Dhayalan D.
Project Manager, Operations Manager, Facilities Manager
Compare at US rates $21,000/mo?
Notable Highlight
Mervyn combined strategic leadership with strong technical and operational expertise to manage complex projects and facilities within demanding multinational environments. His broad industry experience spanned mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, quality assurance, facilities management, camp operations, procurement, maintenance, production, and business improvement. He was highly regarded for leading diverse teams, building strong client relationships, managing large operational budgets, and delivering sustainable improvements through structured planning and disciplined execution. His extensive knowledge of ISO standards, Total Quality Management, SAP systems, SHEQ compliance, and operational risk management enabled him to consistently deliver safe, efficient, and high-performing operations. His international experience, commercial acumen, and commitment to continuous improvement positioned him as a valuable leader capable of driving operational excellence across complex organisations.
Experience Summary
Throughout his career, Mervyn demonstrated exceptional capability in leading complex operations across diverse industries. He managed large facilities, accommodation camps, catering operations, utilities, infrastructure maintenance, and engineering support services while ensuring uninterrupted business operations and strict compliance with international standards. His experience included overseeing preventative and corrective maintenance programmes, managing capital projects, controlling operational budgets, coordinating procurement activities, improving asset utilisation, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives. His leadership extended across multidisciplinary teams comprising engineers, artisans, supervisors, planners, contractors, quality specialists, and support personnel. With extensive exposure to ISO quality systems, Total Quality Management (TQM), SAP business processes, and Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) management, he delivered operational improvements that enhanced productivity, reduced costs, improved service delivery, and strengthened organisational performance.
Key Achievements
Mervyn successfully managed major facilities and camp operations in challenging international mining and energy environments, including leadership roles in Guinea and Tanzania. He directed accommodation, catering, maintenance, utilities, water treatment, sanitation, electrical infrastructure, HVAC systems, and recreational facilities supporting large workforces while maintaining high standards of safety, hygiene, and operational excellence. He implemented preventative maintenance programmes that improved equipment reliability, strengthened procurement and inventory controls through strategic standardisation initiatives, optimised operational budgets, and reduced contractor dependency by expanding in-house maintenance capabilities. He played a key role in ISO quality management implementation, laboratory accreditation, SAP systems optimisation, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency across manufacturing and mining operations. His ability to develop people, improve business processes, and deliver measurable operational results established him as a trusted and highly effective operational leader.
Skills
Work Experience
Project Manager
AWIP · Kahama, Tanzania · Nov 2024 - Sep 2025
- Acted as AKO Site Management Representative, ensuring full compliance with contractual obligations and exceeding client expectations.
- Oversaw catering operations, ensuring safe and hygienic food preparation in line with HACCP guidelines.
- Directed camp services, including cleaning, laundry, and landscaping, maintaining high standards of hygiene and care.
- Managed facilities maintenance (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.), ensuring planned schedules were met and breakdowns resolved promptly.
- Ensured compliance with ISO, SHEQ, and company-specific standards (AKO & WASCO ISOAF).
- Led and developed staff through performance management, motivation, and disciplinary processes.
- Prepared and managed budgets, ensuring cost control and financial accountability.
Facility Manager
AH · Dar es Salaam, Tanzania · Sep 2024 - Nov 2024
- Optimized operational costs and ensured strict budget adherence.
- Increased facility revenue streams and improved asset utilization.
- Enhanced facility maintenance efficiency and energy consumption management.
- Elevated cleanliness, hygiene, and workplace safety standards.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.
- Developed leadership capabilities within the team while supporting staff wellness, motivation, and discipline.
- Conducted feasibility studies across the SF Group of Companies (12 subsidiaries) on new business ventures, vehicle assessments, and asset retention/disposal.
Self-Employed
Jul 2022 - Aug 2024
- Sourced and procured fresh produce and fruits in bulk from farmers.
- Wholesaled fresh produce to market stall holders in various towns.
- Wholesaled fresh produce and fruit to supermarkets and green grocers.
- Retailed to consumers in market stalls.
Technical Resources Coordinator (FLM) - Buildings, Amenities & Camp Management
AGA · Siguiri Gold Mine, Guinea · Jan 2020 - May 2022
- Managed a team of artisans comprising Civil Engineers, supervisors, planners, data capturers, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, masons, welders, air-conditioning technicians, and sanitation technicians to plan, schedule, and expedite work orders for preventative maintenance, repairs, renovations, refurbishment, new construction, and special projects mine-wide.
- Mentored, developed, and trained staff in line with the company's succession and localization programme.
- Ensured boreholes, water treatment plants, and raw water systems operated at optimum levels by means of planned inspections, services, and timely repairs.
- Ensured potable water was delivered to all households and amenities in line with prescribed Water Quality Standards.
- Ensured sufficient raw water availability for gardens and grounds and maintained min/max levels of critical spares.
- Ensured biofilters and residential sewerage systems operated optimally to avoid environmental and health & hygiene incidents by means of planned inspections, services, and timely repairs.
- Ensured appliance breakdowns were repaired timeously and maintained min/max levels of critical spares.
- Ensured preventative maintenance schedules for HVAC systems and cold rooms were carried out as per schedules with follow-ups addressed accordingly.
- Ensured cold rooms operated at optimal temperatures to prevent loss and spoil of perishable items.
- Ensured continuous supply of electricity to households, amenities, and offices.
- Ensured prompt changeover to generators in event of electrical breakdowns or interruptions.
- Ensured all electrical installations complied with electrical standards and preventative maintenance schedules were maintained.
- Ensured residential cleaning was carried out effectively as per schedules.
- Ensured grounds and gardens were kept well maintained.
- Ensured laundry services were provided timeously with equipment maintained and operating optimally, with adequate levels of consumables on hand as per min/max levels.
- Ensured furniture and appliances were well maintained and kept in acceptable condition with sufficient stock on hand for replacement of irreparable units.
- Ensured swimming pools, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, and indoor gymnasium including squash courts were kept in pristine operating condition.
- Managed departmental budgets to within specification, optimized spend profiles, and reduced contractor spend by maximizing in-house project initiatives.
- Ensured staff performed duties within a safe environment and safety standards by ensuring the use of relevant PPE, adherence to procedures, and correct use of permits.
- Conducted regular toolbox talks and promoted safety awareness.
- Ensured equipment was inspected regularly prior to use.
- Trained, motivated, and disciplined staff according to company code of conduct.
- Standardized procurement of spares, equipment, and appliances to minimize obsolescence and redundancy.
- Set min/max stock levels and developed critical spares stock levels.
- Managed refurbishment planning and progress reviews.
- Developed and maintained tenancy agreements.
- Approved or rejected housing application forms and applications for extensions and outbuildings.
- Ensured timely job scoping, planning, scheduling, and expediting of job cards to optimize use of labour, equipment, and materials.
- Ensured all jobs were scheduled via SAP system to aid traceability.
- Approved in-house versus contractor use on projects depending on scope.
- Procured materials using J.I.T. principles with min/max on critical spares stock.
Sales Associate - Intern Estate Agent
KWR · Jan 2017 - Dec 2019
- Listed and marketed private residences, off-plan and new developments according to agreed pricing structures by owners and developers.
- Upheld the values and rules laid down by the EAAB (Estate Agency Affairs Board).
- Continuously ensured personal business growth as well as that of the market centre.
Quality Control Officer
VFTHS · Mar 2011 - Dec 2016
- Controlled all laboratory operations and delivered accurate, timely results on samples submitted and in-house production samples.
- Established structures to analyze and detect variance on finished feeds produced and incoming raw materials to allowed specifications.
- Controlled Voermol laboratory functioning as per agreed service level agreement with internal and external customers.
- Controlled functioning of all laboratory equipment.
- Ensured analyses were delivered accurately within prescribed turnaround times.
- Introduced and maintained data control and maintenance procedures.
- Ensured all raw materials received were analyzed and offloaded on specification and all feeds produced were analyzed and released on specification.
- Ensured laboratory personnel functioned within a structured environment, including motivating and disciplining.
- Ensured ISO (9001:2008 and 22000) compliance and development in the laboratory as management representative for ISO system.
- Ensured NOSA compliance.
- Ensured routine feed safety samples were submitted timeously to external laboratories for analysis.
- Served as Voermol Agrilasa representative.
- Procured laboratory consumables and equipment by negotiating the best quality and price and ensuring minimum stock levels were maintained.
- Functioned as SAP QM super user, worked closely with SAP consultants to input specifications and develop schedules for tests on products, served as a requisitioner for purchasing, and understood the PP process.
Plant Operations/Production Coordination
VFTHS · Mar 2006 - Feb 2011
- Utilized resources efficiently and met production requirements.
- Ensured compliance to SHE requirements and provided accurate data to management.
- Attended to minor breakdowns and identified the need for an artisan to be called out.
- Planned and coordinated planned maintenance.
- Decided on appropriate action to be taken during major breakdowns.
- Ensured that disciplinary codes of practice were adhered to.
- Oversaw factory issues after hours.
- Attended to employee issues on the shop floor and advised on appropriate channels to follow.
- Adhered to SHEQS standards through employee counselling.
- Ensured compliance to quality standards.
- Added value to the factory.
- Fulfilled leave requirements by relieving operators and supervisors.
- Completed project work including waste compactor project, Promtek upgrade project, and Axapta 4 implementation.
Senior Laboratory Technician
VFTHS · Jan 1995 - Feb 2006
- Wrote up and implemented Voermol Feeds' quality manual.
- Ensured that the quality manual was maintained and updated.
- Ensured that all new work procedures were written up and executed and that all old procedures were updated according to present practice.
- Ensured that all relevant material safety data sheets were obtained, filed, and made available at points of use.
- Communicated with agents and ensured that relevant tests were conducted on external samples from the field and that results were reported timeously.
- Assisted in product development and trials.
- Maintained adequate levels of stock of consumables required for the various testing instruments.
- Purchased materials and liaised with representatives and suppliers.
- Monitored product quality trends in the production plants and investigated root causes.
- Maintained high staff morale and ensured that the disciplinary code of practice was being adhered to.
- Relieved the lab supervisor and Quality Control Officer as needed.