Executive Infrastructure and Information Systems (IIS)

TCTC Salary range: R1 911 978.00 - R2 467 147.00

Job Summary:

• To provide strategic leadership and executive oversight of the Infrastructure and Information Systems Division, ensuring that SAWS has reliable, resilient, secure and fit-for-purpose infrastructure and information systems to deliver its national weather, climate, aviation, marine, agriculture, and related services.
• To provide enterprise-wide leadership of ICT and meteorological observation infrastructure, including weather radar, lightning detection, surface and upper-air observing systems, aviation and marine meteorological infrastructure, telecommunications and ICT systems, ensuring lifecycle management, modernisation, resilience, sustainability, and alignment with national and international standards.
• To lead and ensure that the infrastructure and ICT systems deliver accurate, reliable climate intelligence while integrating ICT strategy, programme and portfolio management, international data-sharing, IP/data policy governance, cybersecurity, risk management, business development, and R&D-driven innovation. The incumbent is responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of ICT, Technical Services, and Regional Offices, ensuring that these functions operate effectively, efficiently, and in an integrated manner to support SAWS’s national mandate.

The incumbents’ key responsibilities include:
SAWS’ Strategic Infrastructure and Asset Management

• Develop and implement strategies and plans to ensure that SAWS’ critical meteorological infrastructure supports the delivery of world-class weather, climate, aviation, marine, and related services.
• Provide strategic oversight of the full infrastructure lifecycle, including needs assessment, planning, investment prioritisation, procurement, implementation, commissioning, operations, maintenance, renewal, modernisation, and decommissioning.
• Ensure the efficient development and implementation of Knowledge Management Provide strategic governance of SAWS’s integrated meteorological observation portfolio, ensuring interoperability with WMO standards, resilience against climate and disaster risks, and benchmarking against international best practice.
• Lead the planning, prioritisation, and delivery of ICT and infrastructure programmes. Balance investments across legacy systems, modernisation initiatives, and innovation projects. Ensure infrastructure projects and programmes are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with SAWS’s strategic objectives and quality standards.
• Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of infrastructure sustainability and lifecycle plans, informed by asset condition, operational risk, service requirements, lifecycle costs, technological developments and future demands.
• Anticipate technological shifts in Meteorological and ICT systems. Guide infrastructure upgrades and digital transformation aligned with Industry 4.0 and climate resilience goals. Embed AI, IoT, and predictive analytics into forecasting and asset management. Ensure cost-effective adoption of new technologies and retirement of old technologies to maintain competitiveness.
• Lead enterprise cybersecurity strategy to protect sensitive climate and aviation data. Implement disaster recovery, and business continuity strategies for mission-critical systems. Ensure compliance with South African legislation and international obligations. Embed resilience into ICT systems to mitigate cyber threats and operational risks.
• Oversee compliance with international meteorological data-sharing agreements (WMO). Develop and enforce SAWS’s data governance and IP policies, ensuring secure, ethical, and equitable use of climate data. Represent SAWS in global ICT and meteorological forums, influencing international standards and agreements.

Innovation and Revenue Generation

• Enable innovation through reliable, scalable, and fit-for-purpose technological and meteorological infrastructure and information systems.
• Provision of enhanced, agile, and reliable technological and meteorological solutions for the organisation that enable product development and revenue generation.
• Collaborate with relevant divisions to identify and enable opportunities for new products, services, technology-enabled solutions and cost efficiencies.
• Lead and guide the teams that are responsible for the improvement and extension of innovation for services to both the public and commercial clients of SAWS.
• Ensure technology investments support SAWS competitiveness, service excellence, and opportunities for sustainable revenue generation.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Provide executive leadership in divisional governance, risk management, business continuity, and internal controls.
• Pro-actively guide and advise the organisation on technological, infrastructure, operational, financial, and legislative risks and emerging developments affecting service delivery.
• Ensure the SAWS’ infrastructure projects are delivered within the agreed scope, timeframes, and budget.
• Ensure divisional audit findings are addressed within the prescribed timeframes and that corrective controls measures are effective.
• Monitor and report on meteorological infrastructure and ICT performance, service availability, investment outcomes, risks and strategic objectives

Financial and Resource Management

• Provide strategic oversight of the Division’s budget and ensure responsible, efficient, and effective utilisation of financial resources
• Align expenditure and investment decisions with approved priorities, operational requirements, lifecycle needs and available resources.
• Ensure appropriate financial, procurement, and contract management controls within the Division
• Ensure compliance with the applicable PFMA regulations
• Provide strategic oversight of major vendors, service providers, and contractors supporting infrastructure, ICT services, ensuring contractual performance, service levels, value for money, and alignment with SAWS requirements.

Regional Offices and Operational Service Delivery

• Provide strategic oversight of SAWS Regional Offices and ensure alignment of regional operations with national strategies, policies, standards, and service delivery requirements.
• Ensure effective utilisation and management of regional infrastructure, resources, and operational capabilities.
• Promote consistency in operational standards, service delivery, and performance across Regional Offices.
• Ensure regional operational requirements are appropriately incorporated into national infrastructure, technology, and resource planning.

Capacity and Capability Building

• Effectively lead and manage the IIS division by maintaining a motivated team to deliver on the SAWS mandate within the allocated resources.
• Keep abreast of industry developments and best practices, changes in relevant legislation and ensure that the teams are upskilled and adjust their processes and procedures accordingly.
• Promote a culture and practices that reflect the SAWS values and manage the team’s performance
• Ensure that staff are appropriately skilled and that their performance is managed appropriately.
• Ensure the development and implementation of strategies that ensure a performance culture, ensuring quality service as well as unassailable service delivery.
• Ensure that organisational capability, skills, and structures are aligned with current and future infrastructure and information systems requirements.

Stakeholder Management

• Strategic Representation of SAWS and/ or the country and provide thought leadership in Regional and International meteorological bodies and participate in bilateral and/or multi-lateral engagements e.g., WMO, ICAO, and so forth.
• Maintain and grow strategic partnerships with the local, regional, and international bodies/institutions with the aim of improving the SAWS public good and commercial offering
• Engage strategically with internal stakeholders to ensure infrastructure and information systems requirements are aligned with operational and business needs.

Required Minimum Education/Training:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Electronic, Systems, or Mechanical), Computer Science, or IT.
• An MBA or equivalent management qualification will be an added advantage.

Required Minimum Knowledge and Work Experience

• Minimum 12–15 years in ICT and technology infrastructure leadership, with at least 5 years at
• Executive level or Senior Management in a specialised/complex public-sector, scientific, technical, infrastructure or technology environment.
• Proven track record in programme and portfolio management of large-scale ICT and/or meteorological infrastructure projects
• Proven experience in infrastructure lifecycle management, investment planning, procurement and major technology/infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of ICT systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and information governance. 
• Knowledge of meteorological observation infrastructure and operational processing systems.
• Proven track record in building and leading highly successful and motivated teams.
• Knowledge of the PFMA and Treasury Regulations

Technical 

• Policy formulation and governance
• Business and Financial Acumen
• Strategy development and implementation
• Organisational performance measurement (strategic, operational, and financial)
• Budgeting Governance, Risk and Compliance Management
• Change management and innovation.
• Project Management
• Total Quality Management
• Procurement and contract management
• Infrastructure lifecycle and asset management
• Stakeholder and partnership management
• ICT and digital transformation
• Cybersecurity, business continuity, disaster recovery

Behavioral

• Strategic Leadership and thinking
• Strategic agility and adaptability
• Customer-centric focus
• Strong Organisational and Planning Skills
• Influencing and negotiation Skills
• Results driven.
• Excellent Communication skills
• Written and verbal/ presentation skills.
• Resilience and influential
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Resilience and sound judgement
• High emotional intelligence

Deadline:29th October,2026