Deputy Director (PD00024) at North West University

Job description

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• As a senior representative of the School on Vaal campus, manage the operational delivery, performance and quality to achieve the faculty Teaching and Learning Plan and provide functional and academic leadership in respect of the objectives of the School on campus and in all modes of delivery on the Vaal campus.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

School of Social Sciences operational management

• The incumbent is expected to work in conjunction with the school director to ensure the smooth running of the school and  synergy across campuses.
• Oversee day-to-day academic and administrative operations of the school on campus ensuring efficiency and compliance with university policies.
• Ensure effective workload allocation, staff performance management, and compliance with HR policies.
• Coordinate the quality assurance processes for teaching, research, community engagement and administration.
• Monitor and manage enrolment plans, programme offerings, and graduation outputs.
• Lead the development of risk management plans and mitigation strategies for the school.

School of Social Sciences Teaching and Learning day-to-day operations on campus

• Implement faculty teaching and learning practices and processes on campus and drive alignment across delivery sites. Align
• Improve the design of the School qualifications / curriculum / programmes to ensure shortfalls are addressed against external and internal programme evaluations and reviews.
• Implement continuous qualification, curriculum and programme alignment in relation to faculty plan, NWU academic standards and assessment frameworks.
• 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 and student success. 
• Implement and oversee a secure environment for assessment and moderation.
• Participate in enrolment planning to ensure optimal enrolment as per faculty plan.
• Actively manage the registration of students, joint accountability with the Director Student Academic Administration and academic staff in the school on campus.
• Direct the administration and management of student academic information related to disciplinary matters and termination of studies due to poor academic performance across sites of delivery and on campus.
• Devise and implement improvement plans post programme reviews.

Financial management

• Manage the School’s budget, infrastructure, teaching resources, and support systems to enable optimal functioning.

Administration

• Oversee day-to-day academic and administrative operations of the School on campus ensuring efficiency and compliance with university policies.

Community engagement 

• Identified and drive local community engagement opportunities, integrating them into teaching and learning to support Faculty objectives.
• Co-develop socially responsive community projects to enhance the Faculty's outreach and social impact.

Research and Innovation

• Collaborate with the relevant entity directors to support research conducted by staff members.
• Collaborate with the relevant entity directors to support post graduate research.   

Minimum requirements

• A PhD in one of the School of Social Sciences’ or related disciplines (NQF level 10).
• A minimum of zero to three (3) years management experience.
• Membership of appropriate academic and professional networks
• Significant experience in higher education.
• Experience in financial management and budgeting.
• A record of research and scholarship excellence.
• Excellent teaching and learning track record.

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.

KEY 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.

Apply by: 31 October 2025