About the Role
The Department of Social Development is seeking a dedicated Deputy Director for the S/DIR: ECD Centres – Conditional Grant position at their Head Office in Mbombela. This vital role is designed for an experienced professional who is passionate about enhancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes across the province. The successful candidate will play a critical part in shaping and implementing strategies that will directly benefit the communities in Mpumalanga, ensuring that our youngest citizens receive the quality education and support they deserve.
In this role, you will gather and interpret national business process reform plans to align them with provincial needs. Your contributions will drive integrated provincial implementation plans, covering ECD registration, infrastructure support, and subsidy management. By coordinating training and stakeholder engagements, you will ensure that best practices are shared and executed effectively, ultimately improving the quality of learning outcomes in schools and contributing to long-term success for children in the province.
About the Department
The Department of Social Development is committed to promoting the wellbeing of all South Africans, focusing on social cohesion and the empowerment of vulnerable groups. This department works tirelessly to implement policies and programmes that create a supportive environment for children and families, ensuring that they have access to necessary resources and services. Joining this department means being part of a mission that values inclusivity and strives to make a positive impact on the lives of citizens in South Africa.
What You’ll Do
- Gather national business process reform plans and tailor them to provincial needs.
- Develop integrated provincial implementation plans for ECD registration and infrastructure support.
- Coordinate the execution of provincial Silver/Gold registration and subsidy plans across districts.
- Facilitate training sessions on new ECD business processes for provincial and district staff.
- Lead engagements with key departments and sector stakeholders for effective ECD programme delivery.
- Monitor and track implementation of plans across all districts, providing consolidated reports.
- Ensure effective communication of stakeholder engagement through established channels.
What You’ll Need
- An undergraduate qualification (NQF 7) in a relevant field or equivalent.
- A minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in an ECD environment.
- A valid driver’s license.
- Strong understanding of challenges in the ECD sector and strategies to improve learning outcomes.
- Familiarity with key business processes in ECD, including registration and subsidy management.
- Proven ability to manage projects effectively and deliver results within set timelines.
- Excellent writing skills and ability to communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work under pressure.
How to Apply
Please submit your application before the closing date as late applications will not be considered.
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Requirements
An undergraduate qualification (NQF 7) as recognised by SAQA in the relevant field or equivalent qualification.Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in an ECD environment.
Valid driver's license.
Knowledge of the key challenges in the ECD sector and how these can be mediated to improve the quality of learning outcomes in schools and to contribute to success in later life.
Knowledge of the key business processes in the ECD sector, including registration, subsidy management and reporting processes to accurately diagnose execution strengths and weaknesses, identify key issues, and develop implementation plans.
Knowledge of and ability to work with critical stakeholders within the ECD sector to strengthen the implementation of Early Childhood Development programmes.
Experience in all processes required in project management to deliver projects according to plans, time and budget.
Ability to translate strategy into operational reality, including breaking down strategies or programme initiatives into key tasks and identifying accountabilities.
Ability to align communication, people, culture, processes, resources and systems to ensure effective implementation and delivery of required results.
Ability to write clearly and understandably.
Good and functional knowledge of Government prescripts, knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems and processes.
Good interpersonal relations and the ability to handle pressure.
Condition: Appointment will be subject to competency assessment.
All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
Job Duties
Gather national business process reform plans and interpret them in line with provincial requirements.Facilitates the adaptation of the national plans to develop integrated provincial implementation plans on ECD registration, infrastructure support, subsidy management and quality assurance and support.
Coordinates the development, execution and monitoring of provincial Silver/Gold registration and subsidy implementation plans across all districts.
Enables and support execution of the Provincial Programme Management Unit (PPMU) governance structures and processes to ensure effective and efficient execution of integrated provincial registration, infrastructure support and subsidy plans.
Plans, coordinates and facilitates all training related to new ECD business processes at the provincial and district level.
Coordinates all planned engagements of key departments and sector stakeholders critical towards the delivery of new ECD business processes.
Coordinates ECD programme support requirements from district officials and supporting functional departments.
Coordinates execution of stakeholder identification, engagements and communication through new and/or standard provincial communication channels with departmental internal communication team and existing district communication or engagement platforms (example- ECD forums, community forums etc.
).
Monitors provincial plans and tracks implementation of plans for all related districts.
Consolidates provincial reports by facilitating inputs from district supervisors and functional leads.
Monitors dashboards and ensures weekly results/updates are published and shared with districts.
