Project Director-Liquid Fuels

Transnet SOC Ltd; oThongathi; On-site; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Transnet Pipelines in South Africa seeks a Project Director to drive scoping and development of a mega programme within the fuels segment, aligning with the Transnet Group fuel strategy and delivering critical studies.

This role oversees scope, cost, schedule, and quality, builds governance structures, and leads a team to deliver viable, cost-effective outcomes for Transnet, including multiple phase projects.

Qualifications

• Mandatory: BSc Eng / B Eng / BSc Honours Construction Management or equivalent.
• Professional Registration as PrCPM in terms of SACPCMP requirements.
• Min 12 years total experience, including 8 years in Senior Project Management and 4 years in Liquid Fuels.

Responsibilities

• Establish governance structures (Sponsor, MANCO, STEERCO) under the Sponsor’s stewardship.
• Set up liquid fuels organisation and assign competent personnel per PMO requirements.
• Direct and manage all aspects of liquid fuel studies and mega projects during studies and execution phases.
• Maintain executive-level client relationships and provide guidance on scope, cost, schedule and quality.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Budget management

Education

BSc Eng / B Eng / BSc Honours Construction Management or equivalent

PrCPM registration (SACPCMP)

Pr Eng (ECSA)

Tools

SAP

Primavera

Job description

Position Overview

The Project Director (PD) Liquid Fuels reporting to the General Manager, Capital & Strategic Projects, R&D and CI (GM C&SP), is accountable for ensuring the efficient and effective scoping and further development of a Transnet Pipelines (TPL) mega programme/ project in the fuels segment. Cognisance must be taken of the Transnet Group fuel business strategy and the delivery of studies/ projects that form part of the mega programme/ project. The PD has the overall accountability for the scope, cost, schedule and quality management of a fuels mega programme/ project in the study phases and the mega project if approved to be implemented. Position Outputs1. The PD Liquid Fuels is to use his/ her extensive knowledge of liquid fuel projects and operations business to further develop the roadmap of Transnet Group’s Fuel Strategy translation into a more well defined TPL Liquid Fuels Strategy and implementation plan. The liquid fuel strategy includes for current fuel business and future business eg. MPP Phase 1b IV Tanks, TFIT phase 1 (diesel/ jet fuel) and phase 2 (petrol), PL6 (jet fuel).

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the study/ project governance structures eg Sponsor appointment, MANCO, STEERCO are put in place under the Sponsor’s stewardship and endorsed by the GM C&SP and executed safely and in compliance with all regulatory requirements, company policies, standing instructions and safe working procedures.
• Develop an appropriate organisation structure for set up of the liquid fuels business and execution of the project, identify functions necessary, and select appropriately experienced and competent personnel for specific positions and delegate responsibilities. Identify part-time team members in conjunction with other functional GMs. Ensure that the set up conforms to the requirements of the TPL Programme Management Office (PMO) and is approved by the GM C&SP. Key stakeholders in the PMO are the GM C&SP and the Senior Manager Project Controls.
• Establish specific procedures relevant to fuels business set up and project implementation of each phase and arrange preparation of the Project Charter and Project Execution Plan (PEP).
• Identify and apply fuels business best practices in line with ones DoA.
• Identify investment risks, apply lessons learned on projects, implement risk mitigation actions and initiatives.
• Identify and ensure that the studies/ projects are executed safely and in compliance with all regulatory requirements, company policies, standing instructions and working procedures.
• Set study/ project goals and objectives, identify priorities, clearly communicate these to team members and appropriate other parties, and provide leadership in their implementation. Motivate, ensure commitment and build a results oriented team focused on achieving viable and cost effective outcomes for Transnet.
• Direct, control and manage through project personnel all aspects of the liquid fuel studies including any in-house engineering, procurement, interfaces, administration functions and all external work undertaken by contractors and consultants throughout the study design phases.
• Overview and ensure that work and progress on the liquid fuel studies and mega projects will satisfy the Sponsor(s) and TPL EXCO expectations.
• Maintain a relationship with clients at an executive level.
• Maintain and display clear “ownership” and accountability for delivery of fuel studies and mega projects’ business outcomes.
• Ensure initiation and execution of the work is in accordance with the PEP, such that completion of the study/ project is achieved by the authorised completion date, within the authorised budget and meets the required quality requirements.
• Ensure that all communication channels are effectively operating amongst project team members and other functions and that co-ordination and co-operation between disciplines is occurring.
• Co-ordinate the development of a study/ project budget derived from the initial or proposal budget and a corresponding study/ project implementation schedule. Conduct monthly project progress and cost estimate review meetings. Responsible for finalising decisions with key stakeholders regarding short term/ long terms and capital versus operating cost trade-offs for the liquid fuel business.
• Ensure the final forecast estimate to completion is updated and maintained and that EXCO is briefed monthly of the forecast final costs.
• Monitor and measure the work being executed regularly against schedule, milestone deliverables and study/ capital expenditure budgets.
• Recommend and implement corrective strategies where needed to best meet Transnet’s overall study/ project objectives.
• Transition the study into the project’s execution phase (if it passes gate reviews, business case approval and capital allocation sanctions).
• Set the projects goals and business objectives, including scope, cost, time safety, start-up and risk, etc.
• Ensure adherence to the project’s authorised Scope of Work, monitor scope status and advise the client accordingly.
• Define and delegate the study/ project’s roles and assign levels of approval and authority in accordance with Transnet’s Delegation of Authority (DoA).
• Develops the operating and maintenance strategies, commissioning/ project handover based on owner’s team input if the project progresses to the execution and construction phase.
• Achieve the LTI and injury/incident frequency rate targets as included in the PEP for the study/ project as a whole through demonstrating personal commitment to safety and by implementing systems both in the office and on site (if project progresses to bankable feasibility study and execution) to promote safety awareness and create a “safety first” culture. Fulfil statutory obligations as Safety Administrator for areas of responsibility.
• Be responsible for communication with the client, particularly as regards requests for changes and modifications. Ensure contractual commitments regarding deliverables are met.
• Engage in all decision making about the study/ project’s implementation that is not delegated to subordinate project management.
• Review and approve the monthly study/ project progress report prepared for the client and/ or for distribution to other parties.
• Provide inputs in writing and submission of Business Cases for approval by CAPIC at TPL or FIC at Group level.
• Control the project’s capital if it progresses to feasibility (FEL3) and maintains strict controls on variations and contingency. Manages and recommends changes to FFCs and PCNs on PEPs, other than originally stated.
• Responsible for developing and concluding decisions with the client/ sponsor about the fuels business short term and medium term goals and objectives.
• Sign third party procurement contracts within the approved delegated framework limits as the Client. Manage suppliers, service providers and contracts in terms of performance against project contracts and SLAs.
• Participate and attend Procurement Committee meetings and attend bid clarification meetings.
• Lead, coach and mentor by supporting staff development and skills transfer especially in terms of fuels business knowledge and practices.
• Is to ensure sound capital investment programme/ project planning, execution and management in line with Capital & Strategic Projects business priorities, and aligned with Group and TPL liquid fuel business strategy.
• Is to ensure that for the fuel mega projects has an integrated, planned and co-ordinated approach to enable operations to achieve medium to long term business targets and objectives.
• Is to provide routine and regular feedback to the Project Sponsor(s), the GM C&SP and the relevant functional leadership in Projects (the Senior Manager Project Controls and Principal Construction Manager) on progress, issues and areas of concern.
• Is to be a hands‑on senior/ executive manager with significant experience in liquid fuels projects development and execution. As such, he will participate in project related activities, as necessary, during the studies and projects and will be familiar with all aspects of the liquid fuel business projects set up, governance, controls and implementation.
• Has the delegated authority (as per DoA) to make decisions and co-ordinate overall needs and direction related to the liquid fuels business in liaison with the GM C&SP.
• Will review the progress of mega studies/ mega project regularly with the GM C&SP & Senior Manager Project Controls and the business project team as necessary.
• Provides senior level support, advice and guidance to the liquid fuels mega project; and will assist with the resolution of major issues, problems and policy conflicts; removes project obstacles that require high level intervention.
• Will be active in reviewing the scope to ensure it meets his customer needs; endorses scope changes for CPOT approval, signs off major deliverables; and signs off on project approvals to proceed to each succeeding project phase as per the PLP process.
• Fulfils the role of direct liaison officer with TPL Customers and Stakeholders and supports the GM C&SP in terms of Public Regulatory & Government interactions related to the Liquid fuels business.

Qualifications and Experience

• Mandatory; BSc Eng / B Eng / BSc Honours Construction Management or equivalent
• Professional Registration as PrCPM in terms of SACPCMP requirements
• Advantageous: Masters / Bachelors in management related disciplines i.e. MBA, MBL, MSc Project Management, BCom is preferred
• Professional Registration as Pr Eng in terms of ECSA is preferred.
• PMP Certification/ equivalent is preferred. Experience:
• Min 12 Years total experience (preferably in hydrocarbons/ petrochemicals) of which
• Min 8 years within a Senior Project Management position that meets PrCPM registration and
• Min 4 years Technical experience within the Liquid Fuels industry.
• Drivers licence code 8 or B Competencies Change Agent Business Planning Financial Modelling Facilitation Skills Presentation Skills Report Writing Coaching Skills Desktop Skills (Microsoft Office) SHERQ (Safety, Health, Environmental, Risk & Quality Management) Procurement and Contracts (NEC3, etc.) ERP Systems (SAP, Primavera, etc.) Thorough knowledge of governance practices for large organisations and mega projects Leadership Competencies (Anchoring, Leading & Managing) Requirement of trust and honesty in handling of finances Time Management Budget Control Travel as required by the business
• Equity StatementPreference will be given to suitably qualified Applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the Organisation/Operating Division.