Government Ticket Engineer with General Management Skills

  • Durban, South Africa
  • Full-Time
  • On-Site
Apply now Refer
Job Description:

JOB SPECIFICATION

GENERAL MANAGER / GMR 2.1 APPOINTEE – ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & UTILITIES

Location: New Germany Industrial Park (KZN)
Reporting to: Group COO / Operations Executive
Entity:  Group Utilities & Energy Division

1. Role Overview

A new utilities and renewable energy capability is being established within the group, with the objective of becoming an electricity generator, supplier, and user within South Africa's evolving energy landscape.

This role sits at the centre of that strategy.

The successful candidate will:

  • Fulfil the statutory function of GMR 2.1 Appointee
  • Take ownership of electrical infrastructure and compliance
  • Lead the development of a scalable utilities and energy function

This is not a maintenance role.
This is a build, lead, and scale role.

2. Core Mandate

  • Assume full legal responsibility as GMR 2.1 Appointee
  • Lead site operations, compliance, and engineering governance
  • Build and manage technical and operational teams
  • Drive execution of:
    • Electrical infrastructure optimisation
    • Renewable energy initiatives (generation, supply, integration)
  • Engage with:
    • Municipalities
    • Government bodies
    • Energy providers (including Eskom)
  • Contribute to strategic growth and expansion of the utilities function

3. Key Responsibilities

3.1 Legal Compliance & Statutory Accountability

  • Formal appointment in terms of:
    • Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993)
    • General Machinery Regulations
  • Full accountability for:
    • Machinery safety
    • Electrical infrastructure compliance
    • Inspection, testing, and maintenance oversight
  • Maintain statutory registers, logs, and compliance documentation

3.2 Electrical Infrastructure Leadership

  • Oversee:
    • Medium voltage (MV) intake systems
    • Transformers and substations
    • Park-wide distribution infrastructure
  • Approve and control:
    • Switching procedures
    • Maintenance and repairs
    • System upgrades and expansions
  • Ensure infrastructure operates within safe and efficient load parameters

3.3 Contractor & Consultant Transition

  • Take control of all external service providers
  • Oversee and approve work performed by:
    • Electrical consultants
    • High-voltage contractors
  • Develop and implement a transition strategy to internal capability, reducing reliance on external parties over time

3.4 Maintenance, Inspection & Risk Management

  • Develop and implement:
    • Preventative maintenance programmes
    • Inspection and compliance schedules
  • Conduct regular risk assessments
  • Identify and mitigate risks relating to:
    • Electrical failure
    • Fire hazards
    • Infrastructure degradation
  • Lead incident investigations and corrective actions

3.5 Tenant Interface & Infrastructure Protection

  • Establish and enforce electrical compliance standards across tenants
  • Review and approve tenant installations
  • Ensure tenant activities do not compromise infrastructure integrity

3.6 Commercial & Operational Leadership

  • Manage infrastructure with strong commercial awareness:
    • Budget control
    • Cost optimisation
    • Resource allocation
  • Evaluate:
    • Outsourced vs in-house capabilities
  • Contribute to group utilities and energy strategy

3.7 Governance & Reporting

  • Provide reporting on:
    • Compliance status
    • Infrastructure performance
    • Risk exposure
  • Act as the single point of accountability for electrical compliance
  • Support audits, insurers, and regulatory engagements

4. Minimum Requirements

  • BSc / BEng Electrical Engineering (Heavy Current preferred)
  • Government Certificate of Competency (GCC – Factories)
  • ECSA registration (advantageous)
  • Legally competent in terms of General Machinery Regulations

5. Experience Profile

Minimum 5–10 years' experience, including:

  • Medium and high voltage systems
  • Substations and distribution infrastructure
  • Industrial or multi-site environments
  • OHS Act compliance and statutory responsibility

Advantageous:

  • Renewable energy / power generation exposure
  • Experience with municipalities or national utilities
  • Contractor and consultant management
  • Budgeting and cost control

6. What This Role Demands 

  • Proven management track record (not just technical ability)
  • Ability to operate at:
    • Hands-on level
    • Strategic / executive level
  • Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information
  • Ability to navigate government and regulatory environments
  • High ownership mindset — self-driven, not reactive

7. What Sets the Right Candidate Apart

  • Exposure to:
    • Renewable energy systems
    • Grid integration and power supply dynamics
  • Experience engaging with:
    • Municipal power authorities
    • Regulatory bodies
  • Ability to:
    • Build teams, systems, and processes from scratch
    • Apply commercial thinking to engineering decisions

8. Why This Role Is Different

  • You are not inheriting a structure — you are building one
  • You will directly influence strategy and execution
  • The role combines:
    • Legal accountability
    • Operational leadership
    • Strategic growth
  • The upside is linked to performance and execution capability

9. Employment Structure

  • Full-time appointment
  • Formal GMR 2.1 designation

Note: Legal accountability remains with the appointee

10. Remuneration

  • Market-related, aligned to experience and registration level
  • Structured to attract high-calibre GCC professionals
  • Additional upside linked to role impact and business growth