Head: Academic Operations

**Direct Reporting Line**:
Campus Deputy Head

**Varsity College** is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE)

**The IIE's Varsity College, Westville Campus has a vacancy for a Head: Academic Operations.**

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Quality Assurance**
- Manages the academic delivery on campus in collaboration with the Head: Academic.
- Oversees the implementation of academic and related policies in conjunction with the Campus Deputy Head: Academic.
- Ensures compliance (policy and other) within all areas of academic operations.
- Maintains and develops relationships with all stakeholders including students, parents, lecturers and other staff and ensures resolution of queries within a committed time frame.
- Approves all departmental documentation distributed to student and external stakeholders in line with the approval process of the brand.

**Operational Programme Management**
- Works closely together with Head: Student Services and Head: Academic in all areas of responsibility to maintain open communication regarding programme delivery and the student and lecturer experience e.g. at risk meetings.
- Highlights any challenges found in relation to programme material and assessments with the outcome of achieving an improved student and lecturer experience.
- Ensures proper sign off of all students eligible for graduation in line with the required standards for the qualification.

**Student Support**
- Ensures the operational needs of a student are handled timeously and are responded to by the relevant Academic Operations staff in accordance with a student centred approach.
- Represents the Academic Operations department on the VC Voice Committee.
- Responsible for student retention in collaboration with the Head: Academic.

**Independent Contractor (Lecturer & Invigilator) Operational Support**
- Management of any liaison with the Academic team regarding any lecturer concerns which may arise from student consultations.
- Ensures all lecturer requirements are met regarding the operational delivery of programmes in conjunction with the various Centres of Excellence.
- Works closely with the Head: Academic in ensuring lecturer allocations are completed timeously so the timetabling process may begin in accordance with the timelines that support the timetabling project in line with programme start dates.

**Departmental Management**
- Manages operational reviews and guides the process of identifying and correcting areas of operational risk.
- Co-ordinates The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) requests, e.g. implementing a policy change.
- Assists the Head: Academic in the compilation of the academic operations budget regarding allocation of groups in relation to campus targets and the accommodation schedule.
- Responsible for campus compliance in respect of Group Internal Audits or any other audit which may present operational compliance and manages improvement plans.
- Performs general management duties including managing staff performance, overtime, staff leave and staff morale etc.
- Recruits, trains and develops specific skills required in the different Centres of Excellence and Student Reception.
- Manages Academic Operations meetings including drawing up agendas and chairing the Academic Operations meetings.
- Manages focus group sessions with the different centres where challenges and improvements on existing processes are discussed.
- Responsible for the efficient running and service delivery of the various Centres of Excellence as well as to ensure that all student queries are resolved in a timeous and efficient manner.
- Ensures that all policy updates are communicated to the Customer Relations Centre and that students are informed accordingly.
- Responsible for providing training and onboarding of new and existing staff within the Centres of Excellence (where applicable).
- Recruits staff for all Centres of Excellence (where applicable).
- Implements strategies to accommodate growth, improved student experience and eliminate risk within Academic Operations.
- Ensures compliance to The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) legislation relevant to the Academic Operations department.
- Acts as an Investigating Officer in investigating any complaints of a disciplinary nature.

**Competencies Required**:

- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
- Problem solving skills
- Financial analysis
- Public speaking/presentation skills
- Best suited to a friendly, organised person who works accurately and is able to handle pressure
- Leadership skills
- Time management skills

**Minimum Qualification Requirements**:

- Minimum of Advanced Diploma or Bachelors Degree (NQF L