Head: Academic – Rosebank College (Bloemfontein)
- Employer: Rosebank College (Part of ADvTECH)
- Location: Bloemfontein
- Employment Type: Permanent
- Department: Academic Management
- Closing Date: 29 May 2026
Position Overview
The Head: Academic is a senior academic leadership and management role responsible for overseeing academic delivery, programme management, student support services, lecturer management, assessment processes, regulatory compliance, and academic quality assurance across the campus.
The position reports to the Campus Head and works closely with academic managers, programme coordinators, faculty teams, and student support departments to ensure academic excellence and regulatory compliance.
This is a strategic management role requiring extensive higher education leadership experience and a doctoral qualification.
Main Responsibilities
Academic Leadership and Management
- Lead and manage academic operations across the campus.
- Ensure effective implementation of academic strategies and policies.
- Monitor academic quality standards and institutional performance.
- Drive academic excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support academic departments in achieving strategic objectives.
Academic Policy Implementation
- Implement and monitor institutional academic policies.
- Ensure compliance with higher education regulations.
- Approve student academic requests and exception applications.
- Maintain academic governance standards.
Lecturer Management
- Approve lecturer appointments for accredited programmes.
- Support recruitment and selection of academic staff.
- Manage lecturer contracting processes.
- Monitor lecturer performance and development.
- Ensure lecturer compliance with institutional standards.
Programme Management
- Oversee implementation of academic programmes.
- Support Programme Managers (PMs), Programme Coordinators (PCs), and Faculty Teaching Leaders (FTLs).
- Monitor programme quality and effectiveness.
- Ensure successful programme delivery across faculties.
Student Support and Development
- Oversee student academic support services.
- Monitor interventions for at-risk students.
- Ensure student wellness programmes are effectively implemented.
- Support student retention and success initiatives.
- Supervise counselling and wellness services.
Assessment and Examination Management
- Manage assessment processes and procedures.
- Control assessment security and invigilation systems.
- Oversee formative and summative assessments.
- Monitor moderation and quality assurance processes.
- Manage marks collection, verification, and publication.
- Oversee supplementary assessment applications and processes.
Timetable and Academic Scheduling
- Manage academic timetables and scheduling.
- Approve timetable amendments.
- Ensure efficient allocation of academic resources.
- Coordinate lecturer scheduling requirements.
Graduation Management
- Oversee graduation processes.
- Monitor graduation eligibility requirements.
- Track outstanding student documentation.
- Coordinate graduation-related activities.
Academic Reporting and Analytics
- Analyse academic performance statistics.
- Monitor attendance and academic risk indicators.
- Generate academic performance reports.
- Support data-driven decision-making processes.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Manage communication regarding academic changes.
- Liaise with students, lecturers, and academic departments.
- Ensure stakeholders receive timely academic updates.
- Maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Budget Management
- Manage academic and lecturing budgets.
- Monitor expenditure and resource allocation.
- Approve lecturer payment claims.
- Ensure cost-effective academic operations.
Regulatory Compliance and Accreditation
- Ensure compliance with higher education legislation.
- Manage accreditation requirements and quality assurance processes.
- Support Council on Higher Education (CHE) accreditation activities.
- Prepare for audits, reviews, and accreditation assessments.
Minimum Requirements
Educational Qualification
Essential
- PhD (Doctoral Degree)
- NQF Level 10 Qualification
Experience Requirements
Academic Administration
- 3–5 years’ experience in academic administration within a decentralized higher education environment
Student Development
- 3–5 years’ experience in student development and support services
Management Experience
- 3–5 years’ general management experience
Accreditation Experience
- Minimum 1 year experience with Council on Higher Education (CHE) accreditation processes
Knowledge Requirements
Candidates should possess strong knowledge of:
- South African higher education system
- Higher education legislation and regulations
- Council on Higher Education (CHE) requirements
- Academic quality assurance systems
- Teaching and learning theories
- Student support frameworks
- Academic programme management
- Assessment and moderation practices
- Accreditation and compliance processes
- Digital academic platforms and systems
Essential Skills
Leadership Skills
- Strategic leadership
- Team management
- Staff development
- Change management
- Decision-making
Academic Management Skills
- Academic governance
- Programme management
- Quality assurance
- Curriculum oversight
- Assessment management
Administrative Skills
- Budget management
- Planning and scheduling
- Report writing
- Data analysis
- Policy implementation
Communication Skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Presentation skills
- Conflict resolution
- Relationship management
- Professional communication
Key Competencies
Strategic Competencies
- Strategic planning
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
- Continuous improvement mindset
Leadership Competencies
- Leadership and influence
- Team building
- Staff mentoring
- Performance management
Operational Competencies
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Organisation skills
- Compliance management
- Ability to work under pressure
Personal Competencies
- Professional integrity
- Adaptability
- Accountability
- Resilience
- Results orientation