Technical Experts (Machinery)

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Production Engineering, or an equivalent technical qualification.

• Additional training or certification in industrial maintenance, machine safety or soap/chemical manufacturing equipment is an advantage.

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency

• Minimum 5 years of experience in installing, operating and maintaining industrial machinery, preferably soap, detergent or chemical/FMCG manufacturing equipment such as mixers, plodders, and cutting and stamping machines.

• Practical knowledge of the soap bar making process, from mixing and plodding to cutting, stamping and finishing.

• Skills in installation, commissioning, calibration and adjustment of machinery, including fitting nozzles, dies, cutters and stamping molds.

• Strong troubleshooting and repair skills in mechanical and electrical systems, and the ability to read technical drawings and manuals.

• Experience in preparing SOPs, preventive maintenance schedules and technical records, and in training technical operators.

• Good knowledge of occupational health and safety practices, machine safety and the use of PPE.

• Basic computer skills for reporting and record keeping.

• Ability to work as part of a team in field conditions in camps and host communities, including flexible hours when required.

• Fluency in Bangla. Knowledge of local dialects of Cox’s Bazar will be an added advantage

Organization: PHALS (Program for Helpless And Lagged Society)

Project: Lifesaving and transitional support to refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh.

Location: Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar.

Duration: 5 Month (1 Nov ’26 to 31 March ’27)

Report to: Factory Supervisor cum Mixer Lead

Job Context

PHALS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working in the field of humanitarian assistance and development since 1996. In this continuation, PHALS is going to implement the Lifesaving and transitional support to refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh Project in Cox’s Bazar funded by FCDO and supported by IOM. We are seeking a qualified and Skilled Technical Experts (Machinery) who will provide specialized technical expertise on the selection, installation, commissioning, operation, preventive maintenance and repair of the soap production machinery under the project at camp at Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar District, including the soap noodle mixing machine, the plodder (extruder) machine and the soap bar cutting and stamping equipment at the production center. The position ensures that machines are correctly installed, fitted and calibrated and run safely within their rated capacity, so that soap bars are produced efficiently and to the required quality and production targets, supporting the livelihood and hygiene objectives of the project for refugee and host communities. The position also builds the capacity of Machine Operators and project staff to operate and maintain the machinery. It requires strong practical experience in industrial machinery, sound troubleshooting skills and strong safety awareness.

Key Responsibilities

• Review machinery specifications, layouts and utility requirements (power, water, ventilation and space) for the soap production center, and advise on the correct plant arrangement.

• Supervise or carry out the installation, alignment, calibration and trial runs of the soap noodle mixing machine, plodder machine, soap bar cutting and stamping equipment and related machinery.

• Conduct commissioning tests, record the capacity, output and performance of each machine against the manufacturer’s specifications, and verify that manuals, spare parts lists and warranty documents are received with all equipment.

• Prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) and operating checklists for each machine, covering start-up, operation, adjustment and shutdown sequences.

• Provide technical guidance to the Machine Operators and the Factory Supervisor cum Mixing Lead on correct operation, the fitting and adjustment of nozzles, dies, cutters, stamping moulds, blades and screens, and operation within rated capacity and approved batch size.

• Coordinate with the Chemist to align machine settings with the formulations and quality requirements for bathing soap, laundry soap and multipurpose soap.

• Monitor machine performance, troubleshoot production problems and recommend improvements to increase output and reduce wastage and downtime.

• Develop and implement a preventive maintenance schedule (daily, weekly and monthly) for all machinery, and diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical and electronic faults promptly to minimize downtime.

• Maintain logs of breakdowns, repairs, servicing, machine running hours and fitting changes, and keep an up-to-date inventory of machinery and equipment.

• Identify spare parts, lubricants and tools required, and advise the Store and Warehouse Maintenance Officer and the Project Manager on timely procurement and safe storage.

• Train Machine Operators and designated staff on machine operation, basic maintenance and troubleshooting, and support the Senior Capacity Building Officer with technical training content and practical demonstrations.

• Ensure that all machines have proper guards, emergency stops and safety signage, and that staff use personal protective equipment (PPE), apply lock-out and tag-out during fitting, cleaning and maintenance, and follow electrical safety rules.

• Coordinate with the ESS Officer on fire safety, electrical safety and waste management, and report all accidents, incidents and near misses immediately to the Project Manager and the ESS Officer.

• Submit regular reports to the Project Manager on machine status, production output, downtime, maintenance activities and recommendations, and submit a final technical report with complete documentation at the end of the assignment.

• Uphold PHALS’ values, code of conduct, and commitment to safeguarding and PSEAH (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment).

• Salary: BDT 50,000/- per month, and other benefits as per project budget.