Chief: Fire and Disaster Management at Witzenberg Municipality

Salary: R 724 838.46 per annum (Post level T16 of a Grade 4 Municipality)

Requirements:

• Relevant Tertiary qualification, preferably a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Technology.
• Compliance with the relevant Minimum Competency Levels for Financial Officials as prescribed.
• A Valid Code EC1 Driver's License.
• Computer literacy (MS Office Applications).
• 12 years including relevant managerial experience.
• Good management, human relations, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to give attention to detail, a high level of responsibility, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Good sight, hearing and speech ability; must be physically fit and healthy.
• Ability to perform manual operations and duties on foot.
• Must be able to climb ladders, operate from heights, walk or crawl in the dark, on narrow and uneven surfaces and operate in proximity to electrical power lines and/or other hazards.
• Must work overtime and/or attend meetings after normal office hours when required.
• Must perform duties in the whole municipal area when required.
• Please note: A performance agreement is also applicable to this position whereby the employer reserves the right to institute a performance management program.

Duties

• Job Purpose: Manages and directs the key performance and result indicators associated with Fire Services and Disaster Management through research and evaluation of best practices; interpretation of statutory directives and treasury guidelines to enable inputs and recommendations into longer-term objective setting and operational planning; review and alignment of policies, functions, procedures and systems and directing and executing critical management and statutory reporting requirements in order to ensure that the Sub-Directorate is capable of contributing positively to the Municipality's vision and mission statements pertaining to improving the quality of life of the community and compliance with legislative frameworks and standards.
• Planning and strategy alignment by identifying and defining the immediate, short- and long-term objectives, plans and priorities of the Sub-Directorate encapsulating planning, research, development and projects associated with the functionality
• Analysing, aligning and directing the operational capacity and capabilities of the Sub-Directorate to deliver against specific key performance areas encapsulated in strategic plans and legislative frameworks and standards.
• Studying capital and operating expenditure trends and forecasts and preparing estimate reports for inclusion into the annual/adjustment budgets with due consideration to internal and external funding requirements and limitations.
• Statutory frameworks, policies and procedures by Directs, manages and controls the implementation of policies, procedures and systems associated with Fire Services and Disaster Management.
• Keeping abreast of operational developments and legislation (Municipal Finance Management Act, Fire Brigade Services Act, SA National Standards, Disaster Management Act, etc.) by conducting searches into best practices with a view to alignment with internal processes and standing operating procedures.
• Aligning information systems, applications, work processes and role boundaries to support functional outcomes related to the management of the functionality.
• Expenditure control by managing and directing applications and sequences associated with the authorization and execution of expenditure transactions.
• Monitoring transactional sequences associated with expenditure for capital and ad-hoc projects/programmes and approving transactional financial reports on projects prior to release for perusal and comment.
• Procedures, systems and controls by manages and directs procedures, systems and controls to regulate specific operational sequences associated with the functionality.
• Communicating to personnel through verbal and written mediums statutory and procedural requirements for adoption and compliance thereof.
• Inspecting work sites and/or conducting observations of operational sequences and determining the extent of awareness and/or the need for corrective/remedial measures.
• Contract and supply chain management by managing and controlling the formulation of specific contracts and tender documents and controlling contractual obligations in respect of the functionality.
• Coordinating the drafting and reporting processes with regard to contracts/tenders and verifying details, terms and conditions, specifications, etc. and/or compliance with laid down policies, regulations and procedures.
• Sourcing and searching, checking websites and/or contacting suppliers with a view to establishing capabilities to supply products/items based on the Municipality's requirements.
• Personnel and performance management by supervision and control by Directs; manages and controls the key performance indicators and outcomes of personnel within the Sub-Directorate.
• Defining/adjusting the role boundaries, workflow processes and job design against laid down service delivery requirements.
• Determining staffing levels and preparing motivations for filling vacancies to complement functional objectives and requirements.
• Functional activities by fire and disaster control activities by managing and controlling key dimensions and requirements associated with the provision of Fire Services and Disaster Management.
• Mapping and/or preparing fire safety and disaster management programmes and plans aimed at co-ordinating the implementation, prioritization and allocation of responsibilities.
• Formulating operational plans and addressing the implementation of key safety and disaster management programmes with respect to special events.
• Emergencies by Manages, directs and monitors sequences associated with the provision of Emergency/Fire and Rescue Services.
• Initiating and/or implementing specific management procedures during fire and rescue operations, instructing and/or leading firefighting teams and executing applications or sequences to control damage/disaster.
• Priority and objective setting by establishing and managing the immediate and medium- to long-term objectives and priorities of the functionality.
• Initiating and facilitating the establishment of Fire Protection Associations for the agricultural and other sectors within the municipal area (voluntary firefighting teams, etc.) and monitoring performance.
• Fire engineering and fire protection management by managing, coordinating, and controlling the application of fire technology and fire engineering principles and assigning the execution and enforcement of Fire Protection Regulations and fire safety legislation.
• Assessing building plans and land use applications for fire safety compliance and addressing non-conformance with laid down standards.
• Events management by facilitating, controlling, and coordinating procedures for the staging of Events in the municipal area in accordance with relevant legislation.
• Administering processes and procedures relating to applications for the holding of events/public gatherings.
• Administrative functions by communication and reporting by disseminating advice, guidance and information on specific key performance areas and requirements associated with the Sub­ Directorate's functional responsibilities.
• Participating in various meetings (Committees, management, external forums, etc.)  and consultation processes, providing comments, advice and/or guidance and responding to queries/questions, through the collection of factual information and/or presenting and elaborating on findings to substantiate outcomes.

Closing Date: 23 October 2026