Senior Director: Teaching Excellence (5 Year Contract, Renewable Based On Performance at University of Johannesburg

Job description

• The Senior Director: Teaching Excellence reports to the DVC: Academic. Division of Teaching Excellence (DTE) is responsible for academic planning within the university and for supporting the intellectual, professional and personal development of academics. In addition, the DTE is responsible for the management of the UCDP and other national and university projects.
•  The Division comprises two centres: the Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion (CAPQP), and the Centre for Academic Staff Development (CASD). Activities of the Division and the Centres are integrated to achieve a strategically informed, targeted approach to meeting the goals of the university. A key priority is to provide academics with the skills needed to develop innovative ways of responding to a rapidly changing higher education environment. This is to ensure curriculum and academic transformation at UJ.

 Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will be responsible for strategic management and coordination of work done in the division and the two Centers: The Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion (CAPQP), and the Centre for Academic Staff Development (CASD).
• To provide strategic leadership, quality assurance and strategic management of academic programmes to ensure academic integrity and development of university academics in achieving the university’s strategic objectives.

Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Assist with the development and work within the university’s strategic plan and give effect to projects in support of the key objectives;
• Oversee the quality assurance and academic planning within the university.
• Implement recommendations arising out of audits and reviews (professional accreditations, course (reviews International and Industry engagements)
• Formulate institutional input and responses to internal committees, government policy and initiatives.
• Proactively develop and implement systems and processes within both the institutional and departmental constituents.
• Set and maintain strategic KPIs relating to the remit of the role for reporting to senior management and governance level.
• Oversee the submission of proposals for new academic programmes to external bodies and ensures the alignment with the national and institutional policies.

Quality Assurance Management:

• Quality assurance of academic programmes.
• Plan and organize external quality assurance-related reviews and audits.
• Plans the university’s ongoing schedule of periodic reviews and validations.
• Produce reports as requested by the university’s committee relating to quality assurance and academic records activities.
• Represent the university in external quality assurance and enhancement events and networks of quality assurance specialists.
• Promote awareness amongst students of quality assurance.
• Play an active role in ensuring that quality assurance and enhancement issues are appropriately considered throughout the university.

Professional Development:

• Manage the Accelerated Academic Mentorship Programme, nGAPS, NESP and other DHET initiatives related to academic development
• Co-ordinate and allocate posts for assistant lecturers
• Coordinate the Vice-Chancellors’ Distinguished Awards for teaching excellence and the processes for VC Awards;
• Manage, implement, and report on Teaching Innovation Fund;
• Chair the Teaching Promotions Assessment Committee
• Curate master classes and other professional development initiatives.
• Curriculum Approval, Monitoring, Review, and Improvement Policy:
• Assess, monitor, and interpret analytical information relating to the work of the DTE.
• Stimulate and contribute to the development of institutional policies, strategies and systems for academic programmes, management and quality assurance and enhancement activities.
• Assist in the preparation of policy and consultation papers as required and requested.
• Coordinate the processes of preparing for institutional reviews.
• Implementation and monitoring of academic policy.
• Stimulating debates on decolonisation of the curriculum, 4IR and SDGs and pedagogy as well as monitoring of implementation.
• Develop and implement the Language Policy
• Policy development and commentary on national policies especially in relation to teaching and learning.

Academic Programme Management:

• Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion
• Ensure internal and external approval and accreditation and registration of all university programmes;
• Work with academics to develop and recurriculate new and existing programmes including short learning programmes.
• Liaise with DHET, CHE and SAQA as well as professional bodies when required.
• Work closely with faculties on curriculum, teaching and learning and assessment;
• Manage and implement quality reviews within the university.
• Co-ordinate external institutional review
• Work with faculties to support all professional body accreditation for programmes.
• Centre for Academic Staff Development
• Develop and implement academic staff development initiatives focused on teaching and learning.
• Develop and implement training for tutors
• Work with faculties and academics on teaching and learning training as well as teaching portfolio development.
• Coordinate induction programme for new academic staff and HoDs.
• Implement the UJ Framework for Enhancing Academics as Teachers
• Manage and Implement the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) project.
• Management of other Academic programme
• Manage the UJ Phase 2 Future Professors Programme (funded by DHET and managed by UJ)
• Oversight of UJ Phase 1 Future Professors Programme (UJ scholars) which includes board membership of National FPP Advisory Board.
• Nurture Emerging Scholars 
• Manage the UJ UCDP grant and reporting/overall implementation.
• Manage the Teaching Innovation Fund and Annual Publication
• Oversight of the Teaching Advancement for Universities (National programme funded by DHET).
• Manage and chair the Teaching Promotions Applications Committee.
• Develop and implement the Academic Planning Tracking System on HEDA
• Implement Master Classes, Academic Boot Camps, Coonect@1and Beautyful Ones are yet to be Born.
• Stakeholder Management and Liaison
• Build collaborative working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders internally and externally.
• Represent the university on boards, working groups and at official functions as required.
• Lead and advise management and staff on developments within the fields of academic and quality assurance enhancements.
• Liaise with academic heads to ensure the embedding of knowledge about, and implementation of teaching and learning, quality assurance activities in the academic faculty.
• Work authoritatively and collaboratively with academic staff in undertaking their teaching and QA responsibilities.
• Initiate, build, and coordinate networks around good practices in teaching, learning and quality assurance and enhancement within the university.
• Develop and maintain links with appropriate external agencies, networks, and other higher education institutions.

Governance & Administration

• Represent the best interests of the Division and maintain an effective and appropriate balance of approach in all activities.
• Oversee the design and embedding of quality assurance culture within the Division, managing change as appropriate.
• Promote understanding and importance of quality assurance and enhancement and a sense of shared ownership.
• Chair working groups as appropriate.
• Promote a collegiate approach and develop team coherence.
• Train academic staff in, and provide advice on, quality assurance codes and protocols.
• Ensure that problems are handled quickly and effectively, in a manner that shows responsiveness and collegiate awareness.
• Ensure that the service provided is an appropriate fit for the needs of the university.
• Provide induction on quality assurance systems and processes to all new and relevant staff.

Budgeting and Reporting

• Produce reports relating to quality assurance and academic activities as relevant including the Annual Performance Plans.
• Oversee the budget of the Division and all externally funded projects within the domain and works within given resource boundaries.
• Compile annual reports on the activities of the university-wide quality assurance, academic development, promotions, and teaching and learning structures for the Senate and other governance structures.
• Effective people management within the Division/Unit
• Manage people development in line with Institution-wide skills development strategy within the division/unit.
• Manage talent within the division/unit and ensure talent management strategies (attraction, retention, development) are implemented.
• Implement performance management within the division/unit in line with HCM Policies and Guidelines.
• Manage grievances, discipline, and terminations within the division/unit in line with HCM policies and guidelines.
• Lead and direct staff within the division/unit to be able to meet the objectives set for them.
• Build and foster a culture of good governance, customer service, honesty and integrity and world-class delivery in the division/unit.

Minimum Requirements:

• PHD (NQF 10) or Masters’ Degree (NQF 9) or equivalent.
• At least ten (10) years of demonstrable experience related to the position.
• Demonstrable knowledge in interpreting quantitative data.

Recommendations:

• The ability to develop collaborative relationships with senior staff in Department of Higher Education and Training and at other Southern African Universities.
• Good understanding and links with international higher education institutions and associations.
• Competencies and Behavioural Attributes:
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to recognise, analyse and solve problems.
• Conflict Management skills.
• Collegial and emotionally intelligent.
• Interpersonal and assertiveness skills.
• High level of integrity and ethical standards.
• Ability to train, motivate and mentor staff.
• High-level writing and analytical skills.
• Initiative/Pro-activeness.
• Ability to interface at all levels.
• Training and Development.
• Computer skills.
• Persuasive and Influential.