CHIEF DIRECTOR: PHYSICAL RESOURCES

This senior executive post reports to the Deputy Director-General within the Western Cape provincial government and carries overall responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of physical resources across the department’s portfolio. The Chief Director heads the Physical Resource Management directorate and is tasked with ensuring that schools, hostels and office accommodation are planned, built, maintained and managed in line with government frameworks, legislation and best practice. The role sits at the heart of infrastructure delivery: it sets the policy direction, manages the provincial infrastructure programme, coordinates implementing agents, and ensures that financial, technical and compliance requirements are met throughout every phase of a project’s life cycle. Operating from Cape Town, this is a high-impact position that requires a strong public-sector orientation and the ability to align physical resource planning with broader provincial strategic objectives.

Candidates must possess an undergraduate qualification at NQF level 7 as recognised by SAQA, at least five years of experience at senior management level, and the compulsory Certificate for entry into the Senior Management Service. A valid driver’s licence is also required. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven knowledge of the legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting the line function, including the Public Finance Management Act, National and Provincial Treasury Regulations, labour relations legislation and collective agreements. Equally important is a working understanding of public service processes, modern governance systems, procurement and tendering, policy development, strategy management, programme and project management, performance management, and the broader political, economic and social context in which the Western Cape government operates. The role demands strong skills in numerical analysis, literacy, computer proficiency, project management, financial accounting, audit, strategic planning, legal administration and communication, all of which are necessary to lead a large multi-disciplinary directorate.

The main duties are extensive and fall into three broad areas: line management, strategic management and people management. On the infrastructure side, the Chief Director develops and manages strategies, policies, systems, norms, standards, plans and leases for physical resources, including capital, scheduled, day-to-day and emergency maintenance projects. The postholder compiles the User Asset Management Plan, drafts infrastructure inputs for provincial and departmental plans, and interprets technical norms issued by the Department of Basic Education in consultation with implementing agents. Financial responsibilities include preparing the Infrastructure Programme Management Plan, drafting service delivery agreements, reviewing project implementation plans and project execution plans, and ensuring sound accounting practices. The Chief Director also implements day-to-day and emergency maintenance projects, enforces occupational health and safety compliance, and develops and implements disaster management plans. Strategically, the role requires continuous review of the chief directorate’s purpose and objectives, driving planning processes, evaluating performance against measurable outcomes, reporting to the Deputy Director-General, ensuring legal compliance and fostering innovation. In people management, the incumbent recruits, motivates, trains and guides staff, oversees performance management and reward systems, promotes sound labour relations, and ensures workforce and information resource plans are in place.

This is a senior management service post with an all-inclusive remuneration package that may be structured according to personal needs, reflecting the executive weight of the position. Given the breadth of responsibilities, the successful applicant must be capable of operating in a complex governance environment, managing multiple stakeholders and delivering on the department’s mandate to provide safe, adequate and well-maintained physical infrastructure across the province. The role is best suited to an experienced leader with a proven track record in public-sector management, infrastructure delivery and strategic financial oversight.