CHIEF ENGINEER: SPECIAL MAINTENANCE

This senior engineering vacancy is for a Chief Engineer specialising in special maintenance within the provincial department’s Head Office. The role centres on providing professional engineering leadership for the investigation, design and evaluation of road pavements across new construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance projects. The successful candidate will ensure that pavement solutions are safe, durable, cost-effective and suited to traffic loading, material availability, environmental conditions and the department’s broader road asset management objectives. This is an OSD-graded position with an all-inclusive remuneration package, and it reports within the road infrastructure engineering environment.

Applicants must hold a recognised Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and be registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa as a Professional Engineer. A minimum of ten years of relevant post-qualification engineering experience in road infrastructure is required, including substantial work in pavement investigation, pavement design, materials engineering and rehabilitation design. At least six of those years must be post-professional registration experience. The role demands demonstrated experience in preparing and reviewing pavement designs, technical specifications, tender documentation and engineering reports, as well as a track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managing complex infrastructure programmes, consultants and contractors. A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel to project sites, including remote locations, are essential. Experience in labour-intensive construction, contractor development and Expanded Public Works Programme implementation will be an added advantage.

The technical knowledge required spans flexible and rigid pavement design principles, pavement deterioration mechanisms, rehabilitation methods, mechanistic-empirical analysis, traffic loading estimation and design traffic assessment. The post also requires expertise in subgrade characterisation, geotechnical investigations, material testing and interpretation of laboratory and field results, along with familiarity with granular, stabilised, asphalt and concrete pavement materials, including recycled materials. Understanding of pavement drainage, moisture sensitivity, climatic influences and construction variability is important, as is proficiency in pavement evaluation methods such as visual assessment. The successful candidate will be expected to apply the South African Pavement Engineering Manual, applicable TRH and TMH guidance, COTO specifications and departmental design standards, and to use lifecycle costing, economic evaluation, constructability and sustainable pavement design principles. Knowledge of infrastructure procurement, engineering contract administration, quality assurance, construction supervision, and applicable public finance, occupational health and safety, environmental and professional engineering requirements is also necessary.

In terms of the broader appointment process, shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo a technical exercise and interview, and SMS candidates may be subject to psychometric assessments. All shortlisted candidates will undertake pre-entry assessments covering practical suitability and integrity. The top candidates will be subject to personnel suitability checks, including criminal records, citizenship, financial credits and qualifications verification. The successful appointee will enter into an annual performance agreement and must disclose financial interests annually. Candidates must also meet the Senior Management Service pre-entry programme requirement, with proof of completion required prior to appointment. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA, and applicants must disclose any business interests or additional remunerative work. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and the department reserves the right not to make an appointment.