MANDELA BAY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (MBDA)

6 Month’s Fixed Term Contract 

Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants for the following position: 

OPERATIONS ADVISOR 

REF. No (HR/MBDA/2026/08/17) 

TASK GRADE 16 

Purpose of the position: 

Reporting to the Executive Operations Manager, the Operations Advisor is responsible for the planning, development, procurement, execution and handover of the MBDA's capital-project portfolio, in accordance with approved strategy, budgets, governance requirements and delivery schedules. The incumbent drives the end-to-end delivery of complex capital projects, from investment planning and feasibility through to construction oversight, commercialisation and post-project evaluation. 

Key Performance Areas of the role: 

1.   Capital Investment Planning and Project Identification. 

·       Develop and maintain MBDA's multi-year capital-project pipeline aligned to the City Development Strategy, IDP, SDF and MBDA mandate, including active participation in a capital projects Advisory Panel. 

·       Identify urban-development opportunities and convert them into viable projects. 

2.   Feasibility Assessment and Business Case Development. 

·       Ensure technical, financial, economic, environmental, legal, social, commercial and political feasibility. 

·       Prepare investment-grade business cases for Board, municipal and funding approval. 

3.   Project Prioritisation and Funding Strategy. 

·       Develop transparent criteria for ranking projects according to impact, readiness, funding, risk and strategic alignment. 

·       Develop project funding strategies involving municipal, provincial, national, donor, private-sector and other funding sources. 

4.   Design, Procurement and Construction Management. 

·       Manage professional teams responsible for architectural, engineering, planning and specialist design. 

·       Ensure compliant procurement of professional services, contractors and other project resources. 

·       Oversee construction delivery, programme, cost, quality, health and safety and contractor performance. 

5.   Project Controls and Stakeholder Management. 

·       Establish rigorous cost, programme, risk, change-control and reporting systems. 

·       Coordinate the Municipality, communities, political structures, utilities, authorities, investors and other stakeholders. 

6.   Land, Property and Commercialisation. 

·       Integrate land assembly, property transactions, development rights and property economics into projects. 

·       Ensure appropriate projects have sustainable operating, leasing, investment or revenue-generation models. 

7.     Project Handover and Post-Project Evaluation. 

·       Ensure completed projects are commissioned, legally compliant, operationally ready and properly handed over. 

·       Measure whether projects achieved their intended economic, social and urban-development outcomes. 

Minimum Requirements: 

1. Bachelor's degree in Architecture/Construction Management/Town or Urban Planning/Property Development (Project Management). 

2. A minimum of 15 years’ demonstrated experience in the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of complex capital projects, preferably including urban regeneration, public buildings, precinct development, infrastructure, mixed-use development or property-led development, with individual projects and/or programmes of significant financial value 

3. Experience in a municipal entity, development agency, public-sector infrastructure environment or property-development organisation. 

4. Experience with public-sector procurement and governance. 

5. Experience with PPP (private-sector participation) and blended project finance.

Note: CVs submitted must clearly demonstrate project management experience within multi-disciplinary teams spanning engineering, architecture, urban planning, quantity surveying, and market research. 

Applicants to note: 

Appointment to the post is subject to a full declaration of any matters that would have a bearing in the appointment. Shortlisted candidates will also be subjected to various probity checks and verifications including, qualification verification, criminal records, credit checks, and references from previous employment. 

Applications with detailed curriculum vitae, certified qualifications, and relevant references can be submitted via www.mbdajobs.co.za. 

CLOSING DATE: 21 AUGUST 2026 @ 16H30 

Should you not receive correspondence from the entity within 60 days of this advertisement, please consider your application as unsuccessful. 

The MBDA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998). Previously disadvantaged individuals and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For further information, visit www.mbda.co.za.