About the position
Job Title: Senior Capital Projects Manager (Oil & Gas / Petrochemical)
Location: Sasolburg, Free State
Contract Type: 12-Month Contract (Immediate Start)
Rate: Market-related, commensurate with experience
Role Overview:
Our client, a leading player in the South African energy sector, requires a Project Manager for an immediate, 12-month contract to lead a portfolio of critical brownfield and greenfield capital projects. You will be the single point of accountability, responsible for delivering projects from feasibility through to execution, start-up, and close-out, ensuring strict adherence to safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives within a complex refinery environment.
Requirements:
- BSc/ BEng/BTech in Engineering is essential. A post-graduate qualification (e.g., Masters in Project Management) is highly advantageous
- Minimum of 12 years of proven experience managing multi-disciplinary capital projects within a refinery, petrochemical, or heavy industrial environment
- Must be thoroughly versed in project management frameworks: BD&I, PMBOK, and NEC3 contracts. Experience with SAP is beneficial
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills. A demonstrated ability to manage complex contracts, control large budgets (>R100m), and deliver projects safely on time and within budget
Key Responsibilities:
- End-to-End Project Leadership: Manage the entire project lifecycle from Gate 2 (pre-feasibility) to Gate 7 (close-out), ensuring compliance with stage-gate governance (BD&I, PMBOK, NEC3)
- Contract Strategy & Management: Determine and manage optimal contracting strategies (EPC, LSTK, EPCm). Draft scopes of work, place contracts, and manage supplier relationships and performance
- Project Controls: Develop and maintain detailed execution plans, cost estimates, budgets, and schedules. Implement rigorous cost control and change management processes
- Integrated Risk Management: Proactively identify, analyse, and mitigate project risks across all domains (technical, commercial, SHEQ)
- Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively manage relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including steering committees
- SHEQ Leadership: Champion a zero-harm culture. Ensure all projects comply with stringent legal, safety, and corporate governance standards.
Desired Skills:
- Project Management
- Risk Management Trades
- SHEQ
- Stakeholder Management
- Strategy Development
- Team Leadership
