Academic Head, Commerce & Distance Learning

SACOB South African College of Business; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

SACOB South African College of Business in Cape Town seeks an Academic Head to lead our academic vision across commerce-focused programmes. You will shape curricula, foster quality teaching and build industry relationships, while ensuring regulatory compliance and a thriving academic culture.

The role reports to the Academic Director & Head of Institution and sits at the heart of executive decision-making. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in higher education leadership, strong

Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in commerce or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in academic leadership in higher education with commerce emphasis.
• Experience in higher education administration, programme coordination and student support.
• Comprehensive understanding of SA regulatory landscape for higher education (DHET, SAQA, CHE).
• Proven ability to shape academic strategy, curricula, scholarship and external relationships.

Responsibilities

• Set and communicate the academic vision and strategic direction for SACOB’s commerce-focused higher education provision, aligned with mission and goals.
• Provide intellectual leadership across all academic programmes, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to developments in commerce and higher education.
• Lead the design, development and review of curricula that integrate standards, education principles and industry needs.
• Inspire staff, students and alumni to foster a culture of quality learning, teaching, research and development.
• Build relationships with industry partners and represent SACOB at external meetings and conferences.
• Act as a key member of the executive team contributing an authoritative academic perspective to strategy and planning.
• Direct the academic administration cycle, including calendars, scheduling, assessment, records and reporting.
• Coordinate programme coordination duties and oversee module schedules and student progress.
• Lead recruitment, induction, training and development of academic staff while mentoring Heads of Department and Programme Coordinators.
• Manage workloads, budgets and resources to ensure delivery.
• Coordinate student administration, monitor performance and implement interventions when needed.
• Champion inclusive, student-centered learning and collaborate with admissions/marketing.
• Establish administrative controls and reporting to support executive decisions.
• Oversee QA activities: programme design, review, learning/teaching evaluation, assessment standards and governance.
• Ensure learning outcomes are achieved and curricula remain fit for purpose.
• Lead QA audits, programme reviews and improvement planning with clear actions.
• Use performance data to identify risks and opportunities to improve learning.
• Ensure policies related to the academic project are current and coherent.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and maintain quality assurance.

Skills

Academic leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Programme coordination

Governance

Education

Master’s or Doctoral degree in commerce/related field

Job description

SACOB South African College of Business in Cape Town seeks an Academic Head to lead our academic vision across commerce-focused programmes. You will shape curricula, foster quality teaching and build industry relationships, while ensuring regulatory compliance and a thriving academic culture.

The role reports to the Academic Director & Head of Institution and sits at the heart of executive decision-making. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in higher education leadership, strong