CONTROL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN GRADE A (X2 POSTS)

The Department of Water and Sanitation is advertising two Control Engineering Technician Grade A positions at its Pretoria Head Office, within the dam safety regulatory environment. This is an OSD-graded technical post that plays a central role in protecting the public and infrastructure by ensuring dams across South Africa are designed, constructed, operated and maintained safely. The successful candidates will work under the Chief Engineer and support the broader Dam Safety Program, engaging with regional offices, dam owners, approved professional persons and the public. The role combines engineering investigation, regulatory enforcement, technical reporting and people management, and requires a strong understanding of the water sector and relevant legislation.

Applicants must hold a National Diploma in Engineering or an equivalent qualification, together with six years of post-qualification technical engineering experience. Compulsory registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa as a Professional Engineering Technician is required. A valid, unexpired driver's licence must be disclosed, and candidates must be willing to travel throughout South Africa for operational work. The ideal candidate will have significant dam engineering experience covering design, flood hydrology, construction, management and safety, as well as knowledge of the National Water Act, particularly Chapters 4 and 12, and the Dam Safety Regulations. Familiarity with program and project management, research and development, computer-aided engineering applications, and technical report writing is also essential. Strong problem-solving, decision-making, leadership, interpersonal and communication skills are required, along with planning, organising and people management abilities.

The duties are wide-ranging. The technician will investigate, analyse and recommend the classification of dams, evaluate applications from Approved Professional Persons, and assess engineering aspects of licence applications for new dams, alterations, first filling and operations. They will monitor safety evaluation and investigation reports, carry out risk assessments, and follow up on dam safety betterment work with dam owners. The role includes conducting dam safety inspections at high-risk dams, responding to emergencies such as dam failures, implementing Emergency Preparedness Plans, and visiting illegally constructed dams to compile technical reports for directives. The post also involves developing and maintaining guidelines and policies, advising on dam safety legislation, generating reports and statistics for the Dam Safety Program, and managing candidate and production engineering technicians, technologists and engineers. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the Dam Safety Regulation database, contributing to the Annual Report and Annual Performance Plan, and supporting the Director with technical inputs and data.

The Department is an equal opportunity employer and will apply the Employment Equity imperatives of the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act when filling these posts. Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to suitability checks, including SAQA verification, reference, criminal and credit checks, and must produce original documents at interview. Foreign qualifications require a SAQA evaluation certificate, and foreign or dual citizenship holders must provide a police clearance from their country of origin. Candidates will also need to complete a financial disclosure form and undergo security clearance. Correspondence is limited to shortlisted candidates, and those who do not receive feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful. Applications must be submitted online, and failure to complete the required Z83 fields, especially those relating to professional registration, will result in disqualification.