Chief Executive Officer at National Heritage Council of South Africa

Ref no: CEO/15/04/2024 

About the job: 

• The NHC has a vacancy for Chief Executive Officer who will be responsible to provide overall strategic direction, leadership, and effective management of the National Heritage Council (NHC) in support of the legislative mandate 
• The position is a Three (3) year fixed-term contract, based at Hatfield, Pretoria. 

Key responsibilities: 

•  Strategic leadership and direction for the National Heritage Council: 
•  Identify, interpret and map strategic requirements for the NHC 
•  Ensure that the NHC strategic intent is aligned to stakeholder needs 
•  Lead the development of integrated business strategies and plans to optimize the NHC in terms of meeting its mandate 
•  Ensure that a sound measurement framework is in place to guide performance in line with organization imperatives 
•  Ensure that the organization strategy, goals and targets are appropriately cascaded down and communicated to all employees 
•  Ensure consistency in the development of business plans, measure and targets to ensure understanding at all levels 
•  Identify opportunities for optimization and provide overall frameworks for development and continuous improvement 
•  Attend appropriate internal and external meetings and actively support discussions and decisions 
•  Support the Executive team members in optimization and alignment of their portfolios to strategic priorities 
•  Monitor and align business decisions to NHC values and culture 
•  Champion the National Heritage Council culture and values through empowered leadership and active culture custodianship 
•  Provide the organization with leadership and role modelling to enhance and demonstrate organizational values 
•  Apply thought leadership and future-oriented thinking 

Operational oversight: 

•  Oversee that all planning activities are integrated and supportive of strategic priorities 
•  Oversee that systems used facilitate synergy and co-ordination between all areas of the NHC to support the current operational requirements as well as growth needs to meet the vision of the NHC 
•  Ensure that all projects are coordinated and supported across the organisations
•  Ensure that competitive standards of performance are set and evaluated against these standards 
•  Monitor performance across the NHC to identify areas of weakness, provide solutions and promote performance excellence capabilities 
•  Provide the required support and direction to the management of projects and support services within the NHC to ensure that goals and objectives are met 
•  Provide ideas and input to enhance business decisions 
•  Ensure timeous consolidation and delivery of reports to applicable stakeholders
•  Oversee effective management of contracts and adherence to service level agreements 
•  Overseeing transformation and new business development: 
•  Lead and oversee continuous environmental scanning and trend analysis which may directly, and/or potentially impact on the NHC 
•  Oversee the facilitation of dialogue about cross-functional trends to form higher level, innovative ideas for the future 
•  Oversee the implementation of innovative ideas for NHC, and new heritage products and business 
•  Lead the development of strategies that increase the NHC’s organisational engagement, competitiveness and ensure growth in the NHC business value 
•  Drive continuous improvement within the NHC 
•  Support the development and implementation of business strategic plans for the organisation 

Strategic partnership development and management: 

•  Ensure the identification of possible organization stakeholders and partners, synergistic to the NHC, to support the execution of the strategic priorities 
•  Represent the NHC to stakeholders, associates and partners 
•  Act as the official spokesperson on behalf of the NHC 
•  Oversee the effective marketing of the NHC to stakeholders 
•  Oversee and lead the positioning and promotion of the NHC as a leading organization in the matters of heritage nationally and internationally 
•  Support the negotiation of major development initiatives 
•  Critically evaluate the stakeholder network to ensure effective partnership and networking opportunities 
•  Ensure that formal agreements are in place for partnerships or key stakeholder involved in the initiatives 

Council support oversight: 

•  Ensure that the Council has access to required information 
•  Oversee the provision of secretariat and logistical support for Council Members

•  Monitor that the Board skills development program is provided to Council Members 
•  Ensure that reports are availability to the council 
•  Alert council to strategic risks 
•  Table performance and other pertinent issues to Council 
•  Manage content adherence and compliance to all deadlines and Council charter 
•  Oversee the effective coordination of Council meetings 

 Corporate governance and risk management : 

•  Ensure that corporate governance systems, standards and processes are defined and implemented 
•  Ensure that governance practices are developed, taking cognisance of changing legislation and strategic priorities 
•  Ensure that effective internal control systems are in place 
•  Oversee the development, review and recommend policies to guide sound governance within the NHC 
•  Ensure that the governance gaps are addressed in accordance with auditing requirements 
•  Report governance related issues on good business practices to the Council and other governance structures 
•  Lead the monitoring and evaluation of compliance entity wide 
•  Oversee timely submission of reports to all regulatory bodies (e.g Auditor General, Department of Arts and Culture, etc.) 
•  Ensure compliance and accountability within the NHC 
•  Ensure the identification of organisation wide risks and the development of risk mitigation plans 
•  Ensure NHC viability and growth through the development and implementation of appropriate risk management strategies 
•  Ensure that a holistic framework is in place to systematically reduce fraud and corruption within the NHC 
•  Capacitation and People Management 

NHC Resource oversight: 

•  Support the induction and socialization of executive employees into the organization 
•  Encourage co-operation and teamwork amongst employees, managers and stakeholders 
•  Oversee the provision of appropriate organizational capacity (organizational human capability and succession of core skill set) as well as organizational infrastructure to support the strategy 
•  Monitor that human capital governance elements are applied throughout the NHC 
•  Ensure the implementation of capacity development programs, i.e. mentorship, recruitment, succession, training and development in implemented and effective towards future capacity needs of the NHC 
•  Ensure that effective talent retention strategies are implemented 
•  Oversee the effectiveness of capacity development initiatives against strategy and plan and change direction accordingly 
•  Manage the development of performance contracts for subordinates and conduct performance reviews to measure performance against agreed objectives and identify training needs 
•  Oversee and ensure quality of work delivered by subordinates 
•  Financial Oversight 
•  Lead the development of the annual budget and the forecasting of capital expenditure within the NHC 
•  Oversee the management and monitoring of expenditure against approved budget allocations 
•  Review and oversee the compilation and submission of financial reports to relevant parties 
•  Asset management 
•  Oversee that the NHC’s assets are properly managed in accordance with stipulated guidelines and procedures 

Qualifications, skills and experience: 

•  Post Graduate Degree in Business Management/MBA/ South African History/Political science/Anthropology or relevant NQF level 9 qualification 
•  Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and regulations; 
•  Excellent Knowledge and understanding of Corporate Governance 
•  Excellent financial management and reporting skills 
•  Excellent Computer skills 
•  Excellent Presentation Skills 
•  Project management skills 
•  At least 10 years’ experience in a similar environment of which 5 years’ should have been at a Senior Management level, preferably at CEO level 
•  Experience in the area of heading a public organization or units of a public organization (Advantageous 
•  No registrations are required 
•  Ability to read, analyse, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on top management, public groups, stakeholders. 
•  High Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. 
•  Highest Skills: Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to a wide range problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, graphs) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables. 
•  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
•  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to be mobile. 
•  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
•  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. 
•  Travelling 
•  Driver’s license