ENGINEER PRODUCTION GRADE A – C REF NO: 131126/06 Branch: Regulations, Compliance and Enforcement Dir: Specialist Unit SD: Dam Safety Regulations

This professional engineering position sits within the Dam Safety Regulations unit of the Department of Water and Sanitation, operating under the Branch of Regulations, Compliance and Enforcement from the Pretoria Head Office. The role is graded as Engineer Production Grade A to C and forms part of the department’s Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) salary structure, with the offer determined by years of relevant experience. The incumbent will play a central part in safeguarding the country’s dam infrastructure by enforcing the National Water Act and the Dam Safety Regulations, ensuring that all dams with a safety risk are properly evaluated, monitored, and maintained to protect communities and the environment.

To be considered, candidates must hold a B Eng or BSc Eng degree in Civil Engineering, along with at least three years of post-qualification civil engineering experience. Compulsory registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Professional Engineer is non-negotiable, and a valid unexpired driver’s licence must be disclosed. While not strictly mandatory, substantial experience in dam engineering is highly recommended, particularly in the areas of dam safety evaluation, design, construction supervision, flood hydrology, and the management of dams that pose a safety risk. A solid understanding of program and project management, technical design and analysis, and the relevant water sector legislation—including Chapter 4 and Chapter 12 of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) and the Dam Safety Regulations published in Government Notice R. 139 of 24 February 2012—is essential. The role also demands proficiency in computer-aided engineering applications, technical report writing, problem solving, decision making, team leadership, and strong interpersonal and communication skills. A willingness to travel throughout South Africa for operational purposes is required.

The core duties are broad and technically demanding. The engineer will investigate, analyse, and recommend the classification of dams, evaluate applications from Approved Professional Persons, and assess engineering aspects of licence applications for new dam construction, alterations, first filling, and operational phases. The position involves monitoring safety evaluation and investigation reports, conducting risk assessments, and following up on dam safety betterment work with dam owners. The engineer will liaise with regional offices, dam owners, professional persons, and the public on dam safety matters, conduct physical inspections at high-risk dams, and respond to emergency situations such as dam failures, including activating Emergency Preparedness Plans. The role also includes site visits to illegal or unlawfully constructed dams, compiling technical reports for the issuance of illegal dam letters and directives, and contributing to the development and maintenance of guidelines and policies. Generating reports and statistics to track progress with the Dam Safety Program, supporting the Chief and Specialist Engineers, and assisting in the development of Candidate Engineers, Technicians, and Technologists for professional registration round out the responsibilities.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is an equal opportunity employer, and employment equity objectives as outlined in the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act will be considered during the selection process. Shortlisted candidates will undergo suitability checks, including SAQA verification of qualifications, reference checks, and criminal and credit checks. Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by a SAQA evaluation certificate when shortlisted, and foreign or dual citizenship holders must provide a police clearance certificate from their country of origin. For SMS-level posts, additional technical exercises, integrity assessments, and psychometric evaluations may be required, along with a pre-entry certificate from the National School of Government. Candidates must also complete a financial disclosure form and undergo security clearance. Applications must be submitted online via the department’s e-recruitment system, and failure to complete all required fields on the Z83 form, particularly those relating to professional registration, will result in automatic disqualification. No late or faxed applications will be accepted, and correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If no response is received within three months of the closing date, applicants should consider their application unsuccessful.