Deputy Head (Customer & Retail Services) at eThekwini Municipality

Job Purpose    

• Directs and controls the Customer and Retail Services Department of the Electricity Unit for eThekwini Municipality.

Key Responsibility Areas    

• Manages the Customer and Retail Services Department of eThekwini Electricity.
• Accepts responsibility of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure adherence to the law.
• Formulates the short, medium and long term strategic direction of the Customer Services and Sales Department.
• Plans the activities of the Customer Service and Sales Departments.
• Formulates capital and operating budgets.
• Implements the Customer Services and Sales Departments plans and monitors performance.
• Directs and controls the key performance indicators and outcomes of the personnel in the Customer and Retail Services Departments.
• Deals with ad-hoc issues that arise.
• Liaises and negotiates with Eskom to ensure the existing and future quality and security of the bulk infeed supply will enable the Department to meet the standards and performance targets set for its own services.
• Formulates electricity consumption tariffs for domestic, business and industrial customers.
• Liaises and negotiates with existing and potential customers, community groups, community leaders and official representatives.
• Keeps abreast of relevant legislation and makes suggestions to the Head (Electricity) regarding appropriate amendments to and/ or deletion of Bylaws.
• Keeps abreast of relevant technologies and introduces changes, as appropriate.
• Assists the Head (Electricity) in formulating strategic direction for the Unit.
• Reports to the Head (Electricity) on performance in terms of agreed objectives, plans and budgets.

Competencies:
Planning- The ability to systematically identify, analyse and prioritise options to meet the short, medium and long term requirements of the municipality.
Organisational Awareness- To understand the key drivers in the Local Government sector and the municipality in order to apply this understanding to meet the service delivery challenges.
Attention to Detail- Ability to scrutinise own work and that of others to ensure accuracy and compliance with the relevant engineering standards.
Design- Ability to scrutinise own work and that of others to ensure accuracy and compliance with the relevant engineering standards.
Operation and Maintenance- The application of asset management for the operations and maintenance in the provision of municipal services and the ability to apply that understanding in the operational environment.
Service Delivery Orientation- The ability to explore and implement new ways to delivering services that contribute to the improvement of municipal processes to achieve municipal goals.
Action and Outcome Orientation- The display of high work ethic in setting and achieving challenging goals, meeting deadlines and keeping promises. It manifests itself in one’s ability to stay focused on task to be energetic, persistent and reliable.
Strategic Direction and Leadership- Provide and direct a vision for the institution, and inspire and deploy others to deliver on the strategic institutional mandate.
People Management- Effectively manage, inspire and encourage people, respect diversity, optimise talent and build and nurture relationships in order to achieve institutional objectives.
Program and Project Management- Able to understand program and project management methodology; plan, manage, monitor and evaluate specific activities in order to deliver onset objectives.
Financial Management- Able to direct and initiate institutional transformation on all levels in order to successfully drive and implement new initiatives and deliver professional and quality services to the community.
Governance Management- Able to promote, direct and apply professionalism in managing risk and compliance requirements and apply a thorough understanding of governance practices and obligations. Further, able to direct the conceptualisation of relevant.

Essential Requirements    

• Registration as a Professional Engineer (Electrical) with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
• Must be in possession of the Electrical Engineer’s Certificate of Competency (Commonly referred to as the Government Competency Certificate).
• Valid motor vehicle driving license.
• 7 Years engineering management experience in the electricity industry or a related field of electrical engineering of which at least 2 years must be at a senior management level.

Preferred Requirements    

• Master’s in Business Management or Master’s in Business leadership degree or alternative suitable management qualification. (NQF 8).
• 10 years engineering management experience in the electricity transmission or distribution industry.