Skills Development Specialist

Ignition CX; Umhlanga Rocks; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Ignition Group is seeking a Skills Development Specialist to coordinate WSP/ATR submissions, manage funding applications, and ensure compliance documentation across the organization. You will collaborate with HR, Finance and external bodies to optimise skills development outcomes and funding utilisation.

The role requires experience in SETA submissions, governance, and maintaining audit-ready records, with a focus on accurate data and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience with WSP/ATR reporting and statutory submissions.
• Experience with grant submissions and funding administration.
• Familiarity with SETA/ETQA compliance and audit readiness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate WSP, ATR and SETA submissions with data collection, validation and sign-off.
• Monitor and report on B-BBEE skills development expenditure and evidence.
• Administer accredited skills programmes, learnerships and interventions; enrolment and records.
• Identify funding opportunities and prepare applications with correct documentation and deadlines.
• Maintain funding trackers and reconciliations for awarded funding.
• Coordinate accreditation and quality assurance with SETA/QCTO/ETQA bodies.
• Prepare training and funding reports; support B-BBEE verification.
• Maintain policies and audit-ready documentation; identify process improvements.

Skills

WSP/ATR data

Funding submissions

Audit evidence

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HRD/Business Administration

Skills Development Facilitator registration

Tools

HRIS (SAGE)

Learning Management System

Job description

The Skills Development Specialist coordinates statutory skills development submissions, B-BBEE skills development scorecard monitoring, accredited skills programmes and external funding applications. The role safeguards regulatory compliance, maintains accurate training and expenditure records, and identifies practical actions to improve skills development outcomes and funding utilisation across the business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Functional Responsibilities

• Coordinate Workplace Skills Plan (WSP), Annual Training Report (ATR) and associated SETA submissions, including data collection, validation, stakeholder sign-off and record retention.
• Monitor B-BBEE skills development scorecard expenditure and supporting evidence; review performance against targets and recommend corrective action plans.
• Administer and coordinate accredited skills programmes, learnerships and related interventions, including enrolment, learner records, provider coordination and programme close-out.
• Identify and prepare funding applications through relevant SETAs and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic / formerly DTI), ensuring accurate supporting documentation and deadline adherence.
• Maintain funding trackers, reconcile claims and monitor reporting, contractual and evidence requirements for awarded funding.
• Coordinate SETA/QCTO and ETQA-related accreditation, moderation, quality assurance and compliance documentation.
• Compile accurate training, funding and statutory reports and contribute supporting data for B-BBEE verification.
• Maintain skills development policies, procedures, registers and audit-ready documentation; identify process improvements.

Stakeholder and Provider Coordination

• Liaise with HR, Finance, Learning and Development, training providers, SETA/QCTO representatives and relevant industry bodies to obtain accurate information and resolve compliance issues.
• Communicate programme requirements, submission deadlines, documentation standards and funding conditions to stakeholders.

Quality and Continuous Improvement

• Review training programme feedback, compliance findings and data trends; propose improvements to programme administration and reporting.
• Support internal and external audits and respond to evidence requests within agreed timelines.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Development, Business Administration or related field (preferred in original specification).
• Registration as a Skills Development Facilitator (as stated in original specification).

Professional Certifications

• Relevant SETA/QCTO, ETQA or skills development compliance certification advantageous; confirm requirements with hiring manager.

Experience

• At least five years’ experience in learning and development with a skills development facilitation focus (original requirement; confirm suitability for specialist level).
• Demonstrated experience in WSP/ATR and other statutory reporting, grant submissions and funding administration.
• Practical experience with accredited programme administration, quality assurance, accreditation, moderation and SETA/ETQA compliance.
• Experience monitoring B-BBEE skills development expenditure and maintaining verification evidence.

SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

• Working knowledge of the Skills Development Act, relevant SETA/QCTO requirements, B-BBEE skills development scorecard and applicable employment equity reporting.
• Ability to prepare and reconcile WSP/ATR data, training records, funding submissions and audit evidence.
• Strong understanding of SETA and government funding mechanisms, eligibility criteria and grant application processes.
• Competence in accredited programme administration, provider coordination and quality assurance documentation.
• Proficiency with HR information systems, learning management systems and spreadsheets (e.g., SAGE).
• Data analysis, expenditure monitoring, report writing and action tracking.
• Effective communication and relationship management with internal and external stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, deadline management and confident facilitation/presentation skills.

DIGITAL AND AI FLUENCY

At Ignition Group, digital and AI fluency is not a nice-to-have — it is a core performance requirement for every role, at every level. As AI and automation reshape how work gets done, the ability to work confidently and responsibly alongside these tools is as fundamental as any technical or professional skill.

What this means in practice:

• Digital fluency — navigating and using digital platforms, tools, and systems relevant to your role with confidence and competence
• AI tool adoption — actively using approved AI productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to improve the quality, accuracy, and efficiency of your work
• Data literacy — reading, interpreting, and applying data and AI-generated outputs to make better decisions, not replacing your judgement but sharpening it
• Automation awareness — recognising tasks and processes that can be improved through automation, and contributing to those improvements
• Learning agility — staying curious, upskilling continuously, and adapting as tools and practices evolve
• Responsible and ethical AI use — understanding data privacy obligations, the limits of AI-generated content, and applying sound human judgement at all times

How this is assessed:

Digital and AI Fluency is an important competency for all roles in Ignition Group and will be assessed as part of the hiring process. The expected proficiency level for each role is aligned to the requirements of the role.