so to discover useful information required by fleet team for decision making. This role must use tools and methods to uphold the integrity of data to ensure that Fleet Operations has visibility of costs, performance as well as other analytics.

Financial

• Develop, implement processes to:
• Monitor, research and analyse actual fleet operations costs (fuel transportation and TOT) versus business plan on a monthly basis
• Report fleet operations cost actuals analysis and make recommendations for cost management (reduction and or saving); making use of computerised management reporting systems Identify, monitor and track the implementation of for the simplification improvement opportunities of Fleet Operation’s processes; such as Product Returns and Minimum Order Quantities to drive efficiencies and optimised operations – and thus informing rate reduction & cost saving initiatives.
• Develop fleet operations cost business plans, in collaboration with Fleet Operations team and communicate the plans to Logistics Leadership. Maintain the TOT asset register; ensuring that end-to-end activities (incl. acquisitions, disposals, data integrity) are fully & accurately executed and company policies are complied with.
• Validate the accuracy and correctness of the amounts payable and address any inaccuracies and discrepancies with Avis; ensuring correctness, alignment with AVIS contract. Administer and process ad-hoc account payments for various Fleet Operations suppliers

Customer

• Identify and implement opportunities for the simplification & improvement of Fuel Order Fulfilment to ensure efficiencies and optimised operations. Report on Customer Delivery Reliabilities (CDR) – On Time (OT); investigate any deviations from delivering OT and implement actions to meet highest standards of CDR. Execute fleet administration processes to enable and ensure that the sales and field operational teams are mobilized to execute their daily function, utilizing safe and reliable vehicle.

Business Excellence

• Report on Customer Delivery Reliabilities (CDR) – In Full (IF); investigate any deviations from delivering IF and implement actions to meet highest standards of CDR.
• Analyze and report on Trucking and TOT operations, focusing utilization as well as identify and implement optimization initiatives.
• Perform and participate in benchmarking studies on Trucking Operations as well as Tool of Trade management to drive efficiencies.

SHEQ

• Maintain and ensure the data integrity of Hauler Accountability Model for reporting purposes.
• Report on hauler incidents as part of Fleet Operations scorecard.
• Collaborate with the Transport Safety Specialist and the Fleet Operations team to ensure alignment on the reporting of hauler incident as this impact on the hauler incident management contractual KPI’s.
• Participate in Hauler conference activities and presenting on fleet analytics relating to Customer Delivery Reliability initiatives .

Professional Qualification and Certifications: Relevant Tertiary Qualification E.g. Degree in Economics or Finance or Accounting, Business Administration equivalent.

Work Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Business Operations analysis and research; statistical & trend analysis, optimization and efficiencies. 

Knowledge and skills:

• Strong computer, research, analytical, report writing and presentation skills
• Good Communication and Leadership Skills
• Excellent problem solving skills; excellent attention to detail and high degree of accuracy
• Good knowledge of Road Transportation of Fuel and Oil & Gas Industry.
• Good understand of Logistics and end-to-end Supply Chain in the Oil & Gas Industry.

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Leading the Business Real Estate Services department for Astron energy responsible for providing enabled, health and safe work spaces for corporate departments and business units in South Africa and at times Botswana. Playing key strategic role by providing leadership for real estate service teams and cultivating development opportunities to support company business objectives. The position aligns department activities to organizational goals and objectives. It is a key contact liaison for outsourced facilities management service provider, internal corporate business units and other external stakeholders in relation with real estate and facilities services. The job also entails key customer engagements at senior and executive level within the business, accountable for all area service contracts, ensuring governance and corporate compliance in areas of responsibility. Portfolio of sites include corporate office buildings, logistics and manufacturing sites

Roles & Responsibilities (but not limited to):

Financial Perspective

• Financial control and management of all expenditure for the department
• Accountable for preparing and executing operating budget, capital expenditure budget in line with business objectives
• Exploring value adding opportunities that reduce short and long term costs to the business
• Managing compliance to company finance policies and procedures in the department

Customer Perspective

• Ensure availability of user friendly and interactive tenant touchpoint tools and channels.  Helpdesk etc
• Exploring innovative and cost effective ways of improving the work place to improve collaboration and productivity among tenants
• Ensure  business continuity to all services provided by the department
• Keep tenants up to date in relation to progress made or escalated issues and emergencies and other relevant issues that impact their location
• Support the safety committee in improving the health and safety of all tenants at various sites
• Internal Processes
• Ensure all department activities are aligned to applicable corporate policies. e.g. fixed assets, contracts and procurement, expenditure DOA, HR and  compliance policies
• Engaging SME departments (procurement, HR, Legal, Corporate affairs, Audit, compliance ) on issues that requires their input

Business Excellence

• Develop and support facilities BCP and disaster recovery plan and conduct periodic testing in collaboration with tenants
• Promotes the use of standard processes and tools to increase consistency, efficiency of execution, and reduce costs. Participates in Community of Practice sponsored discussions. Publishes material to the library.
• Accountable for area master plan which ensures asset value retention and is responsive to customer requirements.
• Responsible for the planning and execution of projects – on time, on budget, and value delivered.
• Leads and maintains secure, safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally sound working environments for Astron Energy employees, customers and all site operations.  Coordinates HES facility audits across all regions
• Develops innovative practices to improve the efficiency of business execution.
• Networks with other internal Astron Energy groups and external groups to leverage and share best practices
• Meets with senior management and corporate leadership to review service needs, current and future charges/expenses, and satisfaction levels.
• Ensures adequate communication to the site customers/tenants about BRES activities that will impact them.

People Management

• Creates and implements training and development targets for all employees within area
• Demonstrates effective leadership and develops the leadership skills of others.
• Provides leadership to direct reports by defining expectations, measuring and evaluating performance, and rewarding superior achievement. 
• Provides leadership for area business and facility services supervisors, employees and contractors in BRES managed or leased  buildings.

Professional Qualification and Certifications: 

Required

• Built Environment Degree (Property, Engineering, Facilities Management) or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

Advantageous

• Master’s Degree
• Certified Facilities Manager – SAFMA
• Certified Green Building Professional – GBCSA
• Project Management qualification

Work Experience:

• at least 6 years’ experience senior management level in facilities management
• 3 years’ experience at tactical (service delivery execution) level and 5 years’ experience at senior management level in facilities management
• Multi-site facilities management

Knowledge and skills:

• Previous experience in national and cross border management of owned and leased buildings
• Previous experience in management of contracted facilities management service provider
• Good knowledge of contract and service delivery management through KPIs and SLA
• Financial acumen – budgeting, forecasting, costing and cost management
• Application of OHS act on facilities management
• Report writing and presentation
• Interpersonal skills including the ability to work with both internal customers and external entities as required
• Previous experience in corporate and manufacturing/ unionized environment
• Excellent communication  skills