Manager: Ohs And Aet at Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)

Role Purpose

• To provide technical support to the Learning programs unit in respect of OHS and AET and implement the MQA policy to ensure that MQA meets its target and impact mandate under legislation and regulations specified by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Key Performance Areas
Coordination OHS Programmes:    

• Coordinate the call for applications for the OHS, Other MQA Registered Skills Programmes and the FLC projects. Execute the evaluation and approval of applications for the OHS, other MQA registered Skills Programmes and FLC projects. Provide expert advice to the MQA and the Mining and Minerals Sector in respect of the OHS and FLC projects. Monitor learner uptakes and adherence to conditions of allocations. Maintain OHS, Other MQA Registered Skills Programmes and FLC component of the Learner Management Information System. Build capacity of users of the MQA database system in relation to the project. Control and maintain an effective document filing and retrieval system. Provide a professional service to MQA Stakeholders and attend to correspondence related to the projects including customer queries. Liaise with SAQA, UMALUSI, DHET, NSF, QCTO, MHSC, and other national entities on matters related to the project. Co-ordinate stakeholder participation, communication, and reporting for the projects. Facilitate meetings and workshops Internally and Externally. Manage OHS, Other MQA Registered Skills Programmes and FLC Discretionary Grants and Administration budget in compliance with the MQA Finance Policy. Contracts Management for companies with grant allocations in all Initiatives.

Manage AET Qualifications:

• Implement the AET learning programmes and AET practitioner learnerships. Manage learner and practitioner grants. Monitor learner uptake, assessment, and certification. Report to Senior Manager on the registration of learners in the AET learning programmes and the achievement on Learning Programme objectives. Assist with and monitor AET Provider accreditation. Ensure implementation of digital literacy programmes in the mining and minerals sector. Support and monitor AET learning materials development. Maintain AET component of the SIMS system. Liaise with SAQA, UMALUSI, the Department of Employment and Labour, the NSF, and other national authorities. Co-ordinate stakeholder participation, communication and reporting in respect of AET. Facilitate stakeholder meetings and workshops. Implement the AET project plans. Manage budget and learner contracts. Monitor the impact of the MQA’s AET and Digital Literacy interventions in reducing illiteracy in the mining industry in support of the Mining Charter.  Assist with planning and execution of the International Literacy Day on a yearly basis.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Maintain and manage the Risk Register for the Learning Programmes unit. Ensure mitigation of risk when delivering the business of the MQA. Ensure ongoing maintenance, updating and communication of policies. Develop and Implement Learning Programmes policies, procedures and systems pertaining to the Business Unit deliverables. Develop, seek approval, and communicate the Unit process flows and ensure compliance. Prepare reports in line with the MQA’s governance framework and submit to the relevant structures. Manage the preparation and submission of documentation to the internal and external auditors. Prepare management response pertaining to the audit findings and implement remedial actions.  Implement the ISO standard in respect of the OHS, FLC and AET projects.
• Operational Oversight and Problem Resolution: Prepare planning documents before implementation of grants. Manage the discretionary grants advertising process. Administer discretionary grant applications and allocate to relevant project managers. Co-ordinate board review of the MQA’s funding policy in respect of the OHS, FLC and AET projects and ensure approval is obtained. Ensure criteria documents, terms of reference and standard operating procedures are in place for committees handling discretionary grants to facilitate approval. Assist the Senior Manager Learning Programmes: Operations on managing day-to-day running of discretionary grants committees. Assist the Senior Manager in managing contracts with service providers and co-ordinate reviews and updates of changes. Optimisation of operations workflows, people, processes, and systems. Manage optimised resourcing and capacity planning. Manage teams’ performance in line with expectations and identify skills development and training opportunities to address performance gaps. Identify opportunities to enhance process and system efficiencies.

Customer Focus:

• Internal and External Stakeholder Management: Actively build and nurture professional partnerships and working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, displaying excellent abilities to listen, advise, consult, influence, negotiate and present at all levels. Ensure there is a structured communication protocol for engaging with stakeholders and managing feedback loops.

Financial Management:

• Compile budget for approval. Manage all costs in line with budget. Investigate and action any items of over expenditure. Review the monthly expenditure and explain and/or action all areas of discrepancy.

People Management:

• Oversee the implementation of the performance management system in the Learning Programmes Unit.  Ensure the development, guidance, and empowerment of the team to deliver on the OHS, FLC and AET targets. Ensure that the performance contracts are in place prior to the beginning of each financial year in line with the Unit’s strategy and Plans. Ensure that reviews are conducted in line with the MQA performance management policy.

Key requirements: qualifications, experience, and competencies
Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Training Business Administration, or Equivalent at NQF Level 7
• Qualification/accredited certification in Health and Safety (NQF 4/NQF 5 with a minimum credit of 120) will be an advantage.
• Post-graduate degree at honours level or an equivalent NQF Level 8 qualification in above mentioned fields will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience within the occupational health and safety, education, training, and development field.
• 3 Years middle management/supervisory experience.

 Competencies: Knowledge

• Understand current issues and challenges within the sector, training, skills development, and the SETA environment. Knowledge of strategic national policy imperatives guiding skills development in South Africa. Knowledge of Government Legislation, Regulations, Policies and Procedures. Knowledge of financial and organisational management. Knowledge of Corporate Governance and Risk Management.

Competencies: Skills

• Communication and representation. Facilitation and counseling skills. Strategic and leadership capability (Business acumen). Strong analytical and technical abilities. People skills. Report Writing. Self-management and Information management.

Competencies: Attributes

• Emotional Intelligence. Results orientated. Stake holder orientation. Resilience. Situational sensitivity, decisiveness, People orientation.

 The candidate should also be willing to:

• Work under pressure inclusive of longer than normal offices hours. • Work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. • Engage in a lifelong learning process relative to the context of the workplace.

Closing Date: 05 September 2024. Late applications will not be considered.