Director: Public Examination

About the role

The Department of Basic Education is recruiting a Director for the Directorate: Public Examinations, within the National Assessment and Public Examinations chief directorate. The role sits in the Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring branch and manages, coordinates and supports the activities of the Directorate: Public Examinations.

Key responsibilities

• Manage, coordinate and support the activities of the Directorate: Public Examinations.
• Facilitate the setting of high-quality Grade 12 question papers for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate (SC) examinations.
• Enhance the national quality assurance system for school-based assessment in Grade 12.
• Facilitate high-quality, standardised marking of the NSC and SC across all marking centres and pilot e-marking.
• Support and co-ordinate the implementation of the NSC and SC examinations across the nine Provincial Education Departments.
• Manage irregularities and strengthen the integrity of the NSC.
• Contribute to strengthening communication.

Required profile

• NQF Level 7 qualification (as recognised by SAQA) in Education or a related field; a postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.
• At least five years of middle/senior management experience, of which at least three years in education assessment and examinations.
• Sound knowledge of curriculum policies, assessment policies and the NSC examination system, including question paper development, moderation, standardisation, quality assurance, marking and monitoring of examinations.
• Knowledge of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act (2001), the Public Finance Management Act (1999) and other regulations governing public examinations.
• Proven project management, strategic leadership and stakeholder liaison skills, including work with provincial education departments, examiners, moderators and Umalusi.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel; a vetting process through the State Security Agency is required.

Required skills

• Process competencies: knowledge management, service delivery innovation, report writing, problem solving and analysis, client orientation and communication.
• Core competencies: strategic capability and leadership, programme and project management, financial management, people management and empowerment, innovation and creativity.