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Universities South Africa is a national association that represents the interests of the South African public universities through its key roles of advocacy, strategic research and sector support services. Universities South Africa also encourages cooperation among universities and among partners with whom it shares interests. Universities South Africa is based in Pretoria. As a non-profit organisation, Universities South Africa is funded through membership fees and revenues from contract management services and donor agencies. 

Applications are invited for the position of a Project Manager: University Lecturer Development Programme (ULDP) 

 

 

 

 

PROJECT MANAGER (RE-ADVERT) 

FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT (ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE CONTRACT) 

Remuneration package: Market-related salary package 

The Project Manager: University Lecturer Development Programme (ULDP) will provide strategic, operational, financial, and compliance leadership for the national implementation of the ULDP. The role is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of programme outcomes, adherence to grant conditions, coordination across participating universities, and achieving measurable impact in lecturer development. 

 

REQUIREMENTS: Honours degree in Higher Education, Education, Leadership, or a related field • Master's qualification will be an added advantage • Minimum 2–5 years' relevant experience in higher education, academic development, or leadership development • Demonstrated experience in project or grant management at institutional or national level • Proven track record in programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation • Experience working with multiple universities or sector-wide initiatives. 

 

KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES: Strong understanding of the South African higher education landscape • Knowledge of governance, compliance, and financial accountability in funded programmes • Advanced project management, planning, and organisational skills • Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and communication abilities • High-level analytical, reporting, and problem-solving capability • Ability to work independently and manage complex national initiatives • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) Adobe Acrobat. Competitive advantage: Knowledge of project management software and advanced level use of Excel. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (but not limited to): Programme Leadership and Implementation - Lead end-to-end implementation of the ULDP across participating institutions; Oversee recruitment, selection, and onboarding of lecturer participants; Coordinate curriculum development, piloting, delivery, and continuous improvement; Ensure alignment with national higher education priorities and institutional needs • Project Management and Governance - Develop and execute a detailed project implementation plan with timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation; Manage programme schedules, deliverables, and resource allocation; Support the functioning of the Project Steering Committee and implement its resolutions; Maintain comprehensive project documentation and audit-ready records • Financial Management and Compliance - Oversee utilisation of project funds in line with approved budgets and grant conditions; Ensure accurate tranche-based invoicing, expenditure tracking, and financial reconciliation; Coordinate internal and external audit requirements and compliance reporting; Mitigate financial and governance risks associated with programme implementation • Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting - Design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks for programme effectiveness; Track performance indicators, learning outcomes, and institutional impact; Produce phase progress reports, stakeholder briefings, and final close-out report; Use data insights to inform programme refinement and sustainability planning • Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships - Serve as primary liaison with participating universities, sector partners, and funders; Facilitate collaboration among academic leaders, trainers, and institutional coordinators; Represent HELM in lecturer development forums, meetings, and sector engagements; Strengthen partnerships to support future scaling and funding opportunities • Team Leadership and Coordination - Manage consultants, trainers, and project support personnel; Foster a high-performance, collaborative project culture; Ensure effective communication across all stakeholders and partners. 

 

Interested candidates should please submit a letter of motivation and their CVs with the names and contact details of at least three traceable referees, by close of business on 19 June 2026, to: recruitment@usaf.ac.za.

 

Correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. If you have not been contacted within 30 days after the closing date, please consider your application as unsuccessful. People from designated groups, including those with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. 

Candidates who previously applied need not reapply. 

Universities South Africa reserves the right not to make an appointment.