Head of Transportation (Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Roads and Highways & Transport Planning)

GIBB; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in South Africa is seeking an experienced Head of Transportation to lead their Transportation division, covering Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Roads, and Transport Planning. The role requires a strategic thinker with strong technical skills and a track record in business development. Responsibilities include managing complex transportation projects, driving client engagement, and ensuring compliance with engineering standards. This position offers an opportunity to significantly impact transportation infrastructure across Southern Africa and beyond.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading multi‑modal transportation projects.
• Proven track record in business growth and client engagement.
• Strong technical foundation in transportation engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage transportation projects from advisory to implementation.
• Develop strategic plans for transportation infrastructure.
• Drive business growth and manage client relationships.
• Oversee technical teams ensuring project delivery excellence.
• Manage budgets and resources for international projects.

Skills

Business development

Client relationship management

Project management

Strategic thinking

Technical knowledge in transportation

Education

Relevant postgraduate degree

Job description

GIBB’s Roads and Highways Services Delivery Unit provides a comprehensive range of services that include traditional consulting services (design, procurement and contract supervision), Public Private Partnership (PPP) solutions and asset management services. This includes high‑capacity freeways, interchanges and bridges, airport pavements, rural roads (including low volume and haul roads) and municipal infrastructure. The team is supported by transportation and traffic engineers, geotechnical and material engineers, and other specialists.

This Sector is looking for a talented professional to complement their team as Head of Transportation (Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Roads and Highways & Transport Planning).

We welcome your application if you meet the requirements, listed below, for this position.

The below listed responsibilities and requirements is assessed during the interview stages and will further be confirmed with the relevant professional references that you currently are or have reported to in your previously two positions.

Core Purpose

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to head our Transportation division, encompassing Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Roads and Highways, and the broader Transport Planning sector. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong technical foundation and exceptional business development skills to drive advisory services through to on‑site implementation across international and African projects.

This role embodies the Seller-Doer modality. The successful candidate will not only cultivate client relationships and identify growth opportunities but also lead the delivery of complex transportation projects. By bridging advisory and implementation, this individual ensures solutions are both commercially viable and technically sound, driving sustainable value for clients and the organisation. The individual will design a robust transport growth strategy whilst being supported by an effective technical team and cover the geographies within SADC, including additional geographies in East and West Africa. It is the intention that the portfolio will grow in breadth of services whilst growing the depth of the team’s capability.

Key Performance Areas

• Lead and manage multi‑modal transportation projects from advisory through implementation
• Develop and execute strategic plans for transportation infrastructure across diverse geographies
• Drive business growth through client engagement, relationship management, and solution selling
• Oversee technical teams ensuring compliance with engineering standards and project delivery excellence
• Provide thought leadership on transportation trends, sustainability, and innovation
• Manage budgets, timelines, and resources for large‑scale international projects