Project Manager

Branch: Corporate Services

Division: Programme Management Office

Department: Project Support

Job Grade: D2

Job Category: Management

Minimum Education Level: Masters Degree

Job Advert Summary

Purpose Statement To provide dedicated, senior-level project and programme management for the SABS Laboratory Recapitalisation Programme 2026–2031. The Contract Project Manager is the primary delivery accountable for structuring, originating, and governing three parallel programme tracks (SICP equipment partnerships, Build-Operate-Transfer concessions, and JV/SPV new-lab formation), ensuring all funding is secured on time, all PFMA compliance obligations are met at every gate, and all programme targets are delivered within scope, cost, and quality parameters. About SABS The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is mandated to develop, promote and maintain South African National Standards (SANS), promote quality in connection with commodities, products and services, and render conformity assessment services and assist in matters connected therewith. Working for the SABS opens the mind to the world around you. We offer diverse career paths in dynamic environment that nurtures and recognises talent and potential. Become part of our vision of being a trusted standardisation and business assurance solution provider and join a team that fosters accountability, excellence and innovation in an inclusive workplace. SABS is an equal opportunities employer, and our recruitment will be done in line with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and our EE Policy. Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications MBA or MPhil in a relevant field / Postgraduate qualification in Project/Programme Management, Finance, Commerce, or Public Administration/ Bachelor's degree - (Engineering, Built Environment, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or related field) PMP (Project Management Professional) or PrCPM (Professional Construction Project Manager) certification in good standing — or equivalent internationally recognised programme management credential Prince2 Practitioner, MSP (Managing Successful Programmes), or equivalent programme management methodology certification Experience Minimum 2 years direct experience engaging IDC, DBSA, and/or equivalent DFIs — including term sheet negotiation, due diligence management, conditions precedent, and drawdown. References required. Minimum 10 years' programme management experience, with at least one programme of R500m+ and 36+ months' duration, including formal gate reviews and PSC-level governance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Please refer to the attached advert Functional Management Programme Governance and  PSC Management Establish and maintain the full programme governance architecture; own all gate packages G0 through G6. Constitute and operationalise the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) within 30 days of contract commencement Develop, maintain and update the Master Programme Plan (60-month horizon, all three phases, parallel tracks) Prepare and present all seven gate review packages (G0–G6) — including feasibility assessments, risk registers, financial models, stakeholder sign-offs, and PFMA compliance confirmations Produce monthly programme status reports for the COO and quarterly reports for EXCO Maintain the programme risk register, escalation log, issue log, and change register — reviewed monthly at PSC Ensure all programme governance is aligned to the SABS CIPF v2.0 framework and EPMS Toolkit Phase 1 Delivery- SICP AND Equipment Finance Manage the procurement and deployment of the SICP Technical Facilitation Partner; oversee all Phase 1B finance agreements. Develop and issue the SICP Technical Facilitation Partner Request for Proposals (RFP) within 30 days of G0 approval Manage the BEC and BAC evaluation process for SICP partner appointment in compliance with SABS SCM Policy and PFMA Oversee the SICP partner's delivery of equipment gap assessments, OEM benchmarking, vendor due diligence, and commercial negotiation for 13 labs Phase 2 Delivery- Build-Operate-Transfer Lead the full BOT transaction lifecycle from feasibility through National Treasury approval to partner appointment and construction commencement. Commission BOT feasibility studies for 6 structurally degraded laboratories — Automotive East London, Appliances, Secunda, Richards Bay, Minerals and Coal, Explosion Prevention Produce bankable business cases for National Treasury Approval I submission (Gate G3) — including financial models, risk allocation matrices, value-for-money assessments, affordability analyses, and sensitivity analyses Procure and manage the BOT Transaction Advisor through competitive RFP; oversee transaction advisor delivery throughout Phase 3 Delivery - JV and SPV Development Lead the market validation, partner identification, SPV formation, and operational launch of four new growth laboratories. Conduct market feasibility validation for all four JV labs (cannabis, agro-export, counterfeit detection, renewable energy) — Gate G5 prerequisite Develop the JV framework including equity structures (30–51% SABS), reserved matters protecting SANAS accreditation authority, partner selection criteria, and governance frameworks Manage partner identification and qualification processes; lead JV/partner negotiations Financial Management Financial Management, DFI Engagement, and Commercial Negotiations Serve as SABS's primary commercial and financial interface across all funding tracks and partner negotiations. Build and maintain financial models for all programme phases — NPV, IRR, blended cost of capital, sensitivity analysis, and revenue-sharing schedule modelling Manage active relationships with IDC, DBSA, National Treasury PPP Unit, and commercial banking partners throughout the programme lifecycle Risk and Compliance Management PFMA Compliance, SCM Governance, and Risk Management Ensure all programme procurement is PFMA-compliant; maintain a live, actionable risk register across all three phases Stakeholder Management Stakeholder Management and Communications Manage the full programme stakeholder ecosystem — from EXCO and dtic to DFIs, OEM vendors, and JV partners. Knowledge Transfer and Programme Close-Out Ensure all programme knowledge, relationships, and institutional memory are formally embedded in SABS before contract conclusion.