Project Executive

Description

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years' experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa.

We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people's lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.

What kind of talent do we pursue?

We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

Role Overview

We are currently seeking a Project Executive to join our Digital Advisory Unit in the Tshwane Office. The Project Executive – Digital Advisory is responsible for leading the structured delivery of multidisciplinary digital projects, coordinating across specialist teams and ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, and timelines. The role focuses on project delivery, not on developing technical solutions, but it requires strong contextual understanding of each delivery stream to manage interdependencies, risk, and stakeholder engagement effectively.

Typical projects delivered by the Digital Advisory unit are primarily advisory in nature, focusing on strategic guidance and decision support for clients across the infrastructure and built environment sectors. These advisory engagements are underpinned by a range of specialised delivery workstreams, including reality capture (e.g. drone surveys, 3D scanning, GIS), asset information management aligned with ISO 19650, and the evaluation and implementation of technology platforms with a focus on architecture and visualisation.

Projects often involve advising on the deployment of IT and operational technologies—such as IoT networks, weighbridge systems, and ANPR—as well as supporting data science initiatives, including data architecture, interoperability design, and machine learning. Ongoing data services, such as capture, validation, and structuring, are typically integrated to support analytics and reporting, enabling informed decision-making throughout the asset lifecycle.

Role Responsibilities

• Opportunity Development and Proposal: Lead the preparation of proposals and bids, ensuring delivery models, schedules, and resource plans are realistic and aligned to client expectations. Engage with technical leads to identify delivery risks and mitigation strategies upfront.
• Project Management & Delivery: Apply Zutari’s project management and governance procedures (in line with ISO 19650 and internal frameworks). Deliver regular, structured reporting to internal stakeholders and clients. Ensure quality and consistency of deliverables across workstreams.
• Governance & Compliance: Plan, coordinate, and manage the delivery of digital projects aligned to Zutari’s governance framework. Structure project phases, ensure delivery teams are mobilised appropriately, and maintain clear accountability across streams. Monitor scope, schedule, budget, and risks throughout.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary interface with clients, ensuring project objectives, progress, and risks are clearly communicated. Coordinate internal and external stakeholders, including specialist teams in data, technology, asset information, and field services.
• People & Team Development: Provide direction and delivery leadership to cross-functional project teams. Mentor junior project managers or coordinators, fostering project discipline and accountability across the Digital Advisory unit.
• Integrated Workstream Coordination: Oversee concurrent delivery streams—including data science, IT infrastructure, solution design, and field data capture—to ensure alignment and avoid silos. Maintain overall project cohesion while specialist leads focus on their technical areas.
  
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Preferably a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction, digital technology, building environment, or business management. Further training in project management or delivery governance preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–10 years in project management within digital, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary consulting environments. Proven ability to manage delivery across multiple technical streams.
• Project Management Skills: Skilled in schedule management, cost control, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. Proficient in delivery tools such as MS Project, Vantagepoint, and collaborative platforms like SharePoint or ProjectWise.
• Certifications: Professional certification (e.g., PMI) is preferred, with registration with relevant professional bodies an advantage. PMP or equivalent certification strongly preferred. Familiarity with ISO 19650 and related standards will be beneficial.
  
  
  

Key Interactions

• Work closely with other Commercial Team, Legal & Risk Team, other Project Executives, Project Sponsors, Steering Committees, and Work Package Leads to ensure project continuity and success.
• Regular interaction with Clients and Market Leads to ensure early detection of opportunities and risks and management thereof.
• Act as the single point of accountability for project delivery and controls, supporting the project team in achieving their objectives.
  
  
  

We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications, and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment and work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups in South Africa.