CHIEF ARTISAN: GRADE A-C BUILDING

The Chief Artisan: Grade A-C Building post is a senior technical leadership role situated within the Maintenance directorate at the Dr George Mukhari Facility Maintenance Hub. This position forms part of the Department of Community Safety’s infrastructure maintenance capability, where the incumbent will be responsible for overseeing building-related technical services across the facility. As a Chief Artisan, the role blends hands-on trade expertise with supervisory and managerial responsibilities, ensuring that building maintenance activities are executed effectively, safely, and in line with statutory and departmental standards. The successful candidate will work closely with technicians, artisans, and associated support staff, providing direction across field, workshop, and technical office environments.

To be considered for this role, applicants must hold an appropriate trade test certificate and have at least ten years of post-qualification experience as an Artisan or Artisan Foreman. Proof of this recognised experience will be requested from shortlisted candidates. A valid driver’s licence is also required. The role demands a solid working knowledge of key legislation, including the National Building Regulation and Building Standards Act, municipal regulations, the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, together with their regulations. In addition, the ideal candidate should demonstrate strong planning and organising abilities, effective verbal and written communication, computer literacy, and personal attributes such as teamwork, change management, financial management, customer focus, and responsiveness.

The duties are broad and include managing technical services and support alongside technicians and artisans, promoting safety in line with statutory requirements, and ensuring quality assurance according to specifications. The Chief Artisan will contribute inputs into technical manuals, standard drawings, procedures, and the budgeting process, as well as compile and submit reports. Other responsibilities include providing and consolidating inputs into the technical operational plan, updating databases, managing artisans and related personnel and assets, undertaking research and literature studies to improve technical expertise, and liaising with relevant bodies and councils on engineering-related matters. The position also carries a strong human resources focus, involving the development and motivation of subordinates, setting and monitoring key performance areas, and taking corrective action to meet departmental objectives.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo two pre-entry assessments, one practical and one integrity-based, with both exercises being scored as part of the interview process. A personnel suitability check, including vetting, criminal and credit record checks, qualification verification, and employment verification, will be conducted for suitable candidates. The department encourages youth, people with disabilities, and candidates from designated groups, including coloured, Indian, and white applicants, to apply; a confirmation of disability from a registered medical practitioner must accompany applications where applicable. The department reserves the right not to fill the post, and placement will be determined according to corridor coordination and departmental needs. As with many public service posts, correspondence is limited to shortlisted candidates, and those who do not receive a response within three months should assume the application was unsuccessful.