Job Description
- The Partner-A-District (PAD) Programme operationalises the Bank’s municipal strategy, focusing on transforming the M2/M3 municipal segment through an integrated, programmatic, and partnership-driven approach. It positions districts as strategic entry points for the DBSA to elevate the development impact in alignment with government policies and the District Development Model (DDM). The Programme Manager leads and coordinates the implementation of multiple projects in the PAD programme to advance the Bank’s strategic objectives. The role collaborates with municipalities, government departments, the public and private sector, manages resources, partnerships, and cross-functional teams, to deliver sustainable development outcomes in local government.
Key Responsibilities
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
Programme Planning and Initiation
- Develop the implementation plan for the Partner-A-District (PAD) programme, aligned with approved objectives, partnership framework, and district approach.
- Manage the PAD oversight, facilities, logistics, and resourcing to ensure effective execution of the programme deliverables.
- Develop the execution plan for a portfolio of complex programmes and initiatives that span one or multiple areas of implementation that directly support the achievement of programme strategic objectives.
- Identify programme risks, challenges and interdependencies, and implement mitigating measures to prevent programme delays by actively engaging and managing various stakeholders, consultants, and vendors.
- Prioritise projects and allocate resources to ensure that outputs are aligned with the agreed targets.
- Define the programme scope, success criteria, governance structures, multi-year schedule, and budget forecasts.
- Provide quality assurance and ensure that the overall integrity of the programme is in line with the technical and specialist standards.
- Map key programme dependencies and interfaces between projects to ensure cohesive implementation and collaboration.
- Manage the programme in line with the overarching policies, frameworks, and master plans in the Local Government structures.
- Undertake implementation due diligence by reviewing and taking corrective actions on project implementation in compliance with statutory regulations and fulfilment of contractual conditions (by appointed contractors), and timely site handover by municipalities.
- Procure adequate resources to achieve programme objectives on time and manage procurement by preparing specifications and documentation to source external professional service providers.
- Facilitate the procurement process by developing specifications and relevant documentation for the procurement of required external professional services providers.
- Ensure compliance with the project Environmental Approval (EA) conditions and promote a culture of proactive health and safety across project environments.
Programme Management Functions
Origination/ Business Development
- Lead the execution of the origination strategy in the municipal sector to drive infrastructure investment.
- Identify market opportunities through comprehensive sector analysis, including market structure, demand and supply dynamics, competition, and gap assessment.
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of high-quality, bankable investment opportunities through proactive business development and sector expertise.
- Identify and originate viable projects by facilitating preparation, scoping, feasibility studies, and business case development to close deals.
- Develop business cases/ plans for multi-dimensional projects using standard or customised frameworks.
- Originate non-financing initiatives to enhance development impact and strengthen municipal governance and institutional capacity.
- Assess project and programme feasibility by evaluating resource, financing, and capacity requirements.
Project Control on Cost, Time, and Quality.
- Provide a comprehensive view of all projects underway with reference to cost across the Programme.
- Consolidate expenditure progress into meaningful Portfolio/ Programme Key Performance Indicators.
- Implement project costing and cost control policy, practices, procedures, and systems for the Programme.
- Coordinate, prepare, and validate the cash flow requirements for submission to the applicable committees.
- Plan, align, coordinate, control, and implement changes to the approved rolling plans.
- Implement and maintain appropriate systems for the best Project Management cost support.
- Transfer all programmes/projects that are completed efficiently to operations and conduct post-transfer reviews promptly.
- Review and assess project claims and accounts from service providers, preparing instructions to pay and follow up on the process of DBSA disbursement to municipalities.
Project Planning
- Provide the business with a view of all projects underway with reference to time across the programme.
- Consolidate time-related progress into meaningful asset creation Key Performance Indicators.
- Implement project planning and scheduling control policy, practice, procedures, and system for the Programme.
- Provide inputs during the feasibility and business case stages for projects in the programme.
- Provide professional resources, through a matrix structure, to projects within the programme.
Project Communication and Reporting
- Provide status reports on programme milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks, and issues to leadership and key stakeholders.
- Implement project administration policy, practices, procedures, and system.
- Maintain a documentation management system.
- Create a central repository for accessing all project information.
- Implement a resource balancing system.
- Compile programme management reports and submit to relevant stakeholders.
Project Contract Management
- Manage issues, risks, and change requests to ensure successful, on-time programme delivery.
- Implement contract management policy, practices, procedures, and system.
- Assist in determining the appropriate execution and contract strategies in relation to known facts of the project and the maturity level of the projects in the Programme ensuring minimum risks to the programme.
- Ensure implementation of safety, health, and environmental standards by contractors in compliance with the requirements and guidelines of the Development Bank of South Africa.
- Keep contractors fully informed of all changes or modifications to requirements regarding contracting, both legislative and those of the Development Bank of South Africa.
- Follow up and ensure the resolution of contractual breaches / non-compliance.
- Manage and expedite the procurement of all operating and maintenance manuals as well as all warranties and guarantees.
Project Management
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive database to capture project/ programme information, and a strong data collection capability (from internal and external sources), to enable robust data analysis and reporting.
- Implement project management principles to ensure repeatable and consistent delivery of projects.
- Implement a suitable methodology and process to achieve the required level of project management maturity.
- Ensure that programme execution staff have the necessary certification where applicable.
Stakeholder Management
- Build and manage relationships at various levels with the project stakeholders, partners in accordance with the project’s development objectives and stakeholder relations and communication strategy.
- Establish and maintain strategic partnerships, networks, and alliances aimed at enhancing the Bank’s development support role.
Key Measurements of Outputs:
Successful execution of agreed strategic projects, programmes and assigned work amongst others, including
- Percentage of performance targets met as per the PAD execution plan.
- Quality of delivery of projects
- Appropriate facilities and logistics are in place for the PAD programme.
- Successful oversight and management of PAD and PMU deliverables across provinces, districts, and municipalities.
- Ensure stakeholder and partner satisfaction on agreed initiatives, projects and programmes.
- Quality of presentations and reports.
- Achieve a clean audit for district spaces in partnership.
INTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (The list is not exhaustive):
- Transacting, Origination, IDD, Programmes, Project Preparation, Risk, Treasury, Finance, SCM
- Executive Management and Unit Heads
- DBSA Committees and Board, e.g., Deal Screen, Investment Committees, IDKC, BCIC, etc.
EXTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (The list is not exhaustive):
- Director General: CoGTA
- Minister: CoGTA
- External Stakeholders and Service Providers
- Municipalities
- National/Local Government / Provinces
- Gov. Departments (Treasury, DWS, DEE, etc.)
- SALGA
Expertise & Technical Competencies
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Project Management/ Business Management/ Built Environment (Civil, Development Planning, Construction Management, or Quantity Surveying).
- Registration as a Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 10 years’ demonstrated work experience as a Programme Manager or similar role.
- A minimum of 5 years’ post-accreditation experience in a similar job function at a programme.
- Advanced technical experience with Project Management tools such as Microsoft Project and Planner
- Strong understanding government planning cycle and processes.
- Demonstrable track record of working with high-level government stakeholders.
- Good understanding of the PFMA, MFMA, and PPPFA.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the complex regulatory environments of municipalities/metros, state-owned enterprises, and other government entities in South Africa.
- Proven ability to put yourself in the client’s shoes and understand the motivations that underlie behaviours of interest.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex strategic initiatives and projects to successful execution.
- Supply Chain Management and Processes.
Desirable Requirements
- A relevant postgraduate qualification: Postgraduate qualification in Engineering/ Project Management/Business Management or a Master’s degree.
- Registration with ECSA (with over 10 years’ experience post ECSA registration).
- Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE), and South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).
- A project management qualification at an NQF Level 6.
Deadline:4th December,2025