Project Management Specialist

Overall Purpose of the Job

• To manage the SACAA Project Management Office, develop and implement Project/Programme Management methodologies, strategies and deliverables to manage multiple simultaneous projects/programmes throughout their lifecycle.

Project / Programme Management

• Implement and maintain the project management methodology
• Facilitate / draft / define project requirements in consultation with and for approval of the client
• Contribute to project / program business cases ensuring they are designed to reduce cost, lower TCO and ensure functional fit.
• Facilitate development and approval of project plans considering interdependencies and requirements across affected functional areas
• Determine and Implement project schedules, milestones, deliverables and tasks, ensuring that projects are outcomes / results focussed.
• Manage the delegation and availability of adequate and capable resources to deliver industry best practice projects.
• Attend and chair regular program / project meetings / working group meetings as required, implementing specific aspects of the project plan delivery and track progress.
• Manage implementation of project plans to track and achieve desired scope within time, cost, quality and safety constraints.
• Perform regular (monthly, quarterly, annual) reporting on project statuses to Executive Corporate Service.

Governance & Compliance

• Facilitate and ensure implementation of projects in adherence to approved project management, quality, safety, environmental and risk management policies and procedures.
• Manage, monitor and mitigate project risks through the SACAA Enterprise Risk Management methodology
• Ensure project adherence to statutory requirements and practice good corporate governance

Financial Management

• Develop detailed project budget and forecast cash flows / milestones from approved budget
• Monitor, review and approve project costs and variations thereto
• Develop risk profiles around costing and mitigation strategies to manage slippage

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Prepare and implement regular reporting mechanisms that are linked to on time, on budget delivery and address any slippage issues
• Conduct on-going KPI tracking, analysis, relevance and review
• Implement PM framework for direct reports and contribute to performance reviews for specialist resources
• Contribute to establishing the weightings of KPI's to reflect strategic focus/intent and suggest changes over the lifecycle to steer the project accordingly
• Provide advice to the Executive Team in relation to risks and interdependencies in relation to projects.

Change Management & Communication Management

• Facilitate and implement project specific communication strategy/plan
• Liaise with communication department to ensure overall consistency of approach and identify key requirements for inclusion in project communication plan
• Manage and respond to information requests from the client in relation to the project
• Contribute to the development of a project specific change management plan
• Create and approves business papers for meetings overseeing project delivery

Contract Management

• Contributes to tender assessment and participating on tender evaluation committee if required.
• Assist in the preparation of tender and contract documents
• Contribute to procurement requirements through consultation with the procurement directorate.
• Facilitate review and approval of Contractor SLA's to meet all contract requirements and manage resolution of contractual disputes
• Review and recommend actions for and approve proposed variations to contracts.
• Ensure SACAA meets all project related contractual obligations

Stakeholder Management

• Management of key project stakeholders (internal & external), interdependencies, risks, variations and issues for successful project delivery providing high level advice and assistance where required.
• Proactively ensure that client concerns are resolved, and expectations met by fostering strong working relationships.
• Liaises with internal departments to ensure the integration of all key elements of projects
• Shares lessons learnt and best practice with project stakeholders as part of a peer review group.
• Creates a respectful partnering approach to relationship management

Talent Management

• Provide clarity of work expectations for staff around all projects and project element linkages to programs
• Provide clear communication and encourage information sharing across project teams to work to consolidated goals of overall program delivery
• Coach and mentor staff in relation to working as part of a team
• Manage staff, contractors and consultants within the project to ensure timely, effective and efficient performance of activities
• Negotiate development plans for direct reports by identifying capability gaps and developing strategies to close the gaps.

Minimum Qualifications:

• National Diploma in Project or Programme Management or other relevant NQF level 6 qualification

Ideal Qualifications:

• Degree in Project/Programme Management or other relevant qualification at the NQF level 7.

Experience:

• 5 years Project/Programme Management of diverse and complex multi-million-rand interdependent projects
• Aviation experience would be an added advantage

Closing Date: 30 December 2025

All SACAA appointments are subject to S98 of the Civil Aviation Act, 13 of 2009 and all successful candidates will be subjected to security vetting. Employment Equity candidates will be prioritised in line with Employment Equity Plan. If you have not heard from the SACAA 90 days after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.