DEPUTY DIRECTOR: BRANCH COORDINATOR: NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE

This position offers an opportunity to serve as the Deputy Director and Branch Coordinator within the National Disaster Management Centre, a key entity operating under the broader Department of Cooperative Governance. The role is situated at a senior management echelon and is based in Pretoria, where the successful candidate will act as a central coordination point for the branch. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that the branch operates efficiently, remains compliant with departmental standards, and delivers on its strategic and operational commitments. This is a demanding leadership role that requires a blend of administrative oversight, strategic planning, and stakeholder coordination, with a strong focus on supporting executive decision-making and governance processes.

Candidates interested in this post must hold a three-year National Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, or an equivalent qualification at NQF level 6 or 7, as recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority. In addition, applicants need between three and five years of relevant experience in a related field. Practical proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Excel, and Outlook, is essential. The role calls for a range of generic competencies such as planning and organising, coordination, problem-solving and decision-making, project management, people management, team leadership, diversity management, and strong verbal and written communication. Technical competencies include in-depth knowledge of executive office management, advanced computer proficiency, and the ability to coordinate and consolidate complex documents.

The core duties of the Deputy Director: Branch Coordinator are wide-ranging and centre on quality assurance and compliance. The successful candidate will assess and monitor branch compliance with regard to all incoming and outgoing submissions and correspondence, ensuring that content meets required standards. They will consolidate branch inputs for the departmental strategic plan, annual performance plan, operational plan, and risk register, while also monitoring and tracking branch performance against these plans. The role involves coordinating Cabinet, Parliamentary, Risk, and Audit matters as they relate to the branch, as well as managing the branch budget and monitoring expenditure. The incumbent will prepare performance reports for several executive structures, including the Executive Management Committee, the Ministerial Executive Committee, the Quarterly Review Meeting, and the Joint Branch Management Committee, and will provide secretariat services to branch meetings.

Applicants should note that the department has strict application requirements. A newly prescribed Z83 application form must be used, and applications must be accompanied by a comprehensive CV that includes specific start and end dates for each position, clarity on levels and ranks, the current remuneration package, and at least two contactable references. Only shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit certified documents before interviews. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA. All shortlisted candidates will undergo pre-entry assessments, including a practical exercise and an integrity assessment, while those shortlisted for SMS positions will also face a technical exercise and interview. A maximum of three SMS candidates may undergo psychometric testing. The successful candidate must pass pre-employment screening, including criminal, credit, citizenship, and qualification verification, and will serve a 12-month probation period while signing a performance agreement. Completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme endorsed by the National School of Government is required before appointment. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.