DEPUTY DIRECTOR: ENVIRONMENTAL AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT REF NO: S.4/3/10/163 Component: Environmental and Disaster Management

This senior management position, graded at Level 11, is based at the Head Office in Polokwane and sits within the Environmental and Disaster Management component of the department. The role is central to integrating environmental sustainability, scientific rigor, occupational health and safety, and disaster risk management into the department’s broader road maintenance and infrastructure responsibilities. The incumbent will provide strategic leadership, set scientific standards, and ensure that all projects comply with relevant national legislation, while also supporting the industry, stakeholders, and district municipalities through sound advice and collaboration.

Candidates must hold a Senior Certificate (Grade 12/Matric) and a qualification at NQF level 6 in Environmental Management or Natural Science, as recognised by SAQA. In addition, at least five years of experience in Environmental Management or Natural Science is required, with a minimum of three years at Assistant Director or junior management level. A valid driver’s licence is mandatory, although applicants with disabilities are exempt from this requirement. The successful candidate will also need a broad range of competencies, including programme and project management, scientific methodologies and models, research and development, computer-aided scientific applications, legal compliance, technical report writing, data analysis, policy development, strategic leadership, and financial and people management skills.

The duties are wide-ranging and include the review and approval of scientific projects, the facilitation of scientific standards and service levels, and the monitoring of scientific efficiencies in line with organisational goals. The Deputy Director will lead the implementation and enforcement of environmental and occupational health and safety legislation in road maintenance activities. This includes facilitating Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Management Plans under NEMA, implementing the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, sourcing construction materials for re-gravelling, obtaining mining permits and closure certificates, managing waste in line with the NEMA Waste Act, and ensuring that occupational health and safety plans are in place at project sites in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations. The role also involves conducting hazard identification, risk assessments, audits, and inspections to ensure contractor safety, as well as performing Road Safety Appraisals.

The position further requires managing the appointment of professional service providers for environmental and OHS services, including drafting terms of reference, facilitating tender advertisements, and entering into service level agreements. The incumbent will oversee contract and performance management, monitor deliverables, and ensure compliance. Governance duties include allocating and controlling resources, compiling risk logs, managing significant risks, and promoting knowledge sharing across operations. The Deputy Director will also facilitate Integrated Development Planning with districts, consolidate re-gravelling plans in advance, provide scientific and technical support for the mainstreaming of environmental and OHS legislation, and lead research efforts by publishing and presenting findings. Financial management includes allocating and monitoring expenditure, managing commercial value, and handling asset management, while people management entails developing, motivating, and utilising human resources, setting performance standards, and correcting deviations to achieve departmental objectives.

This is a demanding but rewarding role for an experienced environmental professional seeking to influence policy, ensure legal compliance, and improve scientific and safety outcomes in a government setting. The department applies its normal recruitment and selection processes, and employment equity considerations will be taken into account where applicable.