PURPOSE OF THE POSITION 

To provide strategic and operational leadership for the full student academic lifecycle within the Faculty—spanning applications, admissions, registrations, timetables, assessment administration, records, undergraduate and postgraduate administration, so that academic delivery is compliant, efficient, student-centred and aligned to University policies (A- and F-Rules), Council on Higher Education (CHE) requirements, and faculty priorities. The role serves as the primary nexus between the Registrar’s function and the Executive Deanery, ensuring governance, quality assurance, risk management, and stewardship across faculty administrative processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Efficiency

• Overseeing and managing the core activities related to undergraduate and postgraduate administration at the faculty level.
• This position operates in a strategic management role and advisory position.

Strategic Planning and Oversight 

• Overseeing and managing the faculty committee structures, as well as compliance, and quality enhancement.

Logistical Services  

• Overseeing and managing the core activities related to timetables and assessment administration at the faculty level.

Yearbooks

• Consultation processes with respective role-players.  Approval of yearbooks by applicable committee structures prior to submission.

Governance and Compliance

• Coordinate quality processes including the compilation of the quality manual for the faculty. Oversee best practices in the faculty.

OHS (Occupational Health and Safety)

• Adhering to legal requirements under health and safety law.

Leadership and stakeholder engagement

• People management 

• An honours degree in Business Management / Higher Education / Administration or related field (NQF Level 8).
• A minimum of five (5) years’ proficient experience in the higher education sector.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the management of student life cycle administrative support systems and processes.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ administrative processes experience.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Proven operational knowledge of the management and operations of general academic functions at a higher education level.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstration of language proficiency to function optimally in the various multilingual environments of the NWU.
• Knowledgeable on A- and F-Rules, HEQSF alignment, CHE/SAQA requirements, POPIA, and assessment policies; have the skills to apply these to applications, admissions, registrations, curriculum control, yearbooks, undergrad- and postgraduate administration.
• Have the technical competency to make data driven decisions.

 BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Accountability and ownership – Set clear deadlines, tracks actions to closure, escalates risks early, and execution of decisions supported by evidence.
• Stakeholder-centered communication – Tailors messages for academics, students, and executives; clear and professional communication; follows up promptly and diplomatically.
• Decision making under pressure – Weighs policy, risk, and student impact quickly; chooses compliant, practical options during disruptions.
• Continuous improvement mindset – Identify bottlenecks, uses data to refine SOPs, and embeds lessons learned after each cycle.
• Has the ability to implement a disciplined process of choosing direction, allocating scarce resources, and learning fast so that the faculty achieves its goals despite constraints and disruptions.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills with a high level of integrity and results orientated.