PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Manager will be responsible for planning, budgeting and implementation of postgraduate funds projects and activities within the institution, focusing on monitoring and reporting of the funding needs, income generation for funding the postgraduate students, and providing support and guidance to faculties on post-award management of the postgraduate funding tools, processes and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Programme Management

• Planning and management of postgraduate funding projects.
• Manage resources effectively and efficiently to ensure the budget and project plan objectives are met.
• Developing, documenting and maintaining, frameworks and tools for postgraduate funding interventions.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Ensure compliance to the Higher Degrees Improvement Plan.
• Prepare progress reports for submission to the Higher Degrees Committee.
• Analyse progress report for students’ funding cases referred by faculties.
• Analyse application vs funding needs vs academic progress statistics for master’s and doctoral students.
• Identifying risks/gaps in the postgraduate funding processes and acting accordingly.

Relationship Management and Research

• Manage professional relationships with higher degrees internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing training and guidance to colleagues across the institution on post-award management of postgraduate student funds.

Income generation

• Create and manage a pool of funding to support postgraduate students who are “outside the normal funding brackets” or need interim or top-up support to ensure timeous completion of studies.

People Management

• Leave management for personnel in the Programme.
• Performance management of staff.
• Participate in recruitment and selection of staff in the Programme.

• A bachelor’s degree honours or equivalent (NQF level 8).
• A minimum of two (2) years’ tactical and operational experience in management.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ operational experience in a Higher Degrees environment.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in research for income generation.

ADDED ADVANTAGES & PREFERENCES:

• A Master’s degree (NQF level 9).
• Membership with the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA).

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Project management from inception through to conceptualisation, development and implementation of project management plans, standard operating procedures and effective management of the project timeline.
• Project Planning & Execution - Develop necessary protocols, manuals and operational guidelines for the strategic projects.
• Sufficient level of technical background to accurately and objectively evaluate project risks.
• Planning, organising, supporting, supervising, disseminating, higher degrees support projects.
• Managing multi-phase projects.

KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Good interpersonal, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Time management abilities and the ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal skills including mentoring, coaching, collaborating, and team building.
• Strong analytical and planning skills with the ability to manage competing demands.