Purpose Statement
To provide dedicated, senior-level project and programme management for the SABS Laboratory Recapitalisation Programme 2026 - 2031. The Contract Project Manager is the primary delivery accountable for structuring, originating, and governing three parallel programme tracks (SICP equipment partnerships, Build-Operate-Transfer concessions, and JV/SPV new-lab formation), ensuring all funding is secured on time, all PFMA compliance obligations are met at every gate, and all programme targets are delivered within scope, cost, and quality parameters.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
MBA or MPhil in a relevant field / Postgraduate qualification in Project/Programme Management, Finance, Commerce, or Public Administration/ Bachelor's degree - (Engineering, Built Environment, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or related field)
PMP (Project Management Professional) or PrCPM (Professional Construction Project Manager) certification in good standing — or equivalent internationally recognised programme management credential
Prince2 Practitioner, MSP (Managing Successful Programmes), or equivalent programme management methodology certification
Experience
Minimum 2 years direct experience engaging IDC, DBSA, and/or equivalent DFIs — including term sheet negotiation, due diligence management, conditions precedent, and drawdown. References required.
Minimum 10 years' programme management experience, with at least one programme of R500m+ and 36+ months' duration, including formal gate reviews and PSC-level governance.
Duties and Responsibilities
Please refer to the attached advert
Functional Management
Programme Governance and PSC Management
Establish and maintain the full programme governance architecture; own all gate packages G0 through G6.
Constitute and operationalise the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) within 30 days of contract commencement
Develop, maintain and update the Master Programme Plan (60-month horizon, all three phases, parallel tracks)
Prepare and present all seven gate review packages (G0 - G6) — including feasibility assessments, risk registers, financial models, stakeholder sign-offs, and PFMA compliance confirmations
Produce monthly programme status reports for the COO and quarterly reports for EXCO
Maintain the programme risk register, escalation log, issue log, and change register — reviewed monthly at PSC
Ensure all programme governance is aligned to the SABS CIPF v2.0 framework and EPMS Toolkit
Phase 1 Delivery- SICP AND Equipment Finance
Manage the procurement and deployment of the SICP Technical Facilitation Partner; oversee all Phase 1B finance agreements.
Develop and issue the SICP Technical Facilitation Partner Request for Proposals (RFP) within 30 days of G0 approval
Manage the BEC and BAC evaluation process for SICP partner appointment in compliance with SABS SCM Policy and PFMA
Oversee the SICP partner's delivery of equipment gap assessments, OEM benchmarking, vendor due diligence, and commercial negotiation for 13 labs
Phase 2 Delivery- Build-Operate-Transfer
Lead the full BOT transaction lifecycle from feasibility through National Treasury approval to partner appointment and construction commencement.
Commission BOT feasibility studies for 6 structurally degraded laboratories — Automotive East London, Appliances, Secunda, Richards Bay, Minerals and Coal, Explosion Prevention
Produce bankable business cases for National Treasury Approval I submission (Gate G3) — including financial models, risk allocation matrices, value-for-money assessments, affordability analyses, and sensitivity analyses
Procure and manage the BOT Transaction Advisor through competitive RFP; oversee transaction advisor delivery throughout
Phase 3 Delivery - JV and SPV Development
Lead the market validation, partner identification, SPV formation, and operational launch of four new growth laboratories.
Conduct market feasibility validation for all four JV labs (cannabis, agro-export, counterfeit detection, renewable energy) — Gate G5 prerequisite
Develop the JV framework including equity structures (30 - 51% SABS), reserved matters protecting SANAS accreditation authority, partner selection criteria, and governance frameworks
Manage partner identification and qualification processes; lead JV/partner negotiations
Financial Management
Financial Management, DFI Engagement, and Commercial Negotiations
Serve as SABS's primary commercial and financial interface across all funding tracks and partner negotiations.
Build and maintain financial models for all programme phases — NPV, IRR, blended cost of capital, sensitivity analysis, and revenue-sharing schedule modelling
Manage active relationships with IDC, DBSA, National Treasury PPP Unit, and commercial banking partners throughout the programme lifecycle
Risk and Compliance Management
PFMA Compliance, SCM Governance, and Risk Management
Ensure all programme procurement is PFMA-compliant; maintain a live, actionable risk register across all three phases
Stakeholder Management
Stakeholder Management and Communications
Manage the full programme stakeholder ecosystem — from EXCO and dtic to DFIs, OEM vendors, and JV partners.
Knowledge Transfer and Programme Close-Out
Ensure all programme knowledge, relationships, and institutional memory are formally embedded in SABS before contract conclusion.
Deadline:16th July,2026