Manager: Municipal Facilities, Sports & Recreation, & Community Development

This permanent managerial post, based in Worcester, sits within the Community Services Directorate of the municipality, specifically heading the Division of Municipal Facilities, Sports and Recreation, and Community Development. The role is externally advertised and carries the core purpose of managing, maintaining and coordinating all community facilities alongside the initiatives, programmes and projects of the Community Development department. The successful candidate will be expected to operate strictly in line with legislation, policies and procedures, with the overarching goal of improving residents' quality of life and ensuring optimal service delivery across the municipal area.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in public administration, a degree relevant to facilities management, or another relevant bachelor's degree at NQF Level 7. A valid Code B driver's licence and computer literacy in MS Office are essential, as is at least eight years of relevant experience. Candidates must also be able to communicate in at least two of the three official languages of the Western Cape. In addition, the position requires compliance with the National Treasury Regulations on Minimum Competency Level Unit Standards, or a commitment to complete those unit standards within eighteen months of appointment as provided for in the applicable government notice. The appointed person will be expected to demonstrate a range of competencies spanning core professional skills such as managing work and planning and organising, functional skills in facility-specific operations and workplace safety, public service orientation competencies including interpersonal relationships, communication and service delivery orientation, personal competencies such as resilience, problem solving, accountability and ethical conduct, and management leadership competencies like impact and influence, team orientation, direction setting and coaching and mentoring.

The duties are wide-ranging and strategic. The manager will develop short, medium and long-term plans for sports facilities, swimming pools, resorts, community halls and Thusong Centres, and will draft business plans for submission to provincial and national government. Day-to-day responsibilities include managing, coordinating and controlling work sequences and outcomes related to municipal facility maintenance, implementing maintenance plans for sports fields, resorts and community halls, and overseeing a comprehensive public participation programme so that communities remain engaged in municipal affairs. The post also entails ensuring ward committee participation plans are developed and implemented, organising detailed event plans with timelines and logistics, and identifying potential risks while developing contingency plans to protect attendees and minimise disruptions. Financial duties include preparing capital and operating expenditure budgets, monitoring and controlling the department's financial performance against the approved budget, and managing specific contracts, tender documents and contractual obligations. The manager will also provide guidance and mentorship to subordinates, enforce human resources policies and procedures to regulate workplace conflict, manage the asset management plan, make recommendations regarding bylaws, procedural requirements and policy amendments, and ensure adherence to health and safety regulations, standard operating procedures and legal requirements.

This is a demanding leadership role suited to an experienced facilities or community development professional who can balance strategic planning with operational oversight. The position is graded at T16 and offers a permanent appointment within local government. Given the scope of the responsibilities, the successful candidate will need strong organisational, interpersonal and ethical leadership abilities, as well as a genuine commitment to community engagement and service delivery.