Overall purpose of the job:
To provide strategic leadership, governance and portfolio oversight for the planning, development, refurbishment, renewal and delivery of DUT infrastructure projects across all campuses and estates, ensuring that infrastructure investments support the University strategy, academic operations, student experience, safety, accessibility, sustainability and long-term asset performance.
The role is accountable for translating institutional infrastructure needs into an approved capital and maintenance project pipeline; directing feasibility, design, procurement, construction, commissioning and close-out processes; ensuring compliance with statutory, procurement, health and safety, environmental and built-environment standards; and managing internal teams, professional service providers, contractors and stakeholder relationships to deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure within approved scope, time, cost and quality parameters.
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required:
NQF Level 8 qualification in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Built Environment, Project Management or a closely related discipline.
At least 8 to 10 years progressive built-environment experience, including major infrastructure planning, design/construction delivery, refurbishment, capital projects and contract management. At least 5 years must be in a management or portfolio leadership role.
Registration as a Professional Engineer, Professional Construction Project Manager, or related built environment professional with a recognised statutory body (e.g. ECSA, SACPCMP).
Formal project/programme management qualification or certification, preferably PMP, PRINCE2, PMBOK-aligned, SACPCMP construction project management registration, or equivalent.
Role Duties:
Develop and continuously update a university-wide Infrastructure Strategy and Master Plan aligned to institutional growth, teaching, research, and student experience needs.
Lead the planning, design, and optimisation of campus infrastructure portfolios across multiple sites to ensure long-term sustainability and utilisation efficiency.
Establish and enforce infrastructure governance frameworks, policies, standards, and SOPs aligned to legislative and regulatory requirements.
Drive asset lifecycle management practices, including refurbishment, renewal, maintenance planning, and condition assessments.
Oversee the implementation of capital infrastructure programmes, ensuring alignment with budget, scope, and institutional priorities.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with consultants, contractors, and service providers to enhance delivery capability and innovation.
Provide strategic oversight of the full project lifecycle (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and close-out) for all infrastructure projects.
Lead the conceptualisation and feasibility assessment of infrastructure projects, including business case development and risk analysis.
Establish and maintain a project governance framework, including reporting structures, stage gates, and approval processes.
Monitor and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring timely mitigation and escalation.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive infrastructure reporting framework aligned to institutional governance and executive requirements.
Maintain accurate project records, dashboards, portfolio reports, budget reports, risk reports and decision papers for management committees and governance structures.
Use data to track progress, identify bottlenecks and support evidence-based decision-making.
Produce accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual infrastructure performance reports.
Track and report on project progress, risks, financial status, and delivery milestones across all infrastructure initiatives.
Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement strategy to ensure alignment between internal users, executive management, and external partners.
Build and maintain effective relationships with consultants, contractors, regulatory bodies, and service providers to support successful infrastructure delivery.
Lead the appointment, onboarding, and performance management of professional service providers and contractors in line with procurement policies.
Establish and enforce service level agreements (SLAs), contracts, and performance standards to ensure quality, cost, and time objectives are met.
Monitor and evaluate the performance, compliance, and deliverables of consultants and contractors, taking corrective action where required.
Lead the development of annual and multi-year capital and operational infrastructure budgets.
Provide strategic oversight and approval of all cost planning, estimates, and budgets prepared by the Quantity Surveyor.
Direct the management of contractor claims, disputes, and contractual risks.
Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Infrastructure Projects team, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives.
Develop and implement a workforce plan, including skills development and succession planning.
Set clear performance objectives and KPIs and monitor team performance against agreed targets.
Foster a high-performance culture characterised by accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Closing Date 23 May 2026