Direct Reporting Line:
Director of Student Experience

Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa, and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

The IIE Varsity College, National Office has a vacancy for a Manager: Student Life
N.B This position may be based at our National Office in either Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Co-curricular, Extracurricular and Meta curricular Strategy

• Defines, develops and executes a comprehensive Co-curricular, Extracurricular and Meta curricular strategy that aligns with the Institution goals and objectives.
• Evaluates multifaceted non-curricular needs and trends and establishes key performance and participation metrics.
• Establishes and maintains clear and robust frameworks and procedure for formal and non-formal non-curricular pursuits with a national, regional and campus footprint.
• Develop, analyse and interpret the implications of non- curricular student life: social, cultural, clubs, associations affiliation and interest groups and services and applies insights to improve student participation, sustainability and longevity.
• Evaluate and develops co-curricular and recreational student leadership programmes, materials, workshops and activities commensurate with students’ needs and interests.
• Engages with empirical research and establishes best practices to collaborate on the design and advancement of a high-quality and non-curricular offerings for Institution.
• Aligns internal and external partnerships intended to improve non-curricular participation commensurate with faculty goals and objectives.
• Define and establish success metrics to support the sustainable management of student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies,  associations and interests across all sites of the Institution.
• Reviews, evaluates and plans human and fiscal capital work force requirements and needs against the strategy requirements.
• Defines, develops and executes rewards and recognition criteria for participation in formalized clubs, societies and associations.
• Evaluates health, safety, and risk protocols and procedures against campus events, offerings and programmes.

Stakeholder Management

• Cultivate strong relationships with students by understanding their needs, interests, and aspirations.
  
• Ensures non-curricular offerings uphold the Institution commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Cultivate strong relationships with campus student life team by understanding their needs and challenges and provide guidance and mentorship.
• Collaborates with the faculty/ school Deans in co-creating a sense of belonging through the provision of inclusive clubs, societies and associations that supports and enhances the academic business of the Institution.
• Engage with external stakeholders, networks and partners (both current and potential) in order to enhance opportunities and pathways for engagement of social, cultural, clubs, societies and associations.
• Collaborates with the national marketing department to ensure student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies, associations and interest group events, activities and initiatives are represented in brand exposure activities.
• Work with the campus student experience teams to ensure that all student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies, associations and interest activity is delivered equitably and sustainably within the policies and procedures of the Institution.
• Create, maintain and promote a programme and activities calendar of all student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies associations and interest groups with a campus, regional and national footprint.
• Identify, research, and analyze current and potential non-curricular participation initiatives.
• Provides support and mentorship on the planning and implementation of on-campus and off-campus events at local and regional businesses, departments, clubs, and organizations
• Develop and facilitate leadership opportunities for students such as, but not limited to workshops, developmental training, conferences, and events.
• Support the Student Experience Directorate on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects, events and activities.

Awareness and Communication

• Develop, contribute and implement effective communication strategies about activities, events, and opportunities to maximize awareness and participation.
  
• Ensures and enables clear and open communication between internal stakeholders and student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies, and associations unit.
• Utilize omnichannel communication platforms, to promote, maintain and market student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies, associations and interest groups across the Institution.
• Collaborate with and internal stakeholders’ departments to ensure successful event planning and execution.

Budget and Fiscal Management

• Analyzing the resources needed to fulfill social, cultural, clubs, societies, and associations support obligations.
  
• Monitoring expenditures compared to budgets and taking needed corrective action to assure budgetary integrity
• Developing and managing sound long-term strategies for optimizing the return on financial resources for student life: social, cultural, clubs, societies, and associations unit.

Reporting and Governance

• Develops best practices to ensure reasonable safeguarding and risk assessment and mitigation.
  
• In collaboration with The Director of Student Experience ensures sustainable student representation and governance of student life (social and cultural), clubs, societies and association student leaders on student representative councils.
• Monitor and report on clubs, societies, and associations unit trends and factors against establish success metrics.
• Monitors and reports on achievements and progress of the set targets and goals with a heightened focus on sites that are not performing to the required standards.

Skills required:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Collaboration and problem-solving skills
  
• Ability to work with multiple and diverse stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project management abilities
• Proficiency in campaign and communication management
  

Minimum Qualification Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7) or equivalent in areas such as education, communication psychology or business.

Ideal Qualification Requirement:

• Honours Degree (NQF level 8) in relevant field.

 Minimum Experience Requirements:

• 3 years Training and development
• 3 years experience managing cross functional teams
• 3 years Stakeholder management
• 3 years Project Management
• 3 years Communication skills with the ability to communicate to a variety of audiences. 
• 3 years Fiscal/Budget management 
• 3 years Risk assessment and management

Salary:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Lifelong learning opportunities through LinkedIn Learning subscriptions.
• Staff and family discounts on educational programs within our brand portfolio.
• Incentive bonus structure based on performance and achievement of goals.
• Provident fund contributions, including Death & Funeral Cover, to support your financial well-being and future planning.
• Birthday vouchers to celebrate your special day.
• Competitive annual leave allowance for well-deserved time off and rejuvenation.

Application Response:

• Due to the high volume of CVs received, please note that personal contact with all applicants may not be feasible. Only candidates whose qualifications and skills closely align with the position requirements will be contacted for interviews

Technical Support:

• Should you experience technical difficulties applying for the position, kindly use the following URL for further assistance : https://hire.simplify.hr/ContactUs

The IIE Varsity College, IIE Vega and IIE MSA are an Equal Opportunity Employer. However, preference may be given to previously underrepresented groups in accordance with the South African Employment Equity Act. The company reserves the right to close or place the vacancy on hold at any time, without prior notice.