Deputy Director: Student Administration

University of Pretoria; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent higher education institution in Pretoria is seeking a Deputy Director of Student Administration for overseeing the Student Administration Division within the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration. This role involves managing various units, ensuring quality in service delivery, and supporting student processes from enrolment to graduation. Ideal candidates should have extensive experience in student administration and strong leadership capabilities, alongside relevant qualifications to lead effectively in a dynamic educational environment.

Benefits

Medical aid schemes

Employee assistance programs

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience, with 3 years in management.
• Experience in university student administration.
• Proven knowledge of HR and operational management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Student Administration Division.
• Oversee operational and financial management.
• Coordinate recruitment and placement of staff.

Skills

Administrative literacy

Computer literacy

Change management

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Education

Applicable Honour’s degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Overview

UP Professional and Support

DEPARTMENT OF ENROLMENT AND STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

DEPUTY DIRECTOR: STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

PEROMNES POST LEVEL 4

The University of Pretoria invites applications for the following vacancy. The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international science and technology development.

Job Purpose

This position is responsible for the Student Administration Division within the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration (DESA). The incumbent manages staff within the Student Administration: Operations and the Academic Programmes and Scheduling units. These functions serve as a crucial connection between faculty administration and students, ensuring that related administrative processes support the lifecycle of students until graduation. The role involves working across functional areas and addressing complex system problems by providing effective solutions.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Operational management
• Manage the staff and operations in the Student Administration Division related to:
• The Academic Programmes and Scheduling unit: responsible for the preparation of Faculty Board meetings, implementation of approved curriculum changes, scheduling functions, provision of annual yearbooks, and related tasks;
• The Student Administration: Operations unit: coordinating student administration in faculties, invigilation of examinations, provisioning of certificates, graduation processes and procedures, inaugural addresses, and verification of qualifications.
• Coordinate, monitor and make decisions on quality related to the student administration service excellence.
• Benchmark services, business processes and systems with other institutions locally and internationally through research, collaboration and site visits.
• Define the scope of the Student Administration division within the Department’s strategy in collaboration with the Director.

• Financial management
• Manage allocated budgets for the division and oversee budgets for the Student Administration: Operations and Academic Programmes and Scheduling units, in compliance with University policies.
• Implement cost control measures and provide expenditure reports to the Director.
• Contribute insights to the IT capital budget process in partnership with the Deputy Director: Student Systems.
• Oversee and provide guidance on all contractual agreements with service providers.

• Human Resources management
• Manage recruitment, selection and placement of staff in collaboration with the Director and the Department of Human Resources, based on organisational needs, job requirements and Employment Equity targets;
• Refine HR governance processes and ensure clarity of duties and responsibilities in staff job descriptions;
• Develop, document and formalise standards for individual work success through participative management processes.

• Stakeholder management
• Facilitate, coordinate and lead meetings to develop and implement action plans;
• Establish and manage liaison between Student Administration and other support divisions and departments;
• Facilitate outcomes and implement corrective actions when necessary;
• Manage ad hoc and cross-functional projects as required;
• Oversee meetings on matters including Student Administration, operational matters, Heads of Student Administration in faculties, and the Senate Review Committee on readmissions (Secretariat only);
• Lead change management initiatives to keep students and staff informed about changes and improvements related to Student Administration processes.

Minimum Requirements

• An applicable Honour’s degree, with a total of eight years’ experience, of which three years must be in management, in:
• University Student Administration;
• Academic and student administration and operational management in a higher education institution;
• Proven experience and knowledge of stakeholder management, change management, HR, development and management of academic programmes, and cross-cutting systems management with ability to innovate at an institutional level.

Required Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behavioural Attributes)

• Knowledge: Administrative and computer literacy; knowledge of higher education rules and regulations; student systems and life-cycle; designing and implementing business plans/proposals; data interpretation/analysis and report writing.
• Technical competencies: Relevant language and communication skills; computer literacy; PeopleSoft.
• Behavioural competencies: Ability to be flexible, adapt to changing circumstances, manage time and priorities, multitask in a pressured environment, demonstrate initiative, collaborate as a team player, exhibit strong interpersonal skills, deal with cross-functional complexity, negotiate effectively, demonstrate leadership, apply analytical skills, lead a team and adapt to diverse situations to resolve problems.

Added Advantages And Preferences

• Master’s degree (Administration/Education policy or equivalent);
• Management courses/qualifications;
• Eight years’ experience in curricula compilation, yearbook preparation, timetable scheduling, and PeopleSoft systems;
• Valid driver’s licence.

PLEASE NOTE: All shortlisted candidates may be required to participate in relevant skills assessments as part of the selection process.

The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.

Applicants are requested to apply online at www.up.ac.za, and follow the link: Careers@UP.

In Applying For This Post, Please Attach

• A comprehensive CV;
• Certified copies of qualifications;
• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone details of three referees whom we have permission to contact.

CLOSING DATE: 10 February 2026

No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.

ENQUIRIES: Mr Zolani Gqabi, Tel: [phone] for application-related enquiries, and Dr Abbey Mathekga, Tel: [phone] for enquiries relating to the post content.

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 30 April 2026, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity. In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups. All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply. By applying for this vacancy, the candidates consent to undergo verification of personal credentials and related information including, but not limited to, qualifications, criminal record, credit record, current and historic disciplinary proceedings as part of the selection process. The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.