Deputy Director-General: Real Estate Management Services REF NO: 2026/327

REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum NQF 08 qualification as recognised by SAQA, in or directly relevant to immovable asset management, real estate management, property or lease management or the built environment, 8 years of experience at a senior managerial level in real estate management, property investment, or related property functions. An NQF 09 qualification or higher and more than 08 years direct senior management experience as specified will be an added advantage.
• Leadership & Delivery: a proven and demonstrated track record of orchestrating multidisciplinary professional teams within complex infrastructure delivery and immovable asset management environments; possesses a deep-seated mastery of the entire asset lifecycle, from strategic inception and acquisition to maintenance, optimisation, and disposal, with a proven ability to translate high-level departmental mandates into tangible business outcomes and long-term strategic objectives.
• Other added advantage: relevant professional registration in built sector or property related field, and private sector property management or immovable asset management experience.
• Licensing: possession of a valid, unencumbered driver's licence.
• Vetting & Compliance: the successful candidate will be required to undergo and maintain a formal security clearance.
• Professional Agility: the ability and willingness to adjust work hours and schedules to meet critical professional requirements and urgent organisational imperatives.
• Knowledge: professional understanding of real estate and property management, including acquisition, disposal, leasing, contract management, maintenance, servitudes and property investment; legislative frameworks including PFMA, Treasury Regulations, OHS Act, Public Service Act and Regulations, MISS, and relevant built-environment norms and standards; government structures and intergovernmental linkages across national, provincial and local spheres; applied commercial law principles relevant to property transactions; corporate governance, risk management and financial oversight; human resource management, labour relations and organisational change management; service delivery innovation, transformation frameworks and empowerment policies B-BBEE, SMME, women and disability inclusion.
• SKILLS: strategic capability and leadership at executive level; programme and project management of large property portfolios; people management, empowerment and talent development; financial management and resource optimisation; advanced problem-solving, business transformation and change management; high-level communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills; policy development, analysis and implementation; contract management, quality assurance and operational coordination.
• Personal Attributes: innovative, forward-thinking and solutions-driven; high resilience, able to manage complexity under pressure; strong professional judgement and integrity; confident, influential and able to establish high-trust relationships; highly motivated, decisive and able to work independently where required; excellent leadership presence with the ability to inspire and direct large teams.

DUTIES

• Strategic Leadership of Real Estate Management Services: translate the departmental vision into a coherent branch strategy, structure and operational plan; provide executive leadership to ensure the branch delivers on its mandate for real estate, portfolio, asset lifecycle and property investment management; lead the development and implementation of strategies, policies and systems that ensure effective, efficient and compliant management of immovable assets.
• Real Estate Portfolio Management and Asset Performance: oversee the full property lifecycle, including acquisition, disposal, leasing, estates, servitudes and maintenance of immovable assets; ensure optimal utilisation, economic efficiency and sustainability of the national property portfolio; direct the development and maintenance of the Immovable Asset Register and property information systems; lead the creation of a master plan for managing both freehold and leasehold government property portfolios.
• Oversight of Leasing, Contracts and Property Transactions: ensure timely and compliant management of lease contracts, including renewals, terminations, rent reviews and cost optimisation; oversee acquisition and disposal processes, ensuring legal compliance, transparency and alignment with national priorities; provide executive governance over creditor management, debtor recovery and contract performance within the portfolio.
• Governance, Compliance and Organisational Performance: ensure adherence to PFMA requirements, Treasury Instructions, governance frameworks and built-environment standards; establish and maintain internal controls, risk management systems and monitoring mechanisms to ensure integrity of operations; evaluate branch performance against strategic objectives and implement corrective measures to drive continuous improvement; champion organisational transformation, change initiatives and service delivery improvement programmes.
• Branch Leadership, People Management and Resource Stewardship: provide visionary leadership to the Branch, ensuring a motivated, skilled, high-performing workforce; manage the performance, development, labour relations and wellbeing of staff in accordance with HR frameworks and SMS requirements; manage the branch budget, ensuring financial prudence, accountability and alignment with strategic priorities; oversee administrative reporting, communication systems, audit responses and quality assurance processes.
• Research, Policy Development and Industry Intelligence: lead research into property market trends, built-environment innovations and emerging risks; identify policy gaps and drive the development or review of legislation, policy frameworks and norms and standards; ensure that branch practices remain future-focused, efficient, integrated and responsive to the needs of government.