Portfolio Head: Trading Services (5-Year Fixed Term Contract) – Pretoria

SHERQ (Safety Health Risk Quality) ~ Project Management
Pretoria – Gauteng

Portfolio Head: Trading Services (5-Year Fixed Term Contract) – Pretoria
Salary: Market related
 
Purpose of the role:
To lead, direct and manage a multi-disciplinary team to design, implement and evaluate best fit solutions to critical municipal challenges in basic service delivery; to ensure effective representation of the Local Government Sector in IGR and other fora as the voice of Local Government and to develop municipal capacity in delivering on the developmental mandate of municipalities.
 
Key focus areas include:
    • Driving the implementation of The Company Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy
    • Driving the conceptualisation and development of Technology and Innovation Projects to improve basic service delivery in municipalities, including support on the roll-out of Broadband as a 5th utility at local government level.
    • Driving water supply and sanitation management solutions to deal with the demand for water
    • Driving the development of waste management solutions
 
Minimum Requirements and Experience:
    • Relevant Post-graduate degree that aligns with:
        • Infrastructure
        • Public service delivery
        • Sustainability, or strategic management
        • MBA will be preferred.
    • At least 10 years’ experience operating at a senior management level within a medium to large sized organisation.
    • Previous management experience in a multidisciplinary unit is essential  
    • Proven track-record in successful Lobbying and Advocacy of critical issues
 
Core knowledge:
    • Understanding of relevant government policy, legislative and regulatory directives (International, National and provincial)
    • Good understanding of Local Government Sector, challenges and mandates
    • Understanding of management principles
    • Practical knowledge of financial management and budgeting principles and practices
 
Specialised knowledge:
    • Working knowledge of the political dynamics and developments in the country
    • Knowledge of policies and governing structures
    • In-depth understanding of Local Government Sector, challenges and mandates
    • Working knowledge of legislative, regulatory, fiscal and policy directives governing economic development and trade and investment
    • Understanding of broad spectrum of sectors/ professional disciplines in portfolio
    • Valid Driver’s Licence (Extensive travel)
 
Key Performance Areas:
Research and Benchmarking:
    • Strategically inform The Company research agenda for Trading services and basic service delivery
    • Provide ongoing analysis of the key challenges, needs and trends in Basic Service Delivery (locally and internationally), to ensure that local government strategies and programmes are appropriately designed (with regards to both policy response and effective models of service delivery)
    • Conduct and interpret research in Trading Services and create a learning and sharing platform to improve municipal efficiency in area of specialisation. Be a key repository of knowledge and information on local government and matters relating to the sector/ area of specialisation
    • Conduct research on the best practice developments across the world utilising new and innovative technologies to improve service delivery
    • Conduct municipal audits to better understand the status quo of the municipal capacity to deliver trading services to its citizens and support the strengthening of municipal profiles to understand and differentiate based on unique municipal needs.
    • Review and analyse statistics from the municipalities to determine backlogs, develop and gain buy in and approval for interventions to address these backlogs
 
Represent the interests of Local Government Sector:
    • Provide high quality advice on the legislative and regulatory framework of local government in particular, and of the role and impact of the other spheres of government at the local level, on issues pertaining to basic service delivery
    • Lead the representation of The Company and municipalities at various IGR and other Fora to protect the interests of municipalities/ Sector; and to disrupt structural form, policy or legislative frameworks in the sectors relevant to trading services, where it hinders municipal performance
    • Develops content on a number of complex issues relevant to a Company advocacy position for mandating.
    • Understand and effectively manage relationships with the national and provincial governance structures of The Company and the institutional structures of the relevant sectors and key role players in the area of specialisation.
 
Support, Advice and Capacity building of Municipalities:
    • Guide, support and provide professional advice to municipalities in the areas of electricity distribution; sustainable energy; water supply and sanitation management; Waste Management; roll-out of broadband as a 5th utility
    • Provide hands-on support to strengthen municipal capacity/ improve programme implementation
    • Provide support towards the development and training in the respective areas of relevance
    • Facilitate the implementation of the capacity building strategy and associated programmes in municipalities
    • Facilitate training programmes/ peer learning sessions in the areas of focus/ professional discipline.
    • Develop guidelines to assist municipalities in complying with applicable legislation and policies
 
Stakeholder Management and sponsorships:
    • Assist in development and maintenance of sound relationships with relevant stakeholder groups (including civil society organisations, locally and internationally)
    • Identify and target potential donor organisations that could partner effectively with The Company and develop and prepare fundraising proposals and assist in the management of local government/provincial/national government interface in relation to the sector/ area of specialisation
    • Develop and maintain relevant networks (internal and external) and build partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure programme success and to increase The Company’s capacity to make an impact
    • Create reports to communicate about the programme and provide updates for website
    • Identify and target potential donor organisations that could partner effectively with The Company and develop and prepare fundraising proposals and assist in the management of local government/provincial/national government interface in relation to the sector/ area of specialisation
    • With the support of the sponsorship team, develop and present detailed project proposals and plans to funders for consideration (in alignment of The Company sponsorship Policy)
    • Ensure that all contracts for funding are in place and that the contracts include payment terms.
 
Business and Programme Planning:
    • Coordinate and develop appropriate sections of the Cluster business planning process, including the development of key target, timelines, consultation processes, risk analysis and resourcing requirements
    • Coordinate all portfolio reporting requirements and ensure reports are delivered on time and are accurate
    • Undertakes review and evaluation as required for current work areas and any related projects/ programmes
    • Identify and develop innovation projects/ programmes that further the
    • strategic intent of the area of specialisation and cluster
 
Monitoring and Evaluation:
    • Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation process to track the progress on implementation of policies, legislative compliance and programmatic implementation in municipalities
    • Conduct impact assessments of municipal programmes
    • Monitor and review municipal compliance to Policy and legislative frameworks
    • Monitor and Review municipal performance
    • Monitor and report on performance progress against cluster business plan and take necessary action to ensure that the goals and targets of the directorate are met within time, quality and budget requirements.
 
Financial and expense monitoring:
    • Assist with the preparation of annual budgets and monitoring of the monthly expenditure in area of accountability.
    • Assist in the identification of potential revenue sources in area of responsibility (where applicable)
    • Develop terms of reference for identified programmes and participate in procurement committees as required and adhere to procurement requirements and deadlines for identified programmes
    • Monitor sponsorship payments according to the contract and track programme implementation against the budget.
    • Actively save costs in the area of responsibility.
 
Governance, Compliance and Risk Management:
    • Uphold sound corporate governance principles in the day-to-day operation of the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
    • Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures
    • Support the identification and mitigation of organisational and operational risks identified in the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
    • Identify project/ programme risks – organisational, economic, stakeholder, political and social
    • Develop and maintain programme risk register and ensure that mitigation steps are applied
    • Assign values to risks in order to understand financial implications of risk
 
Multidisciplinary Teamwork:
    • Work as a multi-disciplinary and integrated team to find possible solutions to complex challenges in municipalities
    • Uphold sound leadership practices and comply with policies and procedures.
    • Support organisational priorities and the implementation of resource mobilisation systems and processes.
    • In line with The Company organisational culture, role model and educate peers and seniors on the importance of alignment of personal and organisational values for improved performance.
    • Support the Executive and Senior Management Team in building a high-performance culture in The Company.
    • Implement the performance management and development processes in The Company to drive high performance on an ongoing basis.
 
NB: Should you not be contacted within 2 weeks of your application, please consider it as unsuccessful.

Customer Service Feedback