DIRECTOR: GREEN BUILDING

This senior leadership position within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, based at Head Office in Pretoria, is responsible for driving the entire green building agenda across the government’s property portfolio. As a Director, the incumbent will operate at a strategic level within the Senior Management Services, shaping how state-owned and leased buildings are designed, retrofitted, and managed to meet national sustainability, energy, water, and waste reduction targets. The role sits at the intersection of built environment policy, environmental regulation, and practical facilities management, requiring a leader who can translate high-level government prescripts into actionable programmes and measurable outcomes.

Candidates must hold a minimum qualification at NQF level 7, recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority, in the Built Environment, Environmental Studies, Law, or a related field, coupled with at least five years of experience at a middle or senior managerial level in the relevant discipline. Registration with a Built Environment Professional Council or accreditation as a Green Star Accredited Professional will be a distinct advantage, as will a certificate in funding and trade or a related certification. The role demands a candidate who is prepared to travel and willing to adapt to working schedules in line with office requirements. The ideal profile includes strong project management, financial management, systems thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities, advanced communication and conflict management skills, leadership, and the capacity to work under pressure while remaining innovative, resourceful, and solution-orientated.

The core duties are extensive and span several interconnected areas. The Director will manage the development of Public Works Green Building strategies, policies, and procedures, ensuring alignment with government prescripts and the department’s socio-economic objectives. This includes researching the latest trends in energy, waste, and water-efficient building design, identifying green technologies for implementation, and developing initiatives to quantify greenhouse gas emissions in government buildings. The role oversees the built environment’s contribution to key national frameworks such as the Climate Change Response White Paper, the Energy Efficiency Strategy, and the National Environmental Management Waste Act. A significant portion of the work involves managing Green Building rating and certification initiatives, including the Green Building Council of South Africa’s Star rating system, coordinating the process of obtaining Energy Performance Certificates for departmental facilities, and conducting performance benchmarks to assess achievement levels across capital projects and facilities management.

Beyond certification, the Director will establish requirements for facilities to become certifiable, monitor portfolio performance, and communicate green building requirements for both state-owned and leased properties. The role also drives local designation of green building materials to balance with international technologies. In the water efficiency domain, the Director manages the establishment and implementation of initiatives, oversees water audits, waste water management studies, leak detection, metering, and technology installations, and reports on achieved savings while exploring alternative water sources and harvesting initiatives. Similarly, for energy efficiency and renewable energy, the role involves managing audits of existing buildings, creating energy-efficiency models, reviewing construction documents, developing funding and delivery mechanisms, rolling out public-private partnership projects on renewable energy, and ensuring alignment with the Integrated Resource Plan championed by the Department of Energy. Finally, the Director oversees waste management initiatives, implementing the waste hierarchy of reduce, re-use, and recycle, minimising construction waste, introducing best practices post-occupancy, and managing awareness campaigns. The position requires close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, regional teams, and service providers, as well as inter-governmental cooperation, with a strong emphasis on monitoring, verification, and reporting on key performance measures. This is a demanding, high-impact role suited to a motivated and assertive leader committed to advancing sustainability in the public sector.