Faculty Manager: Faculty of Law

UWC Online - University of the Western Cape; Bellville; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent South African university is seeking a qualified candidate for the role of Academic Administrator. This position involves overseeing academic administrative services, managing finances, staff, and operational policies, and providing strategic guidance. Ideal candidates will hold a Master's degree and have extensive experience in academic administration. Strong communication and project management skills are essential for success in this dynamic role.

Qualifications

• 5 years' academic administration experience at a senior level in a higher education environment.
• Proven staff management experience, preferably in higher education.
• Working knowledge of Higher Education legislation and policies.
• Experience in high-level committee servicing.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate vision and mission for administrative function of the Faculty.
• Provide strategic support in policy development and implementation.
• Establish an annual administrative operational plan.
• Manage staff with the University’s Personal Development Management System.
• Advising and liaising with students, academic staff, and committees.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Planning and organising skills

Time and project management skills

Strong client focus

Problem solving and multi-tasking skills

Education

Master's degree (NQF 9 qualification)

Tools

MS Office packages

Job description

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a vibrant, diverse and dynamic university, rooted in the African continent with an increasing global reach. UWC actively responds in critical and creative ways to the development needs of the country, within an ever-changing and challenging global context.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Western Cape comprises four academic departments, the Dullah Omar Institute, five Research Centres, and a joint Research Unit. Together, these entities support a vibrant academic and research environment committed to advancing social justice, critical scholarship, and excellence in legal education. The Faculty offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and its research initiatives engage with both local and global legal challenges, often in collaboration with partners across Africa and beyond.

We are seeking candidates for this demanding and accountable position in our Faculty. The role is primarily devoted to the oversight, management, and delivery of academic administrative services, working in partnership with the Dean, Deputy Deans and chairpersons of academic departments. As the successful candidate you will have overall responsibility for the operational management of the Faculty’s academic administration and will work closely with the Faculty’s leadership, academics, administrators and students, as well as the Registrar’s office and Human Resources.

The successful incumbent will offer strategic support, guidance on policy formulation, and advice to the Faculty on every aspect of administration management. You will have the responsibility of putting into practice policy and administrative procedures in the Faculty as well as managing the Faculty Office staff and overseeing procedures within the Faculty.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Facilitating a vision and mission for the administrative function of the Faculty;
• Providing strategic support in the development and implementation of policies and the Faculty Operational Plan as a member of the leadership team;
• Establishing an annual administrative operational plan in line with the Institutional and Faculty Operational Plans;
• Staff management in relation to the University’s Personal Development Management System (PDS) and Integrated Talent Management Framework (ITMF);
• Advising and liaising with academics, departmental administrative staff, students, applicants and committees;
• Ensuring compliance and alignment with central administrative systems, procedures and standards;
• Governance and committee administration;
• Monitoring, evaluation, reporting, data analysis and planning;
• Administering Faculty finances and preparing an annual Faculty budget for the Dean;
• Integrating central HR practices with Faculty needs;
• Maintaining and improving facilities, equipment, building standards, hygiene and cleanliness.

• An NQF 9 qualification (Master’s degree);
• At least 5 years’ academic administration experience at a senior level in a higher education environment;
• 5 years’ proven staff management experience, preferably in higher education;
• Proven working knowledge of Higher Education legislation, regulations and policies;
• Experience in high-level committee servicing;
• A proven ability in the coordination of diverse, complex and high-level administrative functions, as they relate to the academic cycle in a higher education institution;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• A high level of computer literacy and proficiency in MS packages.

The following would be advantageous:

• Fluency in a South African indigenous language.

Key competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• Planning and organising skills;
• Time and project management skills;
• A strong client focus with impeccable interpersonal skills, assertiveness and the ability to build and nurture internal and external relationships;
• Problem solving and multi-tasking skills.