Manager: QA (Assessments) at FoodBev Manufacturing SETA

Role purpose

• To oversee the Assessments management of the SETA in line with the QCTO (Quality Council on Trades and Occupations) and FoodBev SETA (FBS) policy on EISA (External Integrated Summative Assessments) and QCTO requirements on EISA. In addition, provide strategic leadership to the organisation and play an advisory role to Senior management in relation to QA (Quality Assurance) function within FoodBev SETA.

Specific duties:

Annual Performance Plan (APP)

•  Oversee the development of SETA wide planning documents (Sector Skills Plan, Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and Operational Plans. Management, Board and Chamber Committee Decisions
•  Participate in the review of the SETA strategic and operational plans including the annual performance plan (APP)
•  Contribute to the development of the QA department strategic, business, APP, operational plans and budget.
•  Contribute in compiling and implementation of QA strategy, Operational plan and budget
•  Manage QA budget for the Assessments unit.
•  Report on QA projects, and activities with regards to Assessments.
•  Manage, monitor, control and evaluate Assessments unit implementation plans. 
•  Analyse the SETA 5-year APP, internal and external audit reports, Board and chamber committee decisions in order to meaningfully contribute to an operational plan for the QA Department.
•  Analyse management reports, board minutes and chamber committee meeting minutes for the purposes of implementation and compliance.
•  Prepare terms of reference for goods and services required by QA department’s assessment unit and ensure all invoices are submitted for payment.
•  Ensure compliance to laws, regulations and policies and procedures. Support and participate in financial and performance audits

QA Policies and Processes

•  Participate and contribute to monitoring and reporting of special projects, task teams and committee outcomes
•  Develop and review Assessments policies, guidelines, procedures and processes.
•  Draft Assessments, SOPs in line with FBS requirements
•  Forster and monitor policy compliance by QA department.
•  Liaise with internal and external auditors in line with FBS requirements and policies.
•  Ensure implementation of audits recommendations within required turnaround times.
•  Participate in the development of strategic, operational risks and fraud risk register.
•  Implement control improvement plans in line agreed timelines as indicated in the risk registers.

QA Systems and Databases

•  Monitor the maintenance a leaner management system. 
•  Monitor the compatibility and compliance in terms of National Record Database (NLRD) administered by SAQA.
•  Oversee the assessment and approval of QA systems capability enhancement needs.
•  Lead the implementation of QA policies, guidelines, procedures and processes.

QA Stakeholder Relations and Capacity Building

•  Build SETA/Stakeholder relationships to establish, maintain and oversee positive relations with entities such as QCTO, SAQA, DHET, other SETA’s, SDP’s (Skills Development providers), professional bodies and industry Associations.
•  Contribute to Evaluating, approving and driving of QA promotion, capacity building and advocacy campaigns
•  Conduct targeted capacitation of stakeholders with regards to Assessments. 
•  Monitor, assist with and ensure that QA queries are resolved timeously, and requests are attended to.
•  Resolve stakeholder escalations in line with FBS customer service charter.

Conduct, Administration and Management of EISA

•  Analyse qualitative and quantitative data of registered learners for the purposes of planning and implementation of EISA.
•  Manage registration of learners and RPL candidates for purposes of an EISA. 
•  Manage development and review of QAS addendum to ensure alignment to QCTO requirements. 
•  Manage development of assessment instruments in line with the developed and approved QAS addendum 
•  Oversee administration of qualifying and Final EISA
•  Oversee implementation of Final integrated summative assessments (FISA).
•  Monitor the EISA writing, invigilation, marking, moderation, and submission of results to QCTO. 
•  Manage appointment of Assessment instrument developers, moderators, markers, and invigilators.
•  Manage capacitation of Assessment instrument developers, moderators, markers and invigilators
•  Manage processes of handling and dealing with all forms of irregularities in line with the EISA policy and QCTO requirements.

Assessment Centers

•  Manage activities and processes that ensure continuous compliance of Assessment centers.
•  Undertake capacity building interventions for assessment centres in line with QCTO requirements.
•  Participate in assessment centre accreditation processes. 
•  Monitor assessment centres with regards to their role in the conduct of an EISA.

Certification Management

•  Perform an analysis of assessment results and recommend improvements to assessment centres and SDP’s where necessary. 
•  Manage approval and submission of EISA results. 
•  Oversee, monitor and manage learner results quality checks and submission to QCTO.
•  Attend to weaknesses raised by QCTO’s processes on monitoring of AQP’s (Assessment Quality Partner).
•  Ensure achievement of APP indicators on learner completion through a properly organized and scheduled EISA’s. 
•  Obtain and analyse date on learnerships and skills programmes implementation to ensure completion of learners behind schedule. 
•  Oversee learner and SDP complaints and appeals resolution.

People / Staff Management

•  . Guide, lead and direct staff to be able to achieve objectives set for them.
•  Monitor and manage staff performance within the division in compliance with the Performance Management policy and processes.
•  Ensure achievement of departmental goals and targets. 
•  Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance. 
•  Implement sound labour practices within the approved FoodBev SETA conditions of service. 
•  Ensure the implementation and adherence of the human resources policies, procedures and practices within the department. 
•  Ensure that the values of FBS are understood and implemented.

Reporting

•  Draft monthly and quarterly reports in line with FBS standards and procedures.
•  Coordinate the submission of information required for reporting purposes including ad hoc reports.
•  Contribute to the compilation of the Annual report. 
•  Report on AQPs performance on behalf of FBS in line with QCTO and FBS requirements.

Requirements 

Competencies required:

• Excellent, listening, written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Highly collaborative, transparent and efficient
• Highly analytical on conceptual and detailed level
• Innovative / resourceful / problem solving & deadline driven
• Strong ability to create and maintain high quality documents (charts, workflows, spreadsheets, etc)
• Positive, results-driven and solution minded team player
• Sound decision making skills
• Self-managed
• A flexible approach and the ability to work under pressure
• A sound knowledge of end-to-end operational processes
• A good team player

Qualifying Criteria

• An Honours Degree in Education, Education & Training, Social Sciences, Business management studies, Development Studies, Development studies, Public Administration or equivalent.
• Driver’s Licence.
• Computer Literacy:  Working knowledge of MS Office Suite; Internet and any other applications required to perform duties.
• 3-5 years' experience working within a Public Sector environment of which 3 years should at a supervisory level.
• 2 years' experience in the examinations or external assessments environment.
• 5years experience in education, training and quality assurance.
• Vast knowledge, understanding and experience across the SETA domain, Quality assuring bodies, Outcomes Based Education, NQF, OQSF implementation and management of service providers and consultants.
• Vast Knowledge of processes and Quality Council requirements on Assessments and Examinations.
• Understanding of the transformative elements of the HRD legislation (Skills Development Act, NQF Act, QCTO policies.)
• Knowledge of industry legislation, the various stakeholders, their responsibilities, and compliance requirements.