Chief Director: Policy and Strategy

CHIEF DIRECTOR: POLICY AND STRATEGY is listed by DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER. The post is based in Department of the Premier, Western Cape. The closing date is 28 September 2026.

Job Details

Requirements

• A Qualification at NQF Level 7 as recognised by SAQA; A minimum of 5 years relevant senior management level experience.
• Competencies: Proven working knowledge and relevant working experience of the following: Legislation, regulatory frameworks, policies and best practices that have a bearing on the line functions; Information systems; Procurement and tendering processes; Policy development, and strategy management, monitoring and review processes; Modern systems of governance and administration; Global, regional and local political, economic and social affairs impacting on the provincial government of the Western Cape; The functioning of the Province and the activities of sister departments.
• Core Competencies: Strategic Capability and leadership, People Management and Empowerment, Programme and Project Management, Financial Management and Change Management.
• Skills: Networking and network formation skills; Conceptual and formulation skills; Leadership skills with specific reference to the ability to display thought leadership in complex applications; Team building and strong interpersonal skills; Planning, organising and people management skills.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Provide strategic management, advice and guidance in respect of the following functional areas: Facilitate the conducting of high-level policy analysis: Transversal coordination, management and promotion of innovative and evidence-based policy and strategy development, planning, implementation, and review.
• Facilitate the research and analysis of the provincial policy environment and identify critical areas for provincial government intervention, including futures capability.
• Analyse national and provincial policies, strategies and laws, and prepare provincial responses.
• Analyse on-going national policy and strategy developments, and sensitise Cabinet, Sector Committees and departments on its implications for the province.
• Facilitate the development of transversal provincial policies as may be required (including stakeholder consultation as required).
• Ensure that WCG legislation, policies and strategies align with the Provincial Strategic Plan and long-term plans.
• Facilitate the periodic review of the Provincial Strategic Plan in line with prescribed strategic planning and budgetary processes.
• Initiate and manage transversal futures modelling research.
• Ensure that WCG legislation, policies and strategies align and comply with human rights principles and with international, constitutional and national human rights obligations, policies and strategies.
• Support the provincial executive in respect of provincial human social development strategy: Facilitate and coordinate the collation of the Provincial Strategic Plan for the Human Development
• (HD) Social Sector.
• Advise in consultation with Provincial Treasury on the macro prioritisation of the provincial budget in line with provincial strategic priorities for the HD Social Sector.
• Facilitate the initiation of new integrated government programmes and projects in pursuance of provincial strategic priorities for the HD Social Sector as required.
• Advise on the alignment of HD Social Sector and departmental strategic plans, as well as integrated development plans, with provincial strategic priorities.
• Continuously assess progress with the implementation of HD Sector provincial programmes, projects and plans, and advise on the management of blockages.
• Advise the Premier, Cabinet and departments on performance variances, and recommend corrective actions for the HD Sector.
• Coordinate support for the Premier and DG in their participation in intergovernmental structures and forums for the HD Social Sector.
• Support the provincial executive in respect of provincial economic strategy: Facilitate and coordinate the collation of the Provincial Strategic Plan for the Economic Sector.
• Advise in consultation with Provincial Treasury on the macro prioritisation of the provincial budget in line with provincial strategic priorities for the Economic Sector.
• Facilitate the initiation of new integrated government programmes and projects in pursuance of provincial strategic priorities for the Economic Sector as required.
• Advise on the alignment of Economic Sector and departmental strategic plans, as well as integrated development plans, with provincial strategic priorities.
• Continuously assess progress with the implementation of Economic Sector provincial programmes, projects and plans, and advise on the management of blockages.
• Advise the Premier, Cabinet and departments on performance variances, and recommend corrective actions for the Economic Sector.
• Coordinate support for the Premier and DG in their participation in intergovernmental structures and forums for the Economic Sector.
• Manage integrated provincial strategic planning: Advise on the alignment of departmental strategic and annual performance plans as well as integrated development plans with provincial strategic priorities.
• Facilitate the development and periodic review of the provincial strategic plan in line with prescribed strategic planning and budgetary processes.
• Advise, in consultation with the Provincial Treasury, on the policy prioritisation of the provincial budget in line with provincial strategic priorities.
• Change Management, People Management, Financial Management.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Proven working knowledge and relevant working experience of the following: Legislation, regulatory frameworks, policies and best practices that have a bearing on the line functions; Information systems; Procurement and tendering processes; Policy development, and strategy management, monitoring and review processes; Modern systems of governance and administration; Global, regional and local political, economic and social affairs impacting on the provincial government of the Western Cape; The functioning of the Province and the activities of sister departments.
• Core Competencies: Strategic Capability and leadership, People Management and Empowerment, Programme and Project Management, Financial Management and Change Management.
• Skills: Networking and network formation skills; Conceptual and formulation skills; Leadership skills with specific reference to the ability to display thought leadership in complex applications; Team building and strong interpersonal skills; Planning, organising and people management skills.

Application Instructions

Application instructions from department section

Only applications submitted online will be accepted. To apply submit your application online only: via http://www.westerncape.gov.za/jobs or https://westerncapegov.erecruit.co

Method: Online link

Notes

Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Kindly note that technical support is only available from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00.

Should you experience any difficulties with your online application you may contact the helpline on 0861 370 214. Please ensure that you submit your application on or before the closing date as no late applications will be considered.

The selection process will be guided by the EE targets of the employing department. By applying for this post, you are consenting to the Western Cape Government contacting your previous employers/managers for an employment reference.

Reference checks will include enquiries relating to your disciplinary records and reasons for leaving. All shortlisted candidates must make themselves available to be interviewed at a date, time and place as decided by the selection panel.

All shortlisted candidates will be required to submit duly completed and signed vetting and supporting documentation within the timeframe communicated by the WCG and prior to the interview date. Failure to provide the required duly completed and signed vetting and supporting documentation within the prescribed timeframe, without reasonable justification, may result in the shortlisted candidate not being considered further in the current recruitment and selection process.

All shortlisted candidates for SMS posts will be subjected to a technical exercise that intends to assess relevant functional elements of the job and an interview. Following the technical exercise and interview, a maximum of three (3) SMS candidates will undergo psychometric assessments to assess cognitive capabilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence, and integrity.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme (Nyukela) and submit the certificate before he/she can be appointed to this post. The purpose of the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme, which is a public service specific training programme applicable to all applicants who aspire to join the SMS, is to ensure that potential SMS members have a background in processes and procedures linked to the SMS.

The duration of the online Pre-Entry Programme is 120 notional hours (15 days). Full details may be sourced by the following link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/trainingcourse/sms-preentryprogramme.

The successful candidate shall be subjected to a leadership assessment, within one (1) month of appointment, to assess the managerial competencies required for SMS members in the Public Service as specified under Chapter Five (5) of the SMS handbook. This assessment shall be conducted to determine an individual’s ability to lead, manage, and direct others and to identify developmental gaps in core generic leadership and management competencies.

The successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment contract and a performance agreement. The successful candidate will be subject to security vetting; and the candidate will have to disclose her/his financial interests.

Furthermore, thank you, to the huge public interest, we receive many applications for our posts, and as such will not be able to respond personally to all applications. Therefore, should you not hear from us within 10 weeks from close of the advert please consider your application unsuccessful.

MANAGEMENT ECHELON

Circular Notes

Circular Notes

can be submitted by hand delivery during office hours to 20 Steve Biko Street, Agriculture Place, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002 or by email SSOrecruit83@nda.gov.za NOTE: EE Targets: Coloured Males and African Females, and persons with disability. 8 ANNEXURE B DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE CLOSING DATE: 18 September 2026 at 16h00 (Applications received after the closing date and faxed copies will not be considered).

NOTE: It is the Department’s intention to promote equity (race, gender and disability) through the filling of this posts with candidates whose transfer/promotion/appointment will promote representivity in line with the numeric targets as contained in our Employment Equity plan. Applications must be submitted on the prescribed form Z83 (obtainable from any Public Service

Enquiries

Ms L Esterhuyse Tel No: (021) 483 5856

Required Documents

Qualifications, Other

DPSA Circular Source

• Circular: DPSA Circular 32 of 2026
• Source pages: 317–318
• Open the DPSA circular PDF