Executive Director: People & Culture (N000755)
Listing reference: nwu_002277
Listing status: Under Review
Apply by: 19 January 2024
Position summary
Industry: Education & Training
Job category: HR Management
Location: Potchefstroom
Contract: Fixed Term Contract
Remuneration: The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
Introduction
NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS)
DIVISION: PEOPLE & CULTURE
POSITION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
POSITION NUMBER: N000755
PEROMNES: P3
APPOINTMENT TYPE: FIXED-TERM CONTRACT
Job description
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and a key member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group, the Executive Director: People and Culture will lead the strategic direction of the university’s Human Resources function. They will provide strategic leadership and oversight of People and Culture practices and drive the wider people agenda within NWU.
The successful candidate will bring demonstrable senior leadership experience in the effective design and implementation of people and organisational development strategies gained in a large and complex organisation. Adept at working with a diverse range of stakeholders, they will have a proven ability to deliver accelerated transformational change, working collaboratively to deliver high quality, responsive and user focussed services in a rapidly changing environment. A genuine commitment to the transformative vision and mission of the University will be essential.
They must be proactive, adaptable, and capable of driving cultural change while contributing to the overall success of the organization.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key Role Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the development of the University’s Strategic Plan through the development, review and implementation of an institution-wide People and Culture strategy working closely with the University Executive to strategically position the NWU as an internationally recognised institution.
- Participate fully at senior level in all the relevant governance, leadership, and management structures of the university relevant to and /or assigned to the position including the university Council, Senate, and Executive Leadership committees.
- Assume full accountability for People and Culture responsibilities of the University.
- Lead, direct and manage the People and Culture division, ensuring good governance, best practice HR and systems functioning including digitizing the HR environment for process optimisation.
- Develop and maintain sound stakeholder relationships with internal and external constituencies/partners.
- Represent the University internally and externally on various appropriate HR fora.
Strategy
- Lead HR scenario and strategy development, strategy implementation and dynamic re-strategizing.
- Own the Institutional strategy co-determination, development, and joint accountability for implementation success.
- Create and implement a human resource management strategy aligned with the overall strategy to enable the NWU to attract, motivate and retain the calibre of staff required for the university to accomplish its goals in a sustainable manner.
- Champion Leadership, Transformation, Governance and Compliance
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Maintain strategic relationships for purposes of expectation management, knowledge sharing and integration.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives and business leaders, building strong relationships and understanding the unique needs and challenges of different business units (faculties and divisions).
- Foster a positive and inclusive work culture by driving employee engagement initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion, and developing programs that enhance employee experience and satisfaction.
- Ensure that suitable HR-related information is available for campus managers in support of decision making.
- Represent NWU at internal and external identified forums to influence the implementation of legislative and strategic imperatives.
Culture:
- Co-determine culture design, strategy, and process development with joint accountability for implementation.
- Lead culture strategy monitoring and leadership support interventions
- Cultivate and enhance an ethical, inclusive, welcoming, and values-driven culture
- Create an enabling and values-driven, transparent, and engaged leadership culture.
- Co determine and champion the NWU Equity, diversity, Inclusion and belonging (EDIB) strategy
Organisational Design Effectiveness:
- Implement the P&C Digital Transformation Strategy through effective automation and digitalisation
- Entrench personnel cost efficiency strategies to increase institutional operational effectiveness.
- Take ownership for organisation effectiveness intervention designs and joint accountability for implementation results
- Lead organisation, role, and work design processes
People and Culture Practices and Policies:
- Champion People and Culture practices, policy design aligned to strategy and in conformance to regulatory requirements.
- Own People practice application monitoring, advice, and joint accountability for application
- Employment relations management:
- Manage individual and collective relationships in the organisation through implementation of good practices to ensure achievement of organisational objectives and compliance with the legislative framework and socio-economic conditions.
Employee Commitment:
- Foster employee commitment and engagement analytics
- Develop employee value proposition design and joint accountability for implementation
- Employee wellness: Manage all activities required to ensure a healthy work and social environment, enabling team and employee wellbeing to enable optimal performance in alignment with organisational strategy and goals
Management and Leadership Results Areas:
- Manage the team composition, effectiveness, and efficiency.
- Maintain stakeholder relationship development and effectiveness.
- Ensure corporate governance conformance, reporting and risk management.
- Establish and manage performance against HR metrics defined in the service standards of the P&C service charter.
- Develop and manage the People and Culture budget, allocating resources effectively to support HR initiatives and maximize return on investment.
- Manage the Division processes and systems, utilisation, effectiveness, and efficiency.
- Personal effectiveness, wholeness, and development
- Values-based behaviour leadership and personal compliance.
Minimum requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree in Human Resources / Industrial Psychology / MBA or related field at NQF level 9
EXPERIENCE:
- 10 years human resource management experience in a senior role.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- SABPP/HPCSA or other HR related memberships.
- Three years operational management experience in Higher Education.
KEY FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Proven experience in driving HR strategies that align with business goals and positively impact organizational performance.
- In-depth knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, and industry trends.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to leverage HR data and analytics for evidence-based decision-making.
- Experience in managing complex HR projects and change management initiatives.
- Ability to work under pressure and act in a disciplined manner.
- Knowledge in the design and execution of Human Resources related processes and activities
- Knowledge and ability in developing and managing budgets, hiring, training, developing, supervising and appraising a large team.
- High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation Strong problem solving, analytical and abstract reasoning skills
- Demonstration of language proficiency in order to function optimally in the various multilingual environments of the NWU.
KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:
- Providing Insights, vision, and goal setting
- Formulating and Developing Strategies and concepts
- Strong Decision Making
- Corporate Intrapreneurship
- Directing People
- Conflict Resolution
- Leading and Supervising
- Relating and Networking
- Persuading and influencing
- Agility and adaptability
- Work well under pressure, creating and managing change.
- Teamwork oriented
- Conscientious
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Excellent problem solving, analytical and abstract reasoning skills.
REMUNERATION:
The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Prof Marlene Verhoef (marlene.verhoef@nwu.ac.za)
CLOSING DATE: 19 January 2024
COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES: 1 June 2024
Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official NWU vacancy website.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.
If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
