CONTROL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN GRADE A REF NO: 131126/12 Branch: Water And Sanitation Services Management: FS CD: Provincial Operations Free State Dir: Water Resources Management Support SD: Hydrological Services

This vacancy is for a Control Engineering Technician Grade A within the Department of Water and Sanitation, based in Bloemfontein and operating under the Provincial Operations Free State directorate. The role sits within the Hydrological Services sub-directorate, which forms part of the Water Resources Management Support division. The position is an OSD-graded post, meaning it follows the Occupation Specific Dispensation salary structure for engineering technicians in the public service. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing technical engineering support and managing hydrometry tasks across a sub-region of the Free State operational area, working closely with engineers, technologists and other associate professionals in both field and technical office environments.

Applicants must hold a National Diploma in Civil Engineering and have at least six years of post-qualification technical experience in hydrological services. Compulsory registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa as a Professional Engineering Technician is required, and candidates must disclose a valid unexpired driver's licence. The role demands a strong working knowledge of hydrological processes and hydrometry, along with skills in program and project management, technical design and analysis, computer-aided engineering applications, data analysis, and technical report writing. Additional competencies include problem solving, innovative thinking, planning and organising, decision making, teamwork and leadership, legal compliance awareness, customer focus, people management and financial management. The successful applicant must be willing to travel and work away from home when required and must be prepared to undergo extensive in-house training at various locations.

The duties are wide-ranging and include managing technical services and support activities, promoting safety standards in line with statutory requirements, evaluating and updating technical manuals and standard drawings, and ensuring quality assurance of technical designs. The role also involves providing inputs into budgeting processes and the technical operational plan, compiling and submitting reports, and developing, implementing and maintaining databases. The technician will supervise technical personnel and assets, manage hydrometry tasks, calibrate gauging weirs, survey gauge plates, collect data from electronic data loggers, and analyse, process and archive data on the HYDSTRA database. Flow measurements using Acoustic Current Doppler Profilers, particularly during high flow season, are a key responsibility. The position also entails researching new hydrological technology, procuring equipment, liaising with relevant bodies on hydrological matters, developing operational procedures, and mentoring candidate technicians to promote skills transfer. Continuous professional development and performance management of staff are also expected.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is an equal opportunity employer, and the filling of this post will take into account the Employment Equity imperatives of the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act. Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to suitability checks including SAQA verification, reference checks, and criminal and credit checks. Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by a SAQA evaluation certificate when shortlisted, and foreign nationals or dual citizenship holders must provide a police clearance certificate from their country of origin. Candidates will be required to complete a financial disclosure form and undergo security clearance. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only, and applicants who do not receive feedback within three months of the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.