Program Manager: Infrastructure Projects (P08)

Purpose

The Infrastructure Projects Programme Manager provides strategic programme management, commercial oversight, governance, and executive support to the Director: Infrastructure Projects. The role ensures that the infrastructure portfolio is effectively planned, coordinated, monitored, and controlled from a programme, financial, procurement, and contractual perspective.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (NQF7) in Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture or any relevant field
• At least five (5) years’ experience in infrastructure project delivery.
• Experience managing complex capital programmes.
• Strong experience in construction contracts, cost management, procurement, and commercial administration.
• Experience in higher education, government, or large institutional infrastructure environments advantageous.

Recommended Requirements

• Professional registration with SACPCMP, SACQSP, ECSA, SACAP or equivalent.
• Postgraduate qualification in project management, infrastructure management, or business administration
• Driver’s license
• Willingness to work outside normal working hours

Duties

1. Infrastructure Programme Management* Develop and maintain an integrated infrastructure programme management framework.

• Consolidate information from Senior Project Managers to provide the Director with a complete portfolio view.
• Monitor:
  • Project progress
  • Milestones
  • Expenditure
  • Procurement status
  • Contract performance
• Risks and constraints
• Identify programme-level challenges requiring executive intervention.
• Support the Director in strategic infrastructure planning and prioritisation

2. Infrastructure Financial Management and Cost Control

• Provide programme-level financial oversight of infrastructure projects.
• Work closely with the Quantity Surveyor to monitor:
  • Project budgets
  • Cost reports
  • Forecast final costs
  • Cash flows
  • Expenditure trends
  • Budget deviations
• Review of financial implications that include:
  • Variations
  • Extension of time claims
  • Compensation events
  • Scope changes
  • Contract amendments
• Provide early warnings to the Director on potential cost overruns.

3. Monitor: Contract Management and Commercial Oversight

• Maintain strong knowledge of construction contracts, including JBCC, NEC, and other relevant infrastructure contracts.
• Provide programme-level oversight of contract administration.
• Monitor:
  • Contract compliance
  • Contractor performance
  • Payment processes
  • Claims
  • Variations
  • Dispute risks
• Work with Senior Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors to ensure contractual matters are properly managed.
• Ensure that contractual decisions are supported by appropriate commercial analysis

4. Variations and Change Management

• Establish a governance process for managing variations and scope changes.
• Review variation submissions and ensure:
• Proper motivation exists
• Financial impact is understood
• Budget availability is confirmed
• Approval processes are followed
• Track cumulative project changes and their impact on programme budgets.
• Report significant variations to the Director.

5. Supply Chain Management and Procurement Coordination

• Work closely with Supply Chain Management to ensure procurement supports infrastructure delivery objectives.
• Monitor procurement plans for:
• Professional teams
• Contractors
• Specialist consultants
• Infrastructure-related services
• Ensure procurement timelines align with project implementation schedules.
• Provide input into infrastructure procurement strategies.
• Monitor procurement risks affecting project delivery

6. Collaboration with Quantity Surveyor

• Reviewing cost plans and project budgets.
• Monitoring project affordability.
• Analysing financial impacts of design changes.
• Reviewing contractor payments and financial progress.
• Supporting value engineering initiatives.
• Ensuring alignment between programme objectives and cost management.
• (The Quantity Surveyor remains professionally accountable for quantity surveying functions and reports independently to the Director.)

7. Executive Reporting and Governance

• Prepare high-level infrastructure reports for:
  • Director
  • Executive committees
  • Governance structures
• Provide analysis on:
  • Financial performance
  • Project delivery status
  • Contract risks
  • Procurement challenges
  • Strategic decisions required
• Maintain programme dashboards and management information systems.

8. Infrastructure Projects Office Management

• Manage and develop the Infrastructure Projects Officer.
• Maintain programme records, systems, and reporting processes.
• Coordinate programme meetings and reporting cycles.
• Ensure effective document control and information management

Enquiries can be made via email at spurecruit@spu.ac.za

Assumption of duties: As mutually agreed to upon acceptance of the appointment. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment

Women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Note: Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is dedicated to meeting its Employment Equity targets.