Listing expires November 20, 2026
The Malawi School of Government (MSG), having been tasked by the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) to conduct this executive search, invites applications from suitably qualified, experienced and results-oriented professionals for the position of Director of Technical Services at RFA. This is a senior executive leadership role requiring an accomplished engineering professional with the technical credibility, strategic perspective, managerial capability and integrity to lead the technical function and contribute to the effective delivery of RFA’s mandate.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Director of Technical Services will provide strategic and technical leadership for RFA’s technical services function. The successful candidate will be expected to guide technical planning and oversight, promote sound engineering and infrastructure-management practices, strengthen systems and controls, and ensure that technical work is delivered to appropriate standards of quality, value, accountability, and performance. The Director will contribute to corporate strategy and executive decision-making and will build effective working relationships with public institutions, infrastructure stakeholders, professional bodies, service providers, and other relevant partners.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Technical Services Department, translating RFA’s corporate objectives into departmental plans, priorities, performance measures, and implementation programmes.
- Lead the development, review, and implementation of technical policies, standards, procedures, guidelines, and systems relevant to the department’s mandate.
- Provide high-level engineering and technical advice to the Chief Executive and senior management on infrastructure-related matters, technical risks, priorities, and organisational performance.
- Oversee technical planning, appraisal, monitoring, and review activities within the department, ensuring that decisions are evidence-based, technically sound, and aligned with applicable legislation, policies, standards, and approved plans.
- Promote quality assurance, value for money, risk management, and effective controls across technical processes and assignments.
- Lead the development and monitoring of departmental budgets, work plans, procurement inputs, resource requirements, and performance reports in collaboration with relevant corporate functions.
- Establish and maintain effective systems for monitoring technical performance, identifying implementation challenges, managing risks, and recommending corrective actions.
- Provide leadership in the management, development, motivation, and performance assessment of departmental staff; strengthen succession planning, professional development, and a culture of accountability.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with government ministries and agencies, local authorities, engineering and infrastructure institutions, development partners, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
- Ensure that technical records, reports, data, and management information are accurate, timely, appropriately maintained, and used to inform decisions.
- Promote innovation, continuous improvement, appropriate use of technology, and adoption of good engineering and infrastructure-management practices.
- Represent RFA in technical meetings, committees, consultations, and other forums as assigned.
- Carry out any other duties consistent with the position and the strategic objectives of RFA.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline from a recognised and accredited institution. A relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
- Must be registered as a Professional Engineer with the applicable professional engineering regulatory body in Malawi, with registration in good standing. Applicants should provide current evidence of registration.
- Demonstrated continuing professional development and commitment to maintaining professional standards and ethical practice.
- Additional qualifications in project management, infrastructure management, business administration, public administration, or a related field will be an advantage.
EXPERIENCE
- Substantial relevant post-qualification experience in engineering, infrastructure, technical services, or a closely related field, including significant experience at senior management or executive level.
- A proven record of leading technical teams, managing complex technical programmes or portfolios, and delivering results in a large, public-sector, infrastructure, or similarly complex institutional environment.
- Experience in strategic planning, operational management, budgeting, performance management, risk management, and reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior government officials, boards or executive management, professional institutions, and a broad range of stakeholders.
- Experience in policy or standards development, quality assurance, technical oversight, or institutional systems strengthening will be an advantage.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES
- Strategic thinking and sound executive judgement, with the ability to connect technical priorities to organisational strategy and public value.
- Strong leadership, people-management, team-building, coaching, and performance-management skills.
- High standards of integrity, professionalism, accountability, impartiality, and ethical conduct.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, lead change, exercise sound judgement under pressure, and deliver against agreed results.
- Strong stakeholder-management skills and the ability to build collaborative working relationships across institutional boundaries.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested candidates who meet the requirements should submit a signed application letter, a detailed and up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant academic and professional certificates, evidence of current professional engineering registration, and contact details for at least three traceable referees. The application should clearly demonstrate how the candidate’s qualifications, experience and leadership record meet the requirements of the position.
Applications must be submitted (physically or through email) through the Malawi School of Government and addressed to:
The Director General
Malawi School of Government
P.O. Box 30801
Lilongwe 3
Malawi
Email: [email protected]
Closing date: Friday, November 20, 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged
RFA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates. RFA reserves the right to verify information provided by applicants and to amend or discontinue the recruitment process in accordance with its procedures.
Published in coordination with the Malawi School of Government
