Jobs at University of Fort Hare

JOB PURPOSE:

• The Executive Operations Manager will work in the Office of the (DSA) and gain exposure to a wide range of activities across the University, supporting the DSA, and working with senior academic as well as administrative and professional services colleagues. The key responsibilities of this role are to support the DSA by providing executive support services, leadership and the direction necessary to ensure that the Office of the has proper governance, operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures and people systems in place to ensure operating efficiency.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:    

• Master’s degree or equivalent qualification
• 10 years of relevant experience of which 5 years should have been in a similar and challenging high-profile role supporting senior/executive management or in managerial role in STUDENT AFFAIRS or Auxiliary areas.
• Knowledge of higher education sector and an understanding of the operations and affairs of a university environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Provide executive support services in the office of the Dean: Student Affairs
• Tracking and monitoring progress on tasks assigned by the executive to various senior managers in his/her Division and integrating or collating reports where required; and taking minutes at meetings that are not supported by the Committees section.
• Ascertaining quality assurance on the executive’s submissions to the Management Executive Committee (MEC), other University structures, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ongoing monitoring of the Division’s performance in relation to the APP and other planning instruments and identifying areas of concern.
• Preparing presentations, notices, circulars, and drafting speeches for the executive; handling incoming and outgoing correspondence at executive level; and drafting appropriate responses on behalf of the executive while ensuring compliance with timelines and all requests for information from external institutions such as Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and others.
• Conducting research for executive strategic advice and collating background information to support the executive in the execution of his/her functions; drafting data-driven briefing documents and brief reports for high level decision-making; and writing evidence-based reports on behalf of the executive for internal University structures as well as external bodies.
• Leading or coordinating key projects assigned by the executive with excellent project management skills such as tracking progress on project deliverables, managing their timelines and workflows, and report writing.
• Compiling the budget and monitoring expenditure in the Office while ensuring sound human relations within the Office including good interactions with the university community and external stakeholders.

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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Doctoral qualification in Law.
• At least five (5) years teaching experience in higher education.
• A track record of DHET accredited research publications commensurate with the academic rank of senior lecturer.
• Post-graduate supervision experience at least at Master’s level.

Added advantage:

• NRF rating
• Registration with professional / scientific bodies.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Teaching and learning within the department.
• Understanding of and familiarity with the higher education teaching, learning, research and innovation, and community engagement.
• Ability to work independently.
• Strict observance to ethical principles and academic integrity.
• Suitable ability to mentor junior staff or colleagues.
• Supervise post-graduate research.
• Fundraising for research.

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The key responsibilities include:

• Following up and monitoring all the executive’s initiatives that are of strategic nature/interest to the university and drawing up their progress reports; tracking and monitoring of progress on tasks assigned by the executive to various senior managers in his/her Division and integrating or collating reports where required; and taking minutes at meetings that are not supported by the Committees section.
• Ascertaining quality assurance on the executive’s submissions to the Management Executive Committee(MEC), other University structures, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ongoing monitoring of the Division’s performance in relation to the APP and other planning instruments and identifying areas of concern.
• Preparing presentations, notices, circulars, and drafting speeches for the executive; handling incoming and outgoing correspondence at executive level; and drafting appropriate responses on behalf of the executive while ensuring compliance with timelines and all requests for information from external institutions such as DHET, NSFAS, SAQA, the CHE, the NRF, DST, etc.
• Conducting research for executive strategic advice and collating background information to support the executive in the execution of his/her functions; drafting data-driven briefing documents and summaries of reports for high level decision-making; and writing evidence-based reports on behalf of the executive for internal University structures as well as external bodies.
• Leading or coordinating key projects assigned by the executive with excellent project management skills such as tracking progress on project deliverables, managing their timelines and workflows, and report writing.
• Compiling the budget and monitoring expenditure in the office while ensuring sound human relations within the office including good interactions with the university community and external stakeholders.

Minimum requirements

• At least a Master’s degree
• 10 years experience in a leadership role and/or supporting senior/executive management
• Knowledge of higher education sector and an understanding of the operations and affairs of a University environment will be an added advantage