NATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SCHEME (NSFAS) – CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

 
The Chief Operations Officer will be responsible to manage and lead the Operations management team that oversees the NSFAS Value Chain, comprising of the processes, systems and resources for loan applications, disbursements, servicing, disability, Universities, TVET Colleges and Funder Relations. In addition will be required to formulate and implement the Operations strategy to support the sustainability of the NSFAS entity, formulate and implement an Operations business model that aligns to the NSFAS business model and strategy, develop and maintain professional relations with all the relevant stakeholders, represent Operations as a member of the NSFAS Executive Management, reporting to the Executive Officer. The successful incumbent will be responsible for the implementation of divisional governance, risk awareness and compliance framework, compilation of risk register and mitigation against critical risks, provide operational policies, processes and procedures to maintain and improve throughput rates of NSFAS funded students, lead and manage a team of professionals and specialists, drive human capital development for the Operations division and manage day to day Operations including people, processes and systems and to facilitate business continuity.
 
RESPONSIBILITES
MANAGEMENT
• Translates the NSFAS long-term strategy into measurable Annual Performance Plans (APP), Operational Plans and Individual Performance Contracts
• Accountable for implementation of Operations outputs in APP
• Monitors and reports to Executive Committee and Board on Operations’ progress against both NSFAS strategic Plan, NSFAS APP and Operations APP outputs
• Provides strategic Operations guidance and recommendations to the Executive Officer, EXCO and Board
• Collaborates with the executive management team to develop and implement plans for the achievement of the NSFAS mandate and strategic objectives
• Identifies Operations risks and challenges
• Drafts and drives Operations risk mitigation plans
• Drives Operations efficiencies and effectiveness
• Formulates Operations policy and planning recommendations to the Board and ensures that relevant Operations Policies and procedures are developed and adhered to
• Analyses the costs, value and risks of the student funding value chain and develops and implements the required remedial actions
• Ensures compliance to statutory requirements and reporting needs
• Advises and provides inputs to the Executive Officer on matters pertaining to student funding
• Leads and models the required culture of engagement and ethical leadership
 
GOVERNANCE
• Works with the Governance, Risk and Compliance Executive to develop and implement an integrated GRC and Business Continuity framework for Operations
• Responsible for conducting regular assessment and driving the resolution of identified risks and issues within Operations
• Ensures that Operations functions meet governance and compliance requirements
• Provides updates and reports to the Executive Committee, Board and relevant Committees in accordance with the organisational GRC framework and its requirements
 

 
PEOPLE
• Provides leadership, direction and management to Operations Division and the broader NSFAS organisation
• Is a member of the Senior Leadership of the organization
• Champions and demonstrates the NSFAS Leadership Behaviours and Values
• Directs and focuses efforts of Operations management and employees towards the achievement of strategic, operational, team and individual performance objectives.
• Motivates, leads and emulates high performance for the Operations management team
• Attracts, recruits, develops, engages and retains required managers and employees within Operations provides mentoring and coaching where required and necessary
 
FINANCE
• Ensures that the Operations strategy is adequately budgeted for through the development and implementation of a requisite budget
• Provide effective financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in the division
• Reports and accounts on Operations budgets, forecasts and expenditure as and when required by the EXCO, Board and relevant stakeholders and statutory bodies
 
STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
• Participates in the strategic positioning of NSFAS and promote the enterprise with relevant stakeholders
• Manage and influence relationships and service level agreements made with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop, implement and report on a plan for engaging stakeholders on a regular basis; manage and resolve all identified issues and risks to facilitate healthy stakeholder engagements and relationships
 
 
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Required Qualifications
• Masters’ degree in Commerce, Business Administration or related field
 
Knowledge and Experience
• At least 15 years’ experience in a similar environment, of which 5 - 8 years at executive management level in the public or private sector
• Reasonable understanding of procedures and statutory requirements applicable to section 3(A) entities
• Good knowledge of governance, risk and organisational performance management principles
• Functional stakeholder relationships and networks in the Higher Education sector
• Reasonable understanding of Higher Education policy imperatives and development requirements
 
Behavioural Competencies
• Accountability
• Accurate understanding
• Building sustainability
• Championing the mandate
• Conceptual thinking
• Developing others
• Striving for excellence
• Fairness and transparency
• Honesty and integrity
• Influencing others
• Leveraging diversity
• Mobilising teams
• Respect
• Responsibility for societal impact
• Trust
 
Technical Competencies
• Business Acumen
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Financial Control
• Performance Reporting
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Managerial budgeting
• Planning
• Management and measurement
• Monitoring Measures
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Strategic Planning
• Technologically driven business ability
• Data management and analysis
 
Compliance Competencies
• Must have security clearance ideally Government Top Secret clearance

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REMUNERATION & BENEFITS
Remuneration Package: R 1 486 877 to R 1 629 348 per annum
Total Cost to Company per annum inclusive of all benefits and company contributions.
 
PLEASE NOTE
 
Closing date: 10 November 2019
 
If you meet the above competencies, you are invited to apply. Full job specifications can be found on the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za
NSFAS will not consider late applications. NSFAS only corresponds with shortlisted candidates. If you do not hear from NSFAS within 2 months of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful
NSFAS is committed to employment equity. Preference will be given to candidates who improve employment equity considerations
“NSFAS is committed to providing equal opportunities and practicing affirmative action employment. It is our intention to promote representivity (race, gender, disability) in the organisation through filling of this position and candidates whose appointment will promote representivity will receive preference. “
 
10 Brodie Road, House Vincent, 2nd Floor, Wynberg, Cape Town, 7700 | Private Bag X1, Plumstead, Cape Town, 7800
Tel No.: 0800 067 327 | 021 763 3200 | Email: jobs@nsfas.org.za