DIRECTOR: FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT STANDARDS REF NO: 3/2/1/2022/640
Directorate: Food Import and Export Standards: (1 Year Contract post)
Salary: R1 105 383 per annum (Level 13), (all-inclusive package). The package includes a basic salary (70% of package), and a flexible portion that may be structured in accordance with the rules for Senior Management Services (SMS).
Location: Gauteng (Pretoria)

Requirements:

• Successful completion of Pre-entry Certificate for SMS as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG).
• Applicants must be in possession of a Grade 12 Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF Level 7) qualification in Agriculture, Food Science / Food Technology.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience at a middle / senior managerial level within the agricultural or food regulatory field.

Job related knowledge:

• Knowledge and understanding of all relevant legislation and regulations that govern the Public Service including the Public Finance Management Act and Treasury Regulations, the Public Service Act, the Labour Relations Act etc.
• Extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment i.e. World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) Agreements, International Agricultural Trade, SPS import and export regulatory systems, WTO – Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Cannabidiol (CBD) and other related agreements.
• Extensive knowledge of the following legislations e.g. Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983), Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984), Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000), Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act No. 53 of 1976), Liquor Products Act, 1989 (Act No. 60 of 1989), Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997), Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990), Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947) as well as various relevant international guidelines and rules.
• Knowledge and understanding of government priorities and imperatives.
• Knowledge and understanding of the white paper on the transformation of the Public Service (Batho Pele).

Job related skills:

• Strategic capability and leadership skills.
• Programme and project management skills.
• Financial management skills.
• Change management skills.
• Knowledge management skills.
• Service delivery innovation skills.
• Problem solving and analysis skills.
• People management and empowerment skills.
• Client orientation and customer focus skills.
• Communication skills.
• Honesty and integrity.
• A valid driver’s licence.
• Willing to work extended hours and to travel extensively.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide support and guidance in the development of policies, norms, standards and strategies to reduce risks in the import and export of plant and animal products.
• Facilitate and co-ordinate the review, development and implementation of relevant cross-cutting policies for import and export standards (plant and animal product bio-security and safety).
• Facilitate and co- ordinate the development and implementation of SPS norms, standards and regulations pertaining to plant and animal biosecurity and safety.
• Facilitate the development of a framework to ensure the effective implementation of developed policies, norms, standards, regulations and strategies.
• Manage the development of broad systems to undertake the promotion and awareness of bio-security, safety, quality and risk management in communities and other areas.
• Manage SPS information to maximize stakeholder interest and involvement.
• Ensure impact analysis of SPS notifications.
• Lead and manage the SPS committee and interactions with the relevant stakeholders.
• Manage and promote cross cutting SPS information flow as well as information sharing between the public and the private sector.
• Facilitate inputs into proposed new international standards, country legislation and SPS actions.
• Facilitate the sourcing of further details from trading partners on SPS notifications.
• Represent DALRRD on the relevant SPS forums in developing SPS policies.
• Manage and coordinate all programmes / activities relating to awareness creation about the Branch.
• Coordinate risk awareness / information sessions with relevant stakeholders.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders and obtain required technical inputs prior to compilation of materials.
• Manage and coordinate the development of material used for communicating food risk management measures.
• Manage and coordinate the development of material used for communicating animal health and production and plant health and production matters.
• Develop and implement programmes for the creation of awareness of food safety risks.
• Develop and implement programmes for the creation of awareness relating to animal health and production and plant health and production matters.
• Create awareness of food safety (including zoonoses control), primary animal health and welfare through appropriate programmes.
• Ensure that issues relating to food safety are communicated to stakeholders such as the food industry, consumers and other departments dealing with food safety.
• Provide strategic advisory services to clients and other stakeholders in terms of import and export control standards.
• Provide scientific advice and support in the reduction of risks in import and export of products in compliance with health and safety obligations.
• Co-ordinate and manage the provision of policy advice and support to other countries.
• Provide information and support to departmental representatives on risk management of import and export products/plant and animal product security and safety.
• Provide strategic advice and input in conferences, meetings and negotiations of regional and international standard setting bodies.
• Promote a culture of reporting back to all the relevant stakeholders’ meetings, conferences and negotiations.
• Manage the resources of the Directorate.
• Develop the operational plan for the Directorate and ensure its implementation.
• Allocate and manage resources at functional levels to ensure the delivery on set targets for the Directorate.
• Develop solutions to technical challenges.
• Conduct financial planning and account for allocated budget.
• Ensure adherence to policy and statutory directives relevant to the functional terrain of the Directorate.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the performance of the Directorate.
• Manage client relations.
• Ensure the management and development of human resources.

Enquiries: Mr D Serage Tel No: (012) 319 6530

How to Apply for Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Vacancies

Applications can be submitted by post to: Private Bag X833, Pretoria, 0001 or
hand delivered during office hours to: 184 Jeff Masemola Street (formerly known as Jacob Mare), corner of Jeff Masemola and Paul Kruger Streets, Pretoria or to Agriculture Place, 20 Steve Biko (formerly Beatrix) Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001.

Closing Date: 05 December 2022 at 16:00

The application must include only completed and signed new Z83 Form,
obtainable from any Public Service Department or on the DPSA web site link: https://www.dpsa.gov.za/newsroom/psvc/ and a detailed Curriculum Vitae. Certified copies of Identity Document, Grade 12 Certificate and the highest required qualifications as well as a driver’s licence where necessary, will only be submitted by shortlisted candidates to Human Resources on or before the day of the interview date. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by an evaluation report issued by SAQA. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have all foreign qualifications evaluated by SAQA and to provide proof of such evaluation report (only when shortlisted).

The requirements for appointment at SMS level include the successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme as endorsed by the NSG. Prior to appointment, a candidate would be required to complete the Nyukela Programme: Pre-entry Certificate to Senior Management Services as endorsed by DPSA which is an online course, endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG). The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into the SMS and the full details can be sourced by the following link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entry-programme/. No appointment will take place without the successful completion of the pre-entry certificate and submission of proof thereof.

All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a technical exercise that intends to test relevant technical elements of the job, the logistics of which will be communicated by the Department. Following the interview and technical exercise, the selection panel will recommend candidates to attend a generic managerial competency assessment in compliance with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Directive on the Implementation of Competency Based Assessments. The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment tools.

Applications: Please ensure that you submit your application before the closing date as no late applications will be considered. If you apply for more than 1 post, please submit separate applications for each post that you apply for.

Due to the large number of applications we envisage to receive, applications will not be acknowledged. Should you not be contacted within 3 months of the closing date of the advertisement, please consider your application to be unsuccessful. Should, during any stage of the recruitment process, a moratorium be placed on the filling of posts or the Department is affected by any process such as, but not limited to, restructuring or reorganisation of posts, the Department reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process and re-advertise the post at any time in the future.

Important: DALRRD is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our intention to promote representivity in DALRRD through the filling of posts. The Department reserves the right not to fill a position. Shortlisted candidates will be required to be available for assessments and interviews at a date and time as determined by the Department. All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to personnel suitability checks. The successful candidate will be subjected to undergo security vetting. DALRRD will conduct reference checks which may include social media profiles of the shortlisted candidates.

Applicants must declare any pending criminal, disciplinary or any other allegations or investigations against them. Should this be uncovered during / after the interview took place, the application will not be considered and in the unlikely event that the person has been appointed such appointment will be terminated. The successful candidate will be appointed subject to positive results of the security clearance process. The successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment contract and sign a performance agreement with the Department. All applicants are required to declare any conflict or perceived conflict of interest, to disclose memberships of Boards and directorships that they may be associated with.