ACADEMIC PROGRAMME LEADER: BCOM PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:
The Academic Programme Leader will provide academic leadership, strategic direction and operational oversight for the BCom Project Management Programme. This three-year undergraduate qualification develops students’ project management knowledge, planning and leadership skills, and ability to apply project management principles across a range of organisational and industry contexts.
The role requires an individual who can maintain academic quality, strengthen industry relevance and support student engagement, progression and completion within a supported distance learning environment.
Programme Management and Leadership: Align with MANCOSA’s vision, mission, and strategy. Establish and maintain programme philosophy, linking it to the institutional vision and mission. Oversee programme lifecycle management, design, and manage the programme’s teaching and learning strategy, and handle programme budget management. Collaborate with marketing and student enrolment to communicate the programme’s value proposition.
- Programme Planning and Administration: Work closely with the Institutional Planning Department. Identify suitable academics for content development, delivery, and assessment. Ensure quality control of programme information on the website and prospectus.
- Programme Admissions and Delivery: Manage semesterly admissions in line with enrolment plans. Apply programme and institutional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and rules. Facilitate webinars and oversee assessment development and marking.
- Stakeholder Engagement, Development, and Recognition: Induct academic staff and promote appropriate community engagement initiatives and activities. Strengthen relationships with industry partners, alumni, professional bodies, and external stakeholders. Represent the programme at academic, industry, and public forums to enhance its profile and credibility.
- Student Engagement and Success: Provide programme specific career guidance in collaboration with the Career Centre. Support student success initiatives, including retention, progression, and completion strategies.
- Programme Intelligence: Gather and analyse longitudinal programme and student performance data to feedback into lifecycle management. Report on trend analysis, benchmarking, student throughput, retention, articulation, and dropout rates. Use data insights to drive programme innovation and responsiveness.
- Programme Governance: Participate in programme cyclical reviews in Participate in cyclical programme reviews and accreditation processes. Monitor, evaluate, and manage academic risks associated with the programme. Ensure compliance with regulatory and quality assurance requirements.
Minimum requirements
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
· A relevant master’s degree in Project Management or a closely related field at NQF Level 9.
· A doctoral degree in a relevant field would be advantageous.
· Demonstrated academic expertise relevant to Project Management curriculum, with the ability to coordinate academic contributions across Project Management and Risk Management.
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- A minimum of five years’ experience in higher education, including undergraduate teaching and academic coordination or programme management.
- Experience in curriculum development, assessment design, moderation and academic quality assurance.
- Demonstrated expertise in Project Management or Risk Management disciplines.
- Proven academic leadership, sound judgement and effective decision-making.
- Strong communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to interpret student performance data and implement appropriate academic interventions.
- Proficiency in learning management systems and digitally enabled teaching and learning.
- Strong planning, organisational, analytical and conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to collaborate across academic and administrative teams.
ADVANTAGES
- Experience in leading or contributing to undergraduate project management programmes.
- Experience in supported distance or online higher education.
- Relevant industry experience and established professional networks (PMI).
- A record of research publications, conference participation or other scholarly contributions.
- Experience in programme reviews and accreditation processes.
- Experience in student success initiatives and curriculum innovation, including the responsible integration of AI, data skills and sustainability.
GENERAL
- We are seeking a candidate who is:
- Academically credible and committed to undergraduate business education.
- Student-centred and responsive to the needs of distance learners.
- Innovative and attentive to developments in business practice and the changing world of work.
- Collaborative and capable of coordinating academics across a multidisciplinary curriculum.
- Committed to academic excellence, ethical practice and continuous improvement.