Director: Careers Service at University of Cape Town

• The Director will be expected to work closely with the Dean and Senior Management of CHED as well as senior management of the university to ensure that the goals and purpose of the service are aligned to and support the university’s institutional priorities. The incumbent will need to demonstrate this connection to the work of CHED in academic development and student support through practices and programmes, and ensure careers service visibility, branding, social media coverage and marketing, and have acumen for business development within the careers service industry, its stakeholder network and eco-system. The Director will champion the employment, employability, and entrepreneurship agenda to ensure that UCT students, graduates and alumni develop the graduate attributes and experiences to maximize their own potential and their contribution to the local and global community in which they will work.

Requirements:

• Post-graduate qualification at NQF 8 level in social science or business-related degree
• At least 10-years’ work experience in senior leadership and management, 5-years of which must be in the higher education (HE) environment and/or careers or business management.
• Experience and evidence of shaping, implementing and interpretating a vision for the career service agenda in the faculty, at UCT and nationally.
• Use of information management systems and data analytics to inform strategic direction and interventions.
• Evidence of strategic and collegial partnerships, collaborations with faculty, students, alumni, employers, and stakeholders at all levels
• Proven ability to motivate a team of diverse professional staff, manage performance and successfully lead a team through a programme of change in a complex academic environment with a high tolerance for intellectual challenge and debate.
• Proven ability to generate revenue, ensure business development and have financial management experience.
• Provide leadership and management experience, good management skills and the ability to develop and maintain good human relations
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) to support, lobby, and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to mediate conflict.

Advantageous

• Masters’ qualification at NQF 9 level in social science or business-related degree

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic organizational leadership and development capabilities.
• Contribute to leadership and management of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED)
• Understanding of the complex processes in the implementation of careers service in the curriculum
• Develop new contacts with external organizations for the purpose of expanding employment opportunities for students and alumni and maintain strategic programme partnerships.
• Participate in professional development activities to ensure professional growth and knowledge needed to provide effective programme development.
• Fundraising and stewardship of donors
• Stakeholder relations and communication
• Professional advisory role and engagement in professional associations and community activities to promote the objectives of the Careers Service department.
• Responsible for fiscal planning and management for career services, including all operations and staffing matters.

Closing date: 02 May 2023