Deputy Director (PD00020)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy development

• Co-determine the School of Languages’ Strategic plans and priorities.
• Jointly accountability for the successful implementation of the Faculty of Humanities and NWU Strategic Plan.
• Translate the School’s Strategic Plan into a implementation plan.

Operational management

• Manage the day-to-day operational delivery, work allocation, performance agreement and evaluation of performance of Vanderbijlpark Campus SoLstaff, ensuring alignment with the faculty plan.
• Co-determine the School’s annual plan and hold joint accountability with the School Director for the operationalization of the academic offering of the School.

Teaching and learning

• Implement the Faculty’s teaching and learning practices and processes on campus and drive alignment within the school in terms of programmes andmodes of delivery.
• Improve the design of the school qualifications / curriculum / programmes to ensure shortfalls are addressed against external and internal programmeevaluations and reviews.
• Devise and implement improvement plans post programme reviews.
• Innovative use of technology and all media, optimum levels of standardisation of delivery for undergraduate programmes, quality assurance and a richdiverse learning experience.
• Implement continuous qualification, curriculum, and programme alignment in relation to faculty plan, NWU academic standards and assessmentframeworks.
• Implement systems or processes to monitor and pro-actively identify at risk students and risk modules that would impact student success.
• Determine strategies to improve student success and maximise opportunities to secure government grants based on undergraduate throughput andstudent success.
• Implement and oversee a secure environment for assessment and moderation.
• Participate in enrolment planning to ensure optimal enrolment as per the faculty plan.
• Actively manage the registration of students, joint accountability with the Director: Student Academic Lifecycle and Administration and academic staff inthe school on campus.
• Administrate and manage student academic information related to disciplinary matters and termination of studies due to poor academic performanceon campus.
• Joint accountability to achieve the integration of research outputs into teaching and learning to enhance professional qualifications and graduatee employability.

Student relations

• Liaise with students and parents, build relationships, and resolve escalations.
• Joint accountability for active marketing of the school to improve students’ identification and association with the school and its operation.

Community engagement

• Collaborate and build effective relationships for success model delivery.
• Liaise with regional, industry, statutory and professional regulatory bodies.
• In consultation with the School Director and relevant Deputy Dean, position and promote the School and ultimately the NWU brand, through effectivemarketing and communication, relationships with local government, the community, industry, students, parents and alumni and other stakeholders.
• In consultation with the School Director and relevant Deputy Dean promote internationalisation and commercialisation.

Management and leadership

• Faculty effectiveness and efficiency inclusive of infrastructure and facilities.
• Programme and Research entities effectiveness.
• Manage efficiency of the academic staff and academic administration systems in the school.
• Stakeholder relationship development.
• Corporate governance conformance, reporting, and risk management.
• Cost management and cost-effectiveness.
• Processes and systems design, implementation, efficiency.
• Personal development.
• Values-based behaviour leadership and personal compliance.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant postgraduate qualification in the School of Languages.
• Permanently appointed as academic staff member in the School of Languages.
• Membership of appropriate academic and professional networks.
• Professional registration where applicable.
• Three years’ management or leadership experience in the School of Language environment (e.g. subject chair, programme coordinator, faculty advisor, etc.).
• Significant experience in higher education.
• Experience in financial management and budgeting.
• A record of research and scholarship excellence.
• A track record of developing and maintaining relationships with research-funding and professional bodies.
• Excellent teaching and learning track record.

Other competency requirements:

• A PhD or equivalent qualification in one of the School of Languages’ disciplines is an added advantage.
• Excellent people and communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of the South Africa Higher Education system.
• Acceptable knowledge of student life-cycle administration and matters pertaining to academic standards and qualifications.
• Well-developed information and communication technology proficiency.
• Acceptable management accountancy proficiency.
• Acceptable contract development and management proficiency.
• Acceptable knowledge of approaches to student access and support and curriculum design and delivery within the applicable academic fields.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Fundamental knowledge of key NWU policies and strategic drives.
• Computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Package (e.g. MS Word, Excel).
• Administration soft and hard skills - excellent administrative and organising ability.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Good leadership skills.
• Good interpersonal skills to cultivate good work relationships with colleagues as well as students.
• Result oriented.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work under pressure, self-driven person and prepared to go an extra mile.

CLOSING DATE: 22 September 2026