Deputy Director: Academic Planning and Quality - Department of Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The incumbent will be required to: 

Oversee and manage academic planning and quality assurance and enhancement activities. This will include: 

• Leading the Academic Planning and Quality Division in the Department of Institutional Planning 
• Management of external evaluation at all organisational levels, including academic reviews, accreditations and review of professional services 
• Develop and maintain appropriate quality promotion activities 
• Monitor and support the implementation of quality improvement plans 
• Management of academic planning and the University's Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) 
• Oversee the submission of proposals for new academic programmes to external bodies 
• Ensuring alignment with national and institutional policies and changes in the world of work 
• Co-ordinate the activities of the Academic Planning Committee 
• Ensuring the development and management of systems, databases and processes to support all aspects of academic programme development, management, and review 
• Create and maintain a suitable integrated Quality Management System into which the Quality Manual of the University is incorporated 
• Monitor changes to the national regulatory framework for Quality Assurance and Academic Planning, and more general developments in the Higher Education Sector 
• Liaise and network with faculties and support departments at the University of Pretoria; 
• Build active strategic partnerships with other functions within the University; 
• Liaise with the Department of Higher Education and Training, Council on Higher Education, South African Qualifications Authority and other relevant professional bodies; 
• Provide leadership and guidance to senior managers across the University on matters related to academic planning and quality; 
• Lead and manage the academic planning and quality team within the Department of Institutional Planning. 
• Cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders (e.g. DHET, CHE, SAQA, Professional bodies and other higher education institutions) to facilitate a collaborative approach to academic planning and quality assurance.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• A relevant four (4) year/Honours Degree; 
• 8 years’ experience in the field, of which three should be in management level;  

Proven experience in/and knowledge of: 

• Higher education policy matters 
• Facilitation of academic planning in a higher education environment 
• Management and execution of quality-related projects, including institutional audits, programme accreditation and external reviews; 
• Experience in writing plans and reports. 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES): 

• Knowledge of higher education policies related to teaching and learning, academic planning and quality assurance; 
• Knowledge of the functioning of a University; 
• Mastery of the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework; 
• Knowledge of key developments in the higher education environment; 
• HEMIS reporting system; 
• Report writing; 
• Data analysis and interpretation; 
• Strong leadership skills and decisiveness; 
• Excellent interpersonal skills; 
• Sensitivity to diversity; 
• Ability to work in a team. 

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: 

• Relevant Master’s Degree; 
• Relevant managerial experience in the higher education sector; 
• Lecturing experience. 

CLOSING DATE: 23 FEBRUARY 2026