Executive Director: Urban Waste Management

City of Cape Town; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 2,228,000 - 3,014,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cape Town seeks an exceptional, visionary Executive Director: Urban Waste Management to lead a critical municipal service and drive sustainable, customer‑focused waste management across the City. You will provide strategic direction, foster collaboration, and deliver a high‑quality service to residents.

The successful candidate will steer governance, stakeholder engagement and organisational transformation, ensuring MFMA compliance and the timely delivery of multi‑year capital programmes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a postgraduate qualification in business/finance.
• Evidence of senior/executive management experience and multi-year capital projects.
• Strong leadership, governance and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to Urban Waste Management.
• Ensure delivery of a customer-centric, sustainable waste service compliant with legislation.
• Drive organisational transformation and performance across a complex municipal environment.
• Oversee budgeting, risk management and multi-year capital investment programmes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Financial management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, logistics, environmental management or natural science

Postgraduate qualification (NQF level 7) in business or finance

Job description

URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT

TCOE SALARY COMMENCING FROM R2 621124 PER ANNUM

APPOINTMENT: PERMANENT POSITION

REF NO: UWM 50/26 CIVIC CENTRE, CAPE TOWN

THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN IS SOUTHERN AFRICA’S MOST DYNAMIC METROPOLIS AND WORLD FAVOURITE TOURIST DESTINATION. RATED AMONGST THE TOP CITIES IN THE WORLD, IT CALLS FOR WORLD-CLASS LEADERSHIP WITH A LOCAL FOCUS.

The City of Cape Town is seeking an exceptional, visionary and results-driven leader to fill the position of Executive Director: Urban Waste Management. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and direction to the Urban Waste Management Directorate, ensuring the delivery of a customer-centric, sustainable and legislatively compliant waste management service across the City.

Purpose/strategic intent: To ensure a dedicated focus on one of the core service delivery mandates of the municipality, with an emphasis on utility modernisation and reform for the purpose of delivering a sustainable and resilient waste management service that delivers an improved quality of life for all residents.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, logistics, environmental management, natural science, or an equivalent qualificationA postgraduate qualification at an NQF level 7 in business or finance or equivalent degreeAt least five (5) years’ experience at a senior/executive managerial level, including managing a large and diverse workforce, implementing multi-year capital investment portfolios and promoting a culture of continuous business improvement and accountabilityProven experience in strategic leadership, governance, stakeholder management, organisational transformation, large-scale service delivery in highly complex environments, and enabling turnaround of the service and moving it from a technical department to a functional trading serviceAt least ten (10) years’ experience in waste management will be an added advantageAdvanced knowledge of:Relevant policy and legislationGovernment systems, intergovernmental relations and performance managementExcellent budgetary, financial management and risk management skillsExcellent communication, advocacy and relationship building skillsHigh leadership competency with an innovative, influential and collaborative approachPossession of the MFMA Minimum Competency or will be expected to achieve such within 18 months after appointmentIf you have a proven record of performance excellence in this context and in the key performance areas as listed above, a highly competitive remuneration package and an exciting career challenge of a lifetime awaits you.

Failure to comply with stated requirements or non-submission of required information/documentation will result in the disqualification of your application.

By submitting your application for a position at the City of Cape Town, you consent to the use of your personal information provided as part of your application and/or recruitment process for recruitment and selection purposes.

In addition, you may be required to undergo, including but not limited to, criminal and security checks, personal verification, and lifestyle audits throughout your recruitment process and/or subsequent employment. Successful applicants will also be required to enter into a formal employment contract with the City, sign a performance agreement to ensure accountability and alignment with organizational objectives, and complete a disclosure of financial interests in accordance with applicable governance and compliance requirements.

For any enquiries or further information regarding the application process, you may also contact Thandile Mahobe at [e-mail]

Closing date: 11 October 2026