Executive Director
Unisa is a leading contributor to the South African graduate pool, offering a wide range of quality programmes to a third of all higher education students in the country, as well as to other international students. At the forefront of this, is Comprehensive open Distance e-Learning (CODeL + Business Model), the cornerstone of Unisa’s unique positioning, giving accessibility of its programs to the remotest parts of South Africa, the continent and the world.
Human spirit is at the very core of every successful establishment. Courage, enthusiasm, and a positive mental attitude drive the vision, mission, soul and essence of what UNISAis. Key to maintaining and developing its investment in people, be it staff or students, is exemplary leadership in Human Resources.
Academic Partners has been exclusively retained to identify and assess for outstanding people talented in furthering and developing the very essence of the human spirit. Is that you?
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: HUMAN RESOURCES
P3 • 5-YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT • REFERENCE: AP1142
Underpinning your innate interactive talent with people and people development and deployment, is at least a Master’s degree in Human Resources and/or Industrial Psychology or a cognate field. Registration with the relevant professional body will provide an added advantage.
You can showcase a minimum of 10-years’ experience in human resources, of which a minimum of five years has been in a relevant senior management role. Your profile and ability include change leadership and/or management • leading and supervising • political savviness • strategic thinking • stakeholder management • collaboration and teamwork • innovation and creativity • rule orientation • problem solving • conflict management. You are a natural communicator, be it oral or written, and similarly, you are analytical, resilient, determined and you have the ability to take stress in your stride.
From a technical perspective, you have the knowledge, skills and abilities for • general management • policies and procedures • risk management • application of the King IV report on corporate governance • understanding of relevant legislation • astute appreciation of regulations and other relevant regulations as determined by the Department of Higher Education and Training, as is applicable to all institutions of higher education • diversity, equity and transformation • organisational development • employee relations • training and development • talent management • recruitment and on boarding •remuneration •benefits administration.
This position reports to the Vice Principal Institutional Development and is supported by a talented team of six subordinate managers and their respective teams, together with a highly competent Personal Assistant. Internally you will enjoy interaction with a mix of the Principal and Vice Chancellor, Extended Management (Vice-Principals, Executive Deans and Deputy Executive Deans of Colleges, and all Executive Directors), Portfolio Managers, all Professional and Support Departments, Members of management committees and operational committees, Members of Senate and its committees. While externally, you will interface with Council and its committees and members, Department of Higher Education and Training, Public /private external organisations, Government Agencies, Professional bodies, Bodies where UNISA has Institutional membership, External Auditors, and CHE.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: LEADERSHIP & TRANSFORMATION
P3 • 5-YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT • REFERENCE: AP1143
Your doctoral degree in Social Sciences and Humanities or cognate disciplines is complemented by a minimum of 10 years experience in the area of leadership and transformation, of which at least 5 years has been in a senior management role.
When it comes to leading, deciding, conceptualising and creating, adapting, coping and the alike, you are at the top of your game. Similarly, peers and colleagues consider your ability to support, cooperate, interact, present, organise and execute your tasks as being unquestionable. Innately, you are an analytical thinker capable of interpreting complex data, all of which is done in an enterprising way. Technically, general management, institutional advancement, organisational change, transformation planning and execution, corporate governance, and the adherence to policy and legislation, all sit comfortably within your realm of ability. As does organisational culture and leadership.
Reporting to the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, you will be supported by a Deputy Director: Employment Equity, Director: Scholarship Change, Deputy Director: Culture Change, Deputy Director: Governance Leadership and Management, Director: Leadership Systems and Policies, as well as by a Project Administrator and Personal Assistant.
Internally you will enjoy interaction with a mix of Vice-Principals, business partners, specialists within the value chain, Executive Deans and Deputy Executive Deans of the various colleges, as well as with Council and its committees. While externally, you will interface with vendors, public and private organisations, government agencies, professional bodies, government departments, bodies with which UNISA has institutional membership and professional associations and organisations.
Not only is UNISA the biggest institution of higher education in the southern hemisphere, it is also at the forefront of transformation. Are you ready to pick up the cudgel and take this iconic institution to a next level?
Interested? Please provide Genevieve Michel, Academic Partners’ Head of Assessments, with a letter of motivation together with your Curriculum Vitae, quoting the relevant reference number before the closing date of 20 July 2025.
Application can be made as follows: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Executive Director: Human Resources: [email protected]
Executive Director: Transformation and Leadership: [email protected]
For further information please visit: https://www.executivetalenting.co.za/talent-registry/
All applications will be treated as strictly confidential. We correspond with all our candidates.