Senior Programme Manager at University of the Witwatersrand

Department Description        

• To develop and manage institute programmes and research activity (core strategic research & impact-driving workstream), driving cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration.

Brief Description        
Activities and Responsibilities

Programme development and management

• Curate, plan and deliver strategically aligned programmes and grants, providing management leadership for MIND’s ‘programme’ pathway and workstreams (fundamental science, application and governance). Programme workstreams may include flagship, core and collaborative research initiatives, events, platforms or networks and facilities, capacity development, or other initiatives

Funding and grant management

• Secure and effectively manage funding (restricted and unrestricted) for strategic programmes and contribute to overall institute core sustainability endeavour

Strategy and Impact

• Manage programmatic strategic alignment in terms of project and activity implementation, and develop and oversee Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) planning and reporting

Partnerships & Collaboration

Develop and maintain outcomes-driven programmatic partnerships and foster collaboration with researchers, industry partners, academic institutions, thought leaders and other stakeholders towards institute success and impact 

Academic leadership

• Support the institute’s academic and teaching strategic objectives to ensure quality supervision, efficiency, innovation and student success in accordance with the strategic plan and achievement of academic outputs

Talent development and culture

• Manage talent (including full lifecycle aspects, such as strategy, acquisition, development, retention, turnover, and succession planning) and relevant work deliverables for researchers, research management and support teams, postdoctoral fellows, and students. Uphold ethical academic and research leadership and compliance with ethical standards

Minimum requirements

• Advanced degree (PhD) in an academic field relevant to either artificial or natural intelligence
• Relevant business or project management training
• Research interest: Artificial Intelligence; natural intelligence; theories of intelligence and cognition; biologically-inspired learning mechanisms; intelligent technologies and technological innovation; evolution of intelligence; related policy and governance; models and algorithms in domains such as autonomous decision making and planning, computer vision, language and other foundation models, and probabilistic models; research interest that integrates any of the above with another field or discipline
• Outcomes-driven research and academic management experience
• Academic research or innovation programme management
• Proven track record in strategic planning and operational management of large-scale, resource-complex initiatives
• Experience in budget management and resource planning, mobilisation and allocation
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage talent, foster a positive organisational culture, and collaboratively enhance brand reputation
• Curation, teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and programmes, including postgraduate supervision

Closing date: 28 August 2025