Director: Project Management Office (1post) (Re-advert) Five (5)-year Fixed Term Contract

• The University is looking for an energetic professional for the position of Director: Project Management Office to define, maintain and ensure project management standards across the University and act as a centralized and coordinated management hub for all projects, with the aim of creating efficiencies and benefit realisation in projects and linking projects to the institutional objectives. Also to ensure projects are managed in terms of the scope, time and budget while ensuring adherence to quality, legal and cost requirements and ensuring a basis for benefits realisation is set.
• He/She will report to the Vice Chancellor and must meet the requirements and competencies and be responsible for the key performance areas listed below.

REQUIREMENTS

• Degree in Commerce, Engineering, Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Law
• Ten 10 years of ProjectManagement experience of which five 5 yearsshould be at managerial level
• A post graduate Qualification/Certificate in Project Management
• Evidence of current registration with the Professional Construction Project Manager or Project Management Professional prEng/prCPM
• Active professional body membership with either Project Management SA PMSA, Project
• Management Institute PMI, South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions SACPCMP
• Experience in the Higher Education Sector, including comprehension of the DHET Macro Infrastructure Framework will be an added advantage
• Onsite experience in construction and Project Management, including Financial Management of Construction Projects
• Computerliteracy, with asound knowledge of MSWord, MS Excel and Internet

COMPETENCIES

• Technical/ professional knowledge and skill
• Strategic leadership, decision making and problem solving
• Negotiation: bargain successfully by using the ability to assimilate information and to evaluate possibilities against a background of sound knowledge of the landscape
• Advanced communication skills both written and spoken, including the ability to produce clear, concise, and professional reports
• The ability to analyze and determine gapsin product/service provision to constantly remain relevant, increase customer service and improve or renew the institution's offering
• The ability to understand negative consequences and threats and to manage decisions/business processes to negate/minimize risk
• Strong team leadership and people management capability
• Strong interpersonal relations, collaboration, and stakeholder management
• Personal impact, stature, integrity and credibility with high
• Ability to work independently and under pressure with tight deadlines
• Can be counted on to get the job done
• Exhibits professionalism, accountability, and a strong commitment to quality

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS Legislative Compliance

• Stays abreast with Corporate Governance policies and procedures
• Providesinput to governance committees, information-and decision-making bodies
• Monitors compliance to Corporate Governance structures, policies and procedures
• Report on projects, programs and portfolio governance, risks, resources, scheduling, performance etc to the management and oversight structures

Project Management

• Oversee project managers in other areas within the institution and takes responsibility for the quality and value of University projects
• Monitors effectiveness of project management across the institution
• Lead the project management Strategy, plan and ensure effective stakeholder management
• Maintain oversight of key projects and provide regular performance reports to executive management

Project Liaison for Large Capital Projects

• Monitors the implementation of projects by contractors
• Evaluates the effective procurement of professionals, contractors, and suppliers
• Collaborates closely with Finance, Institutional Planning and Built Environment
• Fosters sound, ethical relationships with professionals, contractors & suppliers

Risk Compliance

• Implement risk mitigating policy, plans and preventative action strategies
• Manage project management risks relating to delivery within budget, time and quality
• Resolves basic issues and problems with external suppliers/ vendors /contractors
• Stays abreast of institutional risk mitigation plans

Planning and Budgeting

• Prepare, manage and administer the projects portfolio budget and work break structures
• Actively develops partnerships to contribute to financial sustainability through third stream income
• Provides standard monthly financial reports
• Analyses financial information of projects

Procurement Policy Compliance

• Collaborates with the legal and procurement function regarding non-compliance
• Provides input into terms of reference, request for proposal documents
• Resolves conflict/non-compliance according to policy & procedure
• Fosters professional and ethical supplier relationships
• Monitors that product/service delivery is according to agreements
• Change Leadership and transformation implementation
• Develop, manage and execute the project communication plans for key projects
• Collaborate with Human Capital and Transformation HC&T / Project Team
• Communicate change expectations to employees
• Determine & categorise change risks
• Act as the agent for change, driving continuous improvement and working closely with the transformation team to mobilize and embed functional and cultural change
• Implementstransformation goals and policies in decision making
• Stay abreast of transformation legislation, goals & policies

People Management within span of control

• Plans Human Resource allocation, acquisition, retention & motivation based on ResourcePlan
• Monitors deviations from plan, problem resolution & corrective action initiated
• Manages development of staff and human capital process

Safety Health & Environment SHE Management

• Adheres to the SHE policy
• Collaborates with institutional leadership in the roll-out of SHE programs
• Contributeto the overall development of SMUand actively improve institutional culture
• Any other duties assigned by the Vice-Chancellor

Typed applicationsquoting the reference number which should contain documents mentioned below should be forwarded to Human Capital and Transformation Department, for the attention of Mr TR Moletsane by e-mail at hr.recruitment7@smu.ac.za not later than 16h00 on the closing date as indicated on the advert.

Deadline:25th September,2026