Project Engineer (P5) – University of Johannesburg (Temporary)

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) invites applications for a temporary Project Engineer (P5) position within the Office of the Chief Operation Officer. This is a 4-month contract role based at the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus.

About the University of Johannesburg (UJ)

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a leading, vibrant, and cosmopolitan institution in South Africa. Guided by its ambitious UJ Strategy 2035, the university is committed to societal impact, sustainability, global partnerships, and leveraging technology for the future. UJ’s mission is to “transform and serve humanity through innovation and the collective and collaborative pursuit of knowledge,” striving to be “an international university of choice, anchored in Africa and the global south, dynamically shaping a sustainable future.”

About the Role

As a Project Engineer (P5), your primary responsibility will be to manage designated projects within the One PMO (Project Management Office) portfolio, specifically focusing on Facilities Management projects. This temporary position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the university’s operational efficiency and strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop training videos for OnePMO for new Project Managers and interns.
• Capture and convert user learnings into a video FAQ library for OnePMO, reviewing close-out reports to build a repository of project lessons.
• Investigate how change management can be formally integrated and reported on within UJ OnePMO projects.
• Review OnePMO life cycle documents for accuracy and improved readability, assisting in finalising templates.
• Support the SUP team in updating project information, cleaning the portfolio, and ensuring data is current.
• Assist with project documentation compilation and preparation for various approval bodies.
• Aid in formalising risk management processes for projects and support teams in standardising processes.
• Ensure process compliance to prevent audit discrepancies as part of governance.
• Conduct project health checks on high-risk projects to identify root causes.
• Help map OnePMO projects to UJ’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create a OnePMO SDG goal dashboard.
• Learn about PMO maturity assessments and models to understand capability measurement and growth.
• Assist in generating OnePMO reports for executive levels and other data reporting needs.
• Provide support to the top level of OnePMO as required.
• Offer supporting data from OnePMO to aid executive decisions based on project data and insights.
• Assist with project governance, research, or reviews.
• Provide support for SUP members’ use of OnePMO.
• Collaborate with the SUP team leader to develop support and development projects outside of capex.
• Monitor and control OnePMO usage across the division and report to the COO.
• Generate Performance Reports.
• Assist in further developing Risk, Quality, and Benefits reporting from OnePMO for quarterly COO use.
• Aid in developing half-yearly COO Project reports per department for mid-year breakaways.

Minimum Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification (NQF Level 8) in any discipline.
• 10 years of essential experience in Project Management using multiple tools.
• A postgraduate qualification (NQF Level 8) in project management, auditing, or risk management.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes

• Results-focused approach.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Outstanding communication and teamwork abilities.
• Strong report writing and written communication skills.
• Effective negotiation skills.
• High attention to detail.

Recommendations

• Previous experience within the Higher Education and Training sector.

Location, Contract Type & Remuneration

This 4-month temporary post is based at the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus in Johannesburg, South Africa. Remuneration is market-related.

Application Process

To apply, please upload a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) along with the full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees via the official UJ e-recruitment website. Also, attach a copy of your highest academic qualification and proof of registration with any relevant professional bodies.

Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.

Application Deadline: 23 July 2025