SENIOR MANAGER: LOANS & BURSARIES OPERATIONS (JOB GRADE 12 13)

Transcription

1 NSFAS RECRUITING MANDATE The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a public entity accountable to the Department of Higher Education and Training. It provides financial assistance to eligible students at public universities and at Further Education and Training (FET) colleges throughout South Africa. This vacancy exists in Cape Town. NSFAS is in the process of implementing a new operating model as part of its organisational transformation programme. Currently, funding is allocated to universities and Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, which then manage applications by students for funding; payment of fees; and distribution of allowances to successful applicants. In future, students will apply directly to NSFAS, and NSFAS will manage the disbursement of funds to institutions for fees and residence, and to students for allowances such as food and books. The transition to this new operating model has commenced with new processes, organisational design and IT systems. SENIOR MANAGER: LOANS & BURSARIES OPERATIONS (JOB GRADE 12 13) POSITION OVERVIEW To develop and implement loans and bursaries operations strategies which support the overall strategic aims and objectives of NSFAS. The jobholder will be expected to contribute at both a strategic and operational level in order to identify loans and bursaries operational priorities and implement appropriate solutions across the Input Handling, Applications capture and processing, and Loan and Bursaries Servicing areas. The jobholder will lead a team of loans and bursaries operational managers to ensure that the service unit functions effectively. RESPONSIBILITIES a. Planning an Implementation Stays abreast of industry trends and developments in loans applications processing internationally and in South Africa. Balances big picture orientation and detail thinking to contribute to NSFAS strategy and APP development processes. Translates NSFAS strategic and APP objectives into implementable student loans applications and servicing practical frameworks, project plans, processes, tools and designs. Uses supportive frameworks, diagrams, tools to translate big picture into practical reality.

2 Prepares and implements the annual loans and bursaries operational plan to support the overall strategic aims and objectives. Facilitates the development of the loans and bursaries operational service unit strategy, annual plans and policies. Conducts a review of the loans and bursaries operations service unit strategy, annual plans and policies. b. Stakeholder Relationship Management Liaises with the following external stakeholders: Outsourced document scanning provider (Metrofile), Post Office, Universities and FET Colleges (regarding loans application deadlines where necessary. Liaises and actively collaborate with other departments and service units including Loans and Bursaries Relationship and Projects, Finance, IT, HR, sbux and Contact Centre in executing the loans and bursaries operations function. Engages with and manages above stakeholder expectations and impacts using Service Level Agreements where applicable. c. Budgeting & Resource Management Negotiates for resources by considering business and development priorities from vantage point of own service unit. Considers business needs, managers input, trade-offs and leverage to budget and allocate resources to priority areas of service unit. Monitors spend according to plan and makes necessary adjustments, including motivating for additional resources where careful consideration warrants it. Identifies wasteful expenditure and challenges inappropriate work practices and attitudes to resolve this. d. Project & Change Leadership Develops the business case for loans and bursaries operations business process improvement proposals with clear project objectives aligned to NSFAS overall and loans and bursaries operations service unit strategy. Secures loans and bursaries operations project budget and resourcing and ensures that the project is managed within the approved budget, time and scope. Visibly promotes and advocates loans and bursaries operations projects across all levels of NSFAS Guides important decision making and addresses issues relating to achievement of the expected benefits of loans and bursaries operations projects.

3 Gets actively involved in any other project or change affecting the loans and bursaries operations service unit, and communicates benefits and impacts to staff. Coaches staff in adapting to changes and addresses related issues. Sustains the change through leading by example: modeling new behaviours, driving benefits realisation and holding people accountable. e. People Leadership Develops Annual Workforce plans in conjunction with the Loans and Bursaries Relationships and Projects service unit. Creates a performance-enabling environment in the service unit through a culture of management, performance standards, work values and related practices. Assigns work in accordance with plans, to staff members. Sources (and sometimes facilitates) prioritised management development interventions. Appraises performance of direct reports (managers) through formal reviews, as well as everyday (continuously). Holds managers accountable for performance of their direct reports (team-leaders) being careful not to manage the team leaders directly. Coaches managers to accelerate learning and development, and results. Makes oneself visible and available to staff in the service unit and across the organisation as a leader in NSFAS. Resolves challenges where appropriate while empowering managers to do the same to expand their capacity. Manages employment relations (constructive grievance, discipline and conflict resolution). f. Overseas & guides operations Adheres to approved governance standards as basis for leading and managing the service unit. Adheres to approved governance standards as basis for leading and managing the service unit. Ensures loans and bursaries related legislation, processes, policies, and approved systems and practices are understood and adhered to. Monitors management interventions supportively to ensure standards are maintained and risks are kept at bay.

4 Recommends and sources required interventions to optimise performance of staff. Monitors technical standards and introduces changes to make progress. Ensures that student applications and other scanned documents are collated, indexed, quality assured and available via the document management system for further validation and processing. Ensures that student loan and bursary applications are correctly captured, evaluated and processed. Ensures affective administration and servicing of student loans and bursaries for the duration that students are studying. Convenes weekly service unit management meetings. g. Organisational Collaboration & Communication Participates in cross functional collaborative Senior Management meetings to share best practice, experiences and skills. Aligns initiatives across this and other functions to ensure a seamless and integrated service to the organisation through partnership, engagement, teamwork, collaboration, seeking and sharing of information. Manages Up to secure support for initiatives. Manages Down providing elevation for resolution and without micro managing Engages employees on service unit and functional initiatives as part of senior management cohort. Ensures consistency and understanding of important information and communication from top to bottom and laterally, through proactive engagement and tested interpretation. h. Knowledge Management Stays abreast of industry trends and developments in Loans & Bursaries management internationally and in South Africa. Stays curious and at the edge of knowledge by accessing new and best practice knowledge sources, networks and portals (i.e.: Internet; EBSCO; JSTOR etc.) Translates vague (tacit) information into useful knowledge. Makes use of shared (internal) knowledge repositories and document management systems to augment decision-making promote sharing and to accelerate velocity.

5 i. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting Monitors compliance with service unit plans. Gathers feedback to understand performance gaps and to recommend changes Submits performance and compliance reports timeously and to required standards. DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE Minimum requirements A three year degree or national diploma in Commerce 5 years related management experience Knowledge of Higher Education sector, the NSFAS Act, NCA and the PFMA. Beneficial skills and experience A tertiary diploma or degree in any subject.. Familiarity with the public sector legal requirements and compliance environment Financial management experience. Competencies Generic Competencies Balance big picture and detail orientation Strong intervention skills Relationship building skills Confidence Keen observation Listening Teambuilding Meeting management Leadership Communication Resilience Technical Competencies Loans & Bursaries Process Business & program planning Project management Strategy execution Stakeholder management Management Program planning Facilitation skills Client Relationship Management Change & Transition Management

6 JOB DETAILS Job grade: Remuneration: R R PA Total Cost to Company per annum inclusive of all benefits and company contributions. Included in the above remuneration is the company contribution to our compulsory pension fund (15%), medical aid contributions and an annual bonus. NSFAS is committed to employment equity. Preference will be given to candidates who improve employment equity ratios. Interested applicants should send detailed Curriculum Vitae, copies of academic qualifications and names of three contactable referees to Ms Fayroes Sherry via jobs@nsfas.org.za Closing date: 16th February 2015 If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.