Head of Department – Public Administration Opportunity

Remuneration:	Cost to company
Location:	Johannesburg, Melville
Education level:	Masters
Job level:	Mid/Senior
Type:	Permanent

 

Job description

Milpark Education is a registered Private Higher Education Institution offering business management education that focuses on the areas of management and leadership, financial planning and insurance, and banking across South Africa and in other parts of Africa.

Milpark offers full-time, part-time and distance learning Higher Education (HE) and Further Education and Training (FET) qualifications, as well as career-focused short courses. The higher education qualifications offered start at NQF level 5, extend into levels 6 and 7, and culminate in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) at NQF level 8. Our financial planning qualifications cover the spectrum from NQF level 4 through to NQF level 8.

Milpark Business School has been rated as the Number One Private Provider of the MBA degree and was placed third in the overall rankings of accredited business schools in the 2014 PMR.africa national survey on accredited business schools offering MBA/MBL degrees in South Africa.

Milpark’s values

The Milpark culture is based on five core values:

• We focus on providing quality education to our students
• We focus on our excellent customer service
• We work together with integrity and respect
• We take personal accountability and responsibility
• We create value for our stakeholders through innovation and operational excellence

 
The position

The purpose of this position is that of direct academic responsibility for the full academic output of the department. This includes the management of all academic staff members allocated to the department.  In addition the HOD will also teach and assess students via both the contact and distance education modes, oversee (a) particular programme(s) and conduct research in his/her field of expertise.

Milpark delivers a number of academic programmes to government departments and the head of department will take overall responsibility not only for the academic delivery, but also for establishing, building and growing stakeholder relationships.

This position is in the department of Public Administration in the School of Government and Public Management.

Responsibilities

Academic management

• Oversee the implementation of academic policies and procedures within the department
• Ensure departmental compliance to all regulatory and quality requirements by keeping abreast of HEQC requirements and participating in relevant internal and external quality initiatives
• Implement the school’s academic plan in the department
• Assume full accountability for all academic deliverables of department
• Manage the academic planning for the department
• Initiate change where necessary (and in conjunction with the relevant management)

Financial management

• Assist in the preparation of budgets
• Monitor and manage all expenses in the department
• Assist with the monitoring of the financial viability of courses in the department

Programme oversight

(if applicable)

• Develop and document admission and exemption policies for the programme
• Develop RPL policy for a specific programme
• Oversee implementation of admission and selection policies for the assigned programmes (ensuring all entry criteria met and approval of selection and admissions)
• Track and manage student throughput on assigned programmes, in consultation with PMs, including the oversight of “at risk” student management
• Action items that come out of specific student surveys and focus groups, in coordination with programme managers
• Take responsibility and ownership for the coherence and relevance of the assigned programmes and  areas
• Ensure adequate author briefing for new subjects
• Manage all assigned programmes with reference to quality of course content and teaching and student support
• Monitor curriculum development implementation, performance and quality of assigned programmes
• Prepare documentation (submissions) for registration (SAQA) and accreditation of programmes (HEQC)
• Assist with preparation of Prospectus/Milpark Rules/similar
• Review and revise modes of delivery of information
• Manage the review process of material for assigned subjects in line with Milpark’s processes and procedures

Recruitment, performance management and people development

Internal academics

• Recruit, appoint, induct, coach and manage academic staff in line with Milpark’s policies on recruitment and performance management
• Create a high performance culture
• Develop and manage succession planning in the department
• Conduct capacity planning and implement solutions to ensure that the department is staffed efficiently and optimally at all times

External academics

• Recruit academic staff (lecturers, examiners, critical readers, authors, moderators, tutors, supervisors, markers) for assigned  areas
• Participate in “mock” lecturing process before appointment of lecturing staff so as to assess capability
• Take responsibility for the quality of academic staff appointed and contracted on assigned subjects
• Manage induction and development of new academic staff
• Manage the performance of lecturing staff to ensure that part-time lecturers meet Milpark’s standards
• Take responsibility for lecturer and examiner development of teaching and learning ability according to quality assurance requirements
• Address poor performance of part-time academic staff

Teaching

Implement the assessment policy and procedures of Milpark in line with HEQC requirements with regard to assigned programmes and subjects

• Lecture and assess on assigned programmes in field of expertise.
• Manage the assessment drafting process for assigned subjects across programmes within timelines as required
• Conduct internal moderation on assigned subjects
• Sign off on all assessments on assigned subjects
• Manage academic assessment discrepancies for assigned programmes and make recommendations to the Results Committee
• Control and sign off of marks for assigned programmes
• Assist with academic policy development for the faculty processes
• Obtain input from industry to ensure innovation and relevance
• Take responsibility for all learning material as well as subject related information loaded on myMilpark
• Assist students with content related queries and deal with requests for extra student support
• Build good relationships with internal departments and part-time academics
• Serve on relevant academic committees

Customer service

• Facilitate the inter-departmental cooperation required to run public administration programmes
• Improve and ensure student motivation
• Assist with after – hour academic representation on campus.
• Be available to meet with students in terms of an agreed schedule after hours (after hours and weekends)
• Ensure the student profiles are kept up to date with all contact intervention information and/or academic info
• Manage students across horizontal and vertical articulation
• Address student academic queries and disputes
• Provide academic consulting services to students, faculty and sales & marketing department
• Participate in HEQC/DoE enquiries
• Consult with marketing and administrative departments in connection with student evaluation and feedback
• Maintain professional relationships with all Milpark management and staff

Research

• Manage the research output in the department in line with requirements set by Research Committee
• Conduct research and produce publications or other research outputs in line with departmental objectives
• Assist with the research of students and faculty
• Act as supervisor and/or marker for student research in field of expertise
• Recruit supervisors and markers in the field of expertise
• Give input into the services delivered by the LRC

Take accountability for own development

• Expand own expertise on continuous basis
• Attend workshops, conferences, etc. in order to stay abreast of developments in field of expertise
• Engage with the professional and academic communities

Special projects and business consulting

• Assist in the delivery of special projects as determined by management
• Provide consulting services as and when required in field of expertise, in consultation with management

 Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates.

To apply and be considered for this position, please forward a detailed curriculum vitae and educational transcripts along

with at least two contactable references to careers@milpark.ac.za before 22 June 2015.

Kindly type the text HOD050 in the subject line of the email

Only applications received with the required text entered in the subject line will be considered.

Whilst we endeavour to respond to each individual applicant, should you not hear from us within 14 days after the closing date, please accept that you did not make the shortlist.

Requirements

Education and qualifications

Master’s degree in Public Administration/related field is essential.

A PhD would be advantageous.

Knowledge

Knowledge of the systems and processes used and applied by government at various levels of work.

Experience

Experience in higher education teaching and learning

Experience in public services

Research experience

Experience in curriculum design and development

Personal Skills/Attributes

Behavioural competencies

Ability to plan and organise complex tasks

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to manage time and to work to strict deadlines in a fast moving and pressurised environment

High attention to detail

Evidence of ability to teach

Excellent interpersonal skills

Commitment to continuous professional development

Passion for education and for students

Ability to work independently

Proven ability to lead and inspire a team

Innovation

Posted on 12 Jun 11:49        APPLY NOW