Full Job Description:
Head of Infrastructure Development
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is seeking a highly accomplished and visionary leader to fill the pivotal role of Head of Infrastructure Development. This critical position is responsible for spearheading and overseeing all aspects of large-scale infrastructure development projects across the entirety of ARC’s diverse campuses, strategically located throughout the nation. The successful candidate will play a fundamental role in shaping the physical landscape that underpins cutting-edge agricultural research and innovation, ensuring that our facilities are not only state-of-the-art but also sustainable and conducive to world-class scientific endeavors.
Core Responsibilities and Strategic Leadership:
- Strategic Project Lifecycle Management: You will take full ownership of the entire project lifecycle for all strategic infrastructure initiatives, from initial conceptualization and meticulous planning to detailed design, rigorous costing, efficient procurement, seamless construction, and ultimate commissioning. This encompasses everything from new research laboratories and specialized agricultural facilities to administrative buildings and essential campus utilities.
- Ensuring Excellence in Governance and Compliance: A cornerstone of this role is the unwavering commitment to robust project governance. You will be instrumental in establishing and enforcing best practices for project oversight, implementing comprehensive quality assurance protocols at every stage, and guaranteeing strict adherence to all relevant regulatory frameworks, building codes, environmental standards, and safety regulations. This includes navigating complex permitting processes and ensuring full legal compliance.
- Proactive Project Management and Risk Mitigation: The Head of Infrastructure Development will be responsible for developing and meticulously overseeing comprehensive construction schedules, ensuring projects remain on track and within budgetary constraints. A proactive approach to risk management is essential; you will establish and maintain detailed risk registers, identifying potential challenges, developing mitigation strategies, and adapting plans as necessary. Furthermore, you will be accountable for defining and enforcing precise technical specifications for all infrastructure elements and rigorously monitoring contractor performance to ensure superior workmanship and timely delivery.
- Inter-Agency Coordination and Program Alignment: This role demands strong inter-agency collaboration. You will be the primary point of contact for coordinating infrastructure development that is directly linked to critical Department of Agriculture (DoA)-funded strategic programmes. An excellent example of this is the development of facilities for the burgeoning Climate Smart Centre of Excellence, where your leadership will ensure seamless integration of physical infrastructure with programmatic objectives.
- Driving New Capital Investment and Growth: A key strategic function involves leading comprehensive feasibility studies for potential new capital projects. This includes conducting thorough analyses of technical viability, financial implications, and strategic alignment. You will be responsible for developing compelling business cases that articulate the rationale and projected benefits of these investments, and subsequently, crafting persuasive funding proposals to secure the necessary financial resources from various stakeholders and funding bodies.
- Multidisciplinary Team and Stakeholder Management: You will be responsible for building, nurturing, and leading high-performing multidisciplinary project teams, encompassing internal ARC staff from various departments. Additionally, you will expertly manage relationships and deliverables from a diverse array of external professional service providers, including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and specialist consultants, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
- Strategic Campus Development and Optimization: This role extends beyond individual projects to encompass a broader strategic vision for campus development. A significant initiative will be to drive the consolidation and optimization of Pretoria-based research facilities, seeking efficiencies, enhancing collaborative environments, and modernizing existing infrastructure to meet future demands. This will involve complex planning, stakeholder engagement, and strategic execution.
- Enabling Research Excellence and Sustainability: Ultimately, your paramount objective will be to ensure the delivery of world-class infrastructure that directly enables and fosters research excellence across all ARC disciplines. This means creating environments that are conducive to innovative scientific inquiry, equipped with cutting-edge technology, and designed for long-term operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Your decisions will directly impact the ARC’s organizational sustainability and its capacity to deliver on its mandate.
- Comprehensive Reporting and Financial Stewardship: You will be responsible for preparing a wide array of detailed reports, including regular progress reports for senior management and stakeholders, comprehensive technical documentation for all projects, and in-depth project financial analyses to track expenditures, forecast costs, and ensure fiscal responsibility. This requires strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Budgetary Oversight and Financial Acumen: The Head of Infrastructure Development will be directly responsible for developing, implementing, and rigorously managing both Operational Expenditure (Opex) and Capital Expenditure (Capex) budgets for all infrastructure-related activities. This involves strategic financial planning, cost control, and effective resource allocation to maximize value for money.
- Performance Management and Service Delivery: You will oversee staff performance management within your department, setting clear objectives, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Additionally, you will be instrumental in establishing and upholding stringent service delivery standards for all infrastructure-related services, ensuring timely and effective support for ARC’s operations.
- Strategic Reporting and Communication: Beyond project-specific reports, you will prepare comprehensive technical, operational, and financial reports for various internal and external audiences, effectively communicating the progress, challenges, and achievements of the infrastructure development portfolio.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Educational Foundation: A minimum NQF-Level 7 qualification is essential, typically a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Facilities Management, Property Management, Civil or Structural Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a closely related discipline. This foundational knowledge is crucial for navigating the technical complexities of infrastructure development.
- Professional Registration (Advantageous): While not strictly mandatory, professional registration with a recognized statutory body is highly advantageous and will significantly strengthen an application. This includes registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), South African Council for Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP), South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), or the Project Management Institute (PMI). Such registrations demonstrate a commitment to professional standards and ethical practice.
- Extensive Leadership Experience: Candidates must possess a proven track record of significant leadership experience, with a minimum of 6-8 years in a demanding middle management role focused on infrastructure or large-scale project management. Alternatively, candidates with at least 3 years of experience at a senior management level, demonstrating strategic oversight and executive decision-making capabilities, are strongly encouraged to apply. This experience should ideally be within a complex organizational structure, managing multiple concurrent projects.
Enquiries and Application Process:
For any specific queries regarding this exciting opportunity, please direct your correspondence to Dr. Tebogo Sethibe at arcrecruitment@arc.agric.za.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 09 JANUARY 2026
Remuneration:
The Agricultural Research Council offers a highly competitive remuneration package that will be carefully structured to be congruent with the extensive scope, significant responsibilities, and the strategic stature of this crucial position within the organization. This package will reflect the importance of attracting a top-tier professional capable of driving the ARC’s infrastructure vision forward.
Prospective candidates for this position will undergo a rigorous selection process, commencing with a mandatory positive security clearance to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness required for roles within the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Following this initial vetting, applicants will be comprehensively evaluated through a series of competency and leadership assessments designed to identify individuals possessing the precise skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit essential for success within our dynamic research environment. Furthermore, in alignment with the ARC’s unwavering commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and in strict adherence to the provisions outlined in our comprehensive ARC Employment Equity Plan, preferential consideration will be extended to designated groups. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals with disabilities, ensuring that our workforce truly reflects the rich tapestry of South African society and that opportunities are equitably distributed.
Successful applicants will be offered permanent appointments, subject to a six (6) month probationary period. This period serves as a mutual assessment phase, allowing both the new appointee and the ARC to confirm suitability and ensure a seamless integration into our organizational culture and operational demands. During this time, comprehensive support and mentorship will be provided to facilitate a successful transition. The Agricultural Research Council proudly operates as an equal opportunity employer, deeply committed to upholding and actively implementing the principles and processes enshrined within the Employment Equity Act. We firmly believe that a diverse workforce, free from discrimination, is fundamental to driving innovation, fostering a rich intellectual environment, and achieving our strategic objectives.
To be considered for this exceptional opportunity, interested applicants are required to submit a comprehensive application package. This package must meticulously include a compelling covering letter that clearly articulates your motivation for applying and highlights your relevant skills and experience. Accompanying this, a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) is essential, providing a thorough overview of your academic qualifications, professional history, and achievements. Crucially, certified copies of all relevant certificates and supporting documents must be attached to verify your qualifications. For roles requiring mobility, a certified copy of your valid driver’s license is also a mandatory inclusion. Furthermore, to facilitate a holistic evaluation of your professional capabilities and character, please provide the contact details of at least three (3) professional referees who can attest to your work ethic, competencies, and suitability for the role. These documents should be meticulously attached to the provided application form, ensuring all sections are accurately completed.
For applicants possessing foreign qualifications, it is imperative that a SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) evaluation report accompanies your application. This report is essential for verifying the equivalency of your international qualifications within the South African educational framework. Please be advised that applications deemed incomplete, lacking any of the aforementioned required documentation or information, will regrettably not be considered for further review. We encourage all applicants to meticulously review their submissions before final submission. Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, applicants who do not receive any official response within four (4) weeks after the stipulated closing date should, unfortunately, regard their applications as unsuccessful. While we endeavor to provide feedback where possible, this timeframe allows us to efficiently manage the selection process. Finally, it is important to note that the company explicitly reserves the right not to appoint any candidate, even if they meet all stated requirements, based on various factors including, but not limited to, strategic organizational needs, unforeseen budgetary constraints, or if no candidate is deemed to be an ideal fit for the specific requirements of the position.
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