Process Quality Manager

Minimum Education

• Matric + BTech in Water Science & Technology, Chemistry or equivalent.

Desired Education

• Honours/Postgraduate qualification in Water Science & Technology, Chemistry or equivalent.

Minimum Experience

• 5 years' experience in water and/or wastewater treatment operations with a strong process focus.
• 1–2 years' proven management experience in a technical/operational environment.

Desired Experience

• 5–10 years' experience in water and/or wastewater treatment operations with a strong process focus.
• 3–5 years' proven management experience in a technical/operational environment.

Primary Duties

• Define and implement the water process and compliance strategy aligned to organisational and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee water quality monitoring programmes across treatment plants and distribution networks.
• Lead regulatory audits, inspections, and compliance reporting.
• Advise executive leadership on risk, compliance status, and process performance.
• Provide technical leadership on water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Review and approve process designs, upgrades, and rehabilitation projects.
• Provide technical support to municipalities on process optimisation, compliance improvement, and operational challenges.
• Lead intervention programmes for underperforming plants or systems.
• Coordinate with stakeholders including DWS, Water Boards, Local Municipalities, etc.
• Provide technical input into capital projects, refurbishments and upgrades, and asset management planning.
• Establish and track KPIs such as compliance rates, process efficiency and water losses linked to quality.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams such as process engineers, scientists, technicians and operators.
• Set performance targets and drive accountability.
• Ensure process and compliance requirements are embedded in design and procurement specifications.
• Drive optimisation initiatives to improve process efficiency, chemical usage, energy consumption and treated water quality.
• Participate in investigative projects and method development.
• Ensure skills transfer to personnel.
• Manage and assist operations personnel with ad hoc and routine duties.
• Observe safe work practices and adhere to Rand Water SHERQ standards.
• Manage and control section budgets and water quality cost projections on various projects.
• Liaise with Rand Water Management on process-related issues and organisational objectives.
• Mentor, empower and upskill new employees and develop supervisors.
• Monitor, measure and report on water quality-related issues continuously.
• Initiate opportunities and keep abreast of new developments in the water treatment industry.
• Manage and control operational expenditure as well as chemical expenditure within agreed budgets.
• Ensure activities meet and integrate with organisational requirements for quality management, health and safety, legal stipulations, environmental policies and ISO standards.
• Provide advisory and consulting services to Operations regarding operational changes and process capability of water quality infrastructure.
• Ensure that the correct chemical dosing rates are prescribed and implemented.
• Conduct risk assessments by identifying water quality risks that may adversely affect the drinking water supply chain.
• Ensure control measures are in place and meet requirements to mitigate identified risks.

Knowledge

• Water quality SANS 241 requirements and water treatment exposure.
• Analytical instrumentation pertaining to the water and wastewater industry.
• Knowledge of automated plants, water and wastewater treatment plants, online quality instrumentation and SCADA exposure.
• Occupational Health and Safety Act OHSA.
• ISO 17025