[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]uMngeni-uThukela Water is a state-owned enterprise (SOE) mandated to provide bulk water and related services in the province. It is the second-largest Water Board in South Africa and employs over 1500 committed, motivated and enthusiastic employees in diverse professions, trades, and occupational levels. uMngeni-uThukela Water current strategic theme of being a “key partner that enables government to deliver effective and efficient water and related services in a financially sustainable manner”.

We seek candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need employees who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage resources entrusted to them, and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

The purpose of the job is: To provide strategic direction, leadership and risk assurance of a leading bulk water services utility in South Africa in order to fulfil its core mandate and vision

• The Chief Executive is accountable for ensuring that the organisation complies with its mandate as per the Water Services Act and as directed by the Shareholder while maintaining its financial sustainability
• To assume accountability for the uMngeni-uThukela Water strategy, business model and the overall business operations
• To appraise the Board of Directors (Non-Executive) on uMngeni-uThukela Water’s strategic direction, value creation and sustainability of the uMngeni-uThukela Water business
• Undertake broader stakeholder engagements to maintain shareholder confidence and improve business efficiencies
• Drive and oversee sustainable change management programmes to achieve broader organizational effectiveness
• Identify organizational interventions and deploy appropriate resources to respond to the Corporate Risk Register and emerging risks as well as changing environmental demands
• Oversee the compilation and submission of the annual shareholder compact and subsequent alignment of the organizational performance to the agreed Balance Scorecard targets
• Responsible for the implementation of the Board Resolutions, uMngeni-uThukela Water strategic objectives and the performance measures driving the Annual Business Plan as may be directed by the Board.

Key Responsibilities: Development of Strategy, Performance Management and Corporate Business Plans

• Operational efficiency and effectiveness & Infrastructure and Water Resources Sustainability
• Financial Management
• Corporate Governance and Legal Compliance
• Stakeholder Management
• Human Capital Management.

Minimum Qualifications: BEng / BSc in Civil / Mechanical / Chemical Engineering/ Natural Science

• A postgraduate qualification MBA/ MBL
• Registration with the relevant professional body will be an added advantage.

Minimum Experience: Proven experience of 10 years at Senior Management Level with a minimum of 5 years at an Executive Level in a large scale organization dealing with water and sanitation.

Technical and Functional Competencies: Ability to create a KZN-wide vision and position the organization as a provincial utility

• Strategy creation and plan formulation to ensure effective management of the utility
• Ability to influence and guide directors, executives and staff in the utility
• Technically sound in terms of contracts, project structuring and projects management
• Understanding and ability to initiate and implement relevant contracting methodologies
• Guide the setting of the utility’ bond market program
• Ability to attract investments and to raise funds for the utility
• Ability to function at an inter-governmental level
• Understanding of the political economy of the region (within the 4 Clusters of the utility), and clear understanding of socioeconomic realities in the province
• Clear understanding of corporate competencies, understanding of the financial markets, the role of borrowers and lenders as key partners, as well as appreciation of risk and return.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Analytical Ability and Deductive Reasoning
• Relationship Management
• Integrity
• People management
• Interpersonal skills
• Systematic, organized, high energy and results driven
• Persuasive
• Innovation.

uMngeni-uThukela Water is committed to the development of staff and promotes diversity, inclusiveness, and equity within the organisation. This appointment will be made in the context of the Employment Equity Plan. Successful candidates/applicants will be subjected to competency assessments and Security Clearance to the appropriate level as may be determined by uMngeni-Thukela Water from time to time.

Interested persons are requested to email the application letter, curriculum vitae, certified ID copy and certified copies of qualifications for attention to: Chiefexecutive.recruitment@umngeni-uthukela.co.za clearly indicating the position applied for and reference number. Applications without certified copies as well as those that are hand delivered will not be accepted. For enquires please contact at ce.enquiries@umngeni-uthukela.co.za.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Download the advert” color=”primary” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.umngeni-uthukela.co.za%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FAdvert-Chief-Executive_.pdf|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation South Africa, Mr Senzo Mchunu, is pleased with the newly reconfigured uMngeni-uThukela Water’s National Long-Term rating at ‘AA+’, by Fitch Ratings.

uMngeni-uThukela Water is an entity of the Department of Water and Sanitation, that came about following the reconfiguration of uMngeni-uThukela Water and Mhlathuze Water and is tasked to provide services to the whole of the Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

Reputable credit ratings agency, Fitch Ratings, reaffirmed uMngeni-uThukela Water’s AA+ rating while noting that the utility still remained on solid footing and on course to meeting its mandate, despite the recent reconfiguration of uMngeni-uThukela Water and Mhlathuze Water. The agency further detailed the key rating drivers and provided insight as to what would negatively affect the rating, stating the following: “Fitch could revise the Outlook to Negative if significant water losses and further delays of infrastructure investments constrain water supply and remain a key risk without proactive mitigating measures by management and the Department of Water and Sanitation”.

In congratulating the entity, Minister Mchunu had the following to say: “This is indeed a great accomplishment by uMngeni-uThukela Water, despite the reconfiguration which was concluded recently. We do take note of the warnings by Fitch Ratings and as a Department, we want to assure Fitch and the public that these issues are receiving our focused attention and we will continue to support the entity, as well as the newly appointed 12-member Board as they service the people of Kwa-Zulu Natal. We want to get to a point where all our entities are model entities and uMngeni-uThukela is on the right track. I would like to urge uMngeni-uThukela Water to keep it up!”

On Tuesday, 13 November 2023, the Executive Management of uMngeni-Uthukela engaged with various stakeholders including municipalities, the National Treasury, the South African Local Government Association, Siza Water, and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority on proposed bulk water tariffs for the 2024/2025 period.

In its presentation to stakeholders, uMngeni-uThukela stressed that, in preparation for the tariff review, it had focussed on maintaining financial viability, infrastructure maintenance, and upgrades, and delivering quality potable water and related services.

Stakeholders expressed gratitude to uMngeni-uThukela for the consultative session, adding that there was a need to work collaboratively between water service authorities and the Water Board on issues of mutual interest. These include curbing non-revenue water loss and speeding up of new infrastructure projects for future water security.

As part of the ongoing consultations, uMngeni-uThukela will meet with its industrial and municipal stakeholders in the Richards Bay northern operations.

Bringing you exciting news, where uMngeni–uThukela Young Professional have once again set themselves far apart from their peers in terms of performance.  In the last couple of months, the Young  Professionals participated in the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals, which is an  opportunity for participating companies of the UN Global Compact to empower young talent within their organizations to collaborate and accelerate business innovation towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This programme activates future business leaders and change makers to develop and drive innovative solutions through new technologies, initiatives, and business models and deliver on their company’s sustainability objectives.

uMngeni-uThukela young innovators closed off their participation on the United Nations Global Compact SDG Innovators Accelerator for Young Professionals with an “Offboarding ” session where participating companies presented their innovative business model solution developed over the past 6 months.

The team won  1^st Place  amongst 17 other companies who were part of the programme. The winning team received partial sponsorship to present and showcase their innovative business solution along 12 other countries at the United Nations Leaders’ Summit. This is the first time of its kind where Young Professionals around the world are given an opportunity to be part of this prestigious session.

uMngeni-uThukela Water has undeniably left a significant mark, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to achieving sustainability development goals.

Congratulations to Sinothile Magubane (Operations), Thandeka Jwara (Process Services), Lungelo Shelembe (Legal Services), Tsepo Lebeko (Laboratory Services), for their successful completion of the programme.