Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) Operations Advisor Vacancy 2026
Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA)
Construction (CETA)
Monthly stipend
Not stated
- Opportunity
- Contract
- Minimum education
- Degree (NQF 7)
- Location
- National (All Provinces)
- SETA
- LGSETA
- Posted
- 22 Aug 2026
Sourced via the GovPage vacancy bulletin, last confirmed there by our scraper on 22 August 2026.
The apply link goes directly to mbdajobs.co.za — applications never pass through SetaJobs.
We rewrite adverts for readability; the closing date, requirements and application method come from the source advert — confirm them there before you apply. How we source listings →
Opportunity Overview
The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) invites applications for an Operations Advisor position. This is a 6-month fixed-term contract opportunity within the agency.
The Operations Advisor will report to the Executive Operations Manager and will be crucial in the planning, development, procurement, execution, and handover of the MBDA's capital-project portfolio. The role focuses on driving the complete delivery of complex capital projects, from initial investment planning and feasibility studies through to construction oversight, commercialisation, and post-project evaluation, ensuring adherence to approved strategies, budgets, governance, and delivery schedules.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Town or Urban Planning, or Property Development (with a focus on Project Management).
- A minimum of 15 years’ demonstrated experience in the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of complex capital projects. This experience should preferably include urban regeneration, public buildings, precinct development, infrastructure, mixed-use development, or property-led development, with individual projects and/or programmes of significant financial value.
- Experience gained within a municipal entity, development agency, public-sector infrastructure environment, or a property-development organisation.
- Experience with public-sector procurement and governance processes.
- Experience with Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and blended project finance.
- CVs submitted must clearly demonstrate project management experience within multi-disciplinary teams, including engineering, architecture, urban planning, quantity surveying, and market research.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the MBDA's multi-year capital-project pipeline, aligned with city development strategies and the MBDA mandate.
- Identify urban-development opportunities and convert them into viable projects.
- Conduct technical, financial, economic, environmental, legal, social, commercial, and political feasibility assessments.
- Prepare investment-grade business cases for board, municipal, and funding approvals.
- Develop transparent criteria for ranking projects based on impact, readiness, funding, risk, and strategic alignment.
- Formulate project funding strategies involving municipal, provincial, national, donor, and private-sector sources.
- Manage professional teams responsible for architectural, engineering, planning, and specialist design work.
- Ensure compliant procurement of professional services, contractors, and other project resources.
- Oversee construction delivery, managing programme, cost, quality, health and safety, and contractor performance.
- Establish rigorous cost, programme, risk, change-control, and reporting systems.
- Coordinate with the Municipality, communities, political structures, utilities, authorities, investors, and other stakeholders.
- Integrate land assembly, property transactions, development rights, and property economics into projects.
- Ensure appropriate projects have sustainable operating, leasing, investment, or revenue-generation models.
- Ensure completed projects are commissioned, legally compliant, operationally ready, and properly handed over.
- Measure whether projects achieved their intended economic, social, and urban-development outcomes.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted online. Visit the application portal at: http://www.mbdajobs.co.za/
This listing in context
What the 338 opportunities we currently hold say about this one.
- Live contract posts
- 66
- Open to all provinces
- 20
- Closing within 7 days
- 9
33% of the 66 live contract posts we hold ask for Degree (NQF 7), so this listing asks for what most of them ask for.
Live contract posts stay open for a median of 13 days between posting and closing date.
Calculated by SetaJobs from the 338 listings open on this site right now, and updated as they change.
What you'll need to apply
Municipalities, state-owned companies and public entities each run their own process, mostly on their own application form rather than the Z83 — use a Z83 only where this advert asks for one. Send exactly what it lists.
- The employer’s own application form
- Your CV
- Certified copy of your ID
- Certified copies of any qualifications
What a fixed-term post involves
A contract post is employment for a defined period or project. The work and the requirements are usually identical to a permanent post at the same level — the difference is the end date. Contract staff generally receive the same salary scale, sometimes with benefits paid as an allowance instead of a fund contribution.
How the selection usually runs
- The screening and interview process mirrors a permanent post, and the minimum requirements are applied just as strictly.
- Contract posts are often filled faster than permanent ones, because the funding is tied to a project timeline.
What you leave with
Directly relevant experience at the level you want, and internal standing when a permanent post at that level is eventually advertised.
Where this leads next
Contract renewal or extension
Continued funding for the project or post.
Permanent appointment at the same level
Competing for the post when it is advertised — contract service does not convert automatically.
A higher level elsewhere
The experience the contract gave you, which is what the next advert is asking for.
A typical route, not a guarantee — progression depends on vacancies, funding and your own performance.
Watch out for this
Confirm what happens at the end of the term before you resign from something else. A fixed-term contract ends by expiry, and that is not a dismissal you can contest.
About LGSETA & this sector
LGSETA supports skills in municipalities and local government, where many entry-level and administrative learnerships are hosted.
Helpful guides before you apply
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