AREA ENGINEER ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Kouga Municipality, an equal opportunity employer which subscribes to the principle of affirmative action, awaits applications for the appointment in the following vacancy:

• Relevant NQF level 6 qualification in Electrical Engineering (Heavy current) as a Trade Tested Electrician.
• 4 years relevant experience in local government electrical networks.
• Code B driving licence.
• Professional registration and Government certificate of Compliance (added advantage).
• Good knowledge of electricity processes in a local government environment.
• Sound knowledge of Electricity policies and procedures; sound report writing and presentation skills.
• Analytical skills.
• Good supervisory skills.
• Good communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to speak, read and write in at least two of the official languages in Kouga Municipality (Afrikaans, English, Xhosa).

R576,670.07 - R748,533.67 per annum (Excluding Vehicle Allowance)

• Evaluating and commenting on the applicability of specific Electrical Engineering key performance indicators and measures against outcomes detailed in the department's Business and Strategic Plans and SDBIP.
• Mapping out specific electrical changes necessary to align with development objectives in accordance with legislative imperatives and managing electrical supply assets and legal matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the Kouga Municipality.
• Aligning electricity systems and procedures to support administrative reporting and monitoring, and developing guidelines to clarify functional requirements.
• Presenting a conceptual framework of current and future electricity interventions required for consideration and inclusion into the department's short/long term performance and service delivery plans.
• Analyzing trends, operating requirements and forward plans to determine funding/expenditure for the period.
• Evaluating the section's performance against budget and addressing deviations/variances with appropriate personnel.
• Monitoring and implementing corrective measures to rectify deviations contrary to financial regulations, audit requirements and departmental procedure.
• Planning - by providing improved information into the IDP process on current levels of service, risks and future demand, costing strategic options with tariff implications, and coordinating programs.
• Performance Management - by determining more effective and holistic criteria and measures for service delivery, and applying these consistently to monitoring, reporting, and risk management.
• Risk Management - by introducing a focus on assessing service delivery risk at network and asset level, and identifying appropriate responses.
• Financial Management - by determining budget needs based on defined levels of service now and in the future, assessing long term affordability to the municipality, identifying tariff implications, and establishing realistic valuation of the infrastructure assets.
• Capacity Building - by crafting prioritized interventions to steadily improve asset management practice.
• Monitoring attendance, conduct and output and addressing deviations from agreed performance indicators through meetings, counselling and/or other approved methods designed to improve and motivate personnel.
• Conducting quarterly evaluation of staff through individual performance appraisals.
• Establishing the adequacy and availability of personnel against agreed outcomes and motivating the immediate superior for additional resources.
• Keeping staff informed of new developments, legislation, circulars and policies.
• Addressing workplace conflict and conduct through the initiation and coordination of consultative processes and implementation of specific disciplinary procedures.
• Defining skill gaps and training needs and activating procedural sequences aimed at developing and capacitating individuals.
• Being responsible for administration, project and financial management of INEP funded projects and any other capital projects identified and prioritised by the Council.
• Coordinating project identification and prioritisation process ensuring proper integration of the respective Infrastructure Investment Framework (IIF) and Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and SDBIP, and updating annually.
• Aligning projects with municipal IDP as per the demands identified and prioritised by the Council.
• Preparing business plans to seek and source funding for the delivery of electrical infrastructure projects.
• Preparing capital and operating estimates and controlling expenditure against the approved MTEF budget allocations.
• Keeping abreast with technological developments and alternatives in the delivery of services within the electrical engineering industry.
• Prioritising specific projects to achieve targets on electricity provision.
• Aligning proposals to comply with the reconstruction and development requirements and guidelines.
• Guiding the drafting, adjudication and reporting processes with regard to contracts/tenders and verifying details, terms and conditions, specifications, etc. to comply with laid down policies, regulations and procedures.
• Participating in the appointment process and briefing parties (consultants/contractors, etc.) on the terms and scope of such appointments and evaluating, investigating and approving submissions on progress, performance and costs.
• Monitoring contractor performance against agreed terms and conditions through ongoing interaction with site personnel, on site inspections, etc., and alerting the contractor to any acts of non conformance.
• Implementing procedures to administer contracts and the processing of completion certificates and verifying outcomes prior to approving payment certificates.
• Evaluating the adequacy of Council's affirmative procurement policy in providing opportunities to emerging contractors to develop and enhance their skill base and promote employment at a local level.
• Resolving technical conflicts and contractual claims and preparing the necessary reports presenting Council's arguments at arbitration.
• Analyzing customer service to ensure compliance with the Council customer service charter.
• Developing and implementing strategies, procedures and standards to improve electrical network performance and supply to customers.
• Analyzing, interpreting, customer needs/requirements to produce and implement tactical plans to achieve or exceed NERSA licence conditions.
• Analyzing, interpreting and monitoring information systems to ensure adequate knowledge on real time customer service.
• Developing, implementing and keeping updated strategies, procedures, processes and standards to control energy losses within acceptable levels.
• Ensuring accuracy of information sent to the Budget and Expenditure department for electricity billing.
• Ensuring that metering and electricity customer information is accurate, updated and stored in a reliable system (e.g. GIS).
• Ensuring vending system information is kept accurate and updated.
• Verifying that staff involved in the control of energy losses are adequately trained for the tasks they are required to perform.
• Preparing and presenting reports to the audit committee on the progress in the implementation of electricity distribution losses.
• Ensuring continuous improvement of strategies in the reduction of electricity distribution losses by participating in the South African Revenue Protection Association at provincial and national level.
• Preparing investigational and productivity reports referring to statistical data and qualitative information related to service delivery initiatives (electrical) of the Department for the attention of the Manager for consideration and inclusion into Council and Sub Committee reports.
• Controlling budget allocations for specific interventions and/or activities of the Section, accessing system information/reports and making enquiries on deviations to facilitate correction to provisions/allocations and the availability of funds prior to preparing or approving requisitions.
• Maintaining schedules/records of electrical assets and equipment, checking the accuracy of updated information against source documentation and/or audit reports and responses.
• Checking and approving instructional/operational and procedural documentation/forms referring to supporting information from field reports/activity lists and forwarding for processing.
• Maintaining the document and record system, checking conformity to filing and storage sequences with respect to designs, tenders, contracts, project reports and seeking or approving the destruction of obsolete and aged records.
• Compiling investigational reports and/or responses to correspondences and queries, undertaking research or extracting information and records to support content, recommendations and/or opinion.

As per standard conditions of service.