Manager: USDP (Five-Year Contract) at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Stakeholder and Network Management: 

• Foster, strengthen, manage and co-ordinate partners at international, national and local levels;
• Develop and maintain relationships with representatives from international and local organisations to improve the good relationships between institutions;
• Identify, recruit and maintain communication channels with members;
• Promote, establish and facilitate communities of practice for the various projects;
• Proactively provide news leads, including draft press releases, to enhance the visibility of projects through a number of marketing activities in partnership with DIA at UP and the marketing department at DHET;
• Facilitate and manage regular meetings and information sessions between partners entities;

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Establish and implement a system to monitor and evaluate progress and achievements;
• Regularly encourage and receive inputs and lessons learned from Partners and Steering Committee;
• Recommend ways to strengthen and improve the projects;
•  Prepare financial and performance related reports of the programme for submission and presentation to the Steering Committee;
• Liaise with the relevant parties at DHET and other partner entities on the progress and plans relating to the project;
• Prepare a schedule of activities for the year, and monitor project calendar, planned milestones, deliverables, and activities as agreed by steering committee and partner entities;
• Compile reports to UP executive and DHET on outputs, outcomes and impact on a bi-annual and annual basis;

Business Process:

•  Develop and drive the overall strategic direction of the USDP, aligning project objectives with national higher education and research policies;
• Formulate comprehensive project plans, including detailed scopes, milestones, deliverables, and timelines that reflect the programme’s high-level strategic goals;
• Lead strategic decision-making processes and adjust plans as needed based on evolving priorities and stakeholder feedback;
• Initiate and engage in strategy development on the projects with partner entities;
• Host and manage networking events for the projects and annual strategy or reflection meetings;
• Manage service providers on business requirements and develop content for further engagements;
• Drive the development of website, newsletters, strategic documents, amongst other activities;

Financial Management:

• Develop business plans and projections based on the planned activities for the year;
• Develop all budgets for projects and activities for the year;
• Oversee upkeep of the project financials;
• Manage and co-ordinate the implementation of the business plan and ensure expected outputs are delivered within established budgetary constraints and timeframes;
• Identify funding opportunities and drive the project proposal development;
• Encourage resource mobilization across all partner institutions;
• Manage operational budget according to UP financial policies and procedures as well as PFMA;

Governance and Programme Implementation: 

• Setup, manage and co-ordinate the strategy development of the USDP programmes;
• Establish and drive the co-ordination role among partners for the projects;
• Establish steering committee for the projects and provide a secretariat function to this high level oversight and governance committee;
• Manage the smooth functioning of the project between global, regional and national activities;
• Drive programme implementation based on the outcomes and discussions at the high level oversight and governance committees;
• Development of policy programme policy briefs/insights for government officials and the steering committee; 

Human Resource Management:

• Manage an effective and dynamic team that supports the mandate of the projects;
• Proactively support staff development and training.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Relevant Bachelors/B Tech Degree with 5 years relevant experience with:

• Experience working with funders and international partners;
• Experience working with DHET capacity development programmes in the university sector;
• Academic/Researcher development experience;
• Project/programme management experience;
• Proposal/grant writing;
• Financial Management;
• Partnerships and internationalisation;
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management and team leadership.

OR

Honours’ Degree with 4 years relevant experience:

• Experience working with funders and international partners;
• Experience working with DHET capacity development programmes in the university sector;
• Academic/Researcher development experience;
• Project/programme management experience;
• Proposal/grant writing;
• Financial Management;
• Partnerships and internationalisation;
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management and team leadership.