Research and Development Specialist

SUMMARY:
A leading tertiary institution is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced individual to join their team as a Research and Development specialist

POSITION INFO:

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Research and Development Specialist will report directly to the Senior Research and Development Specialist.

This is a professional technical position with management potential with project management and some strategic responsibility

The purposes of the position are:

• Development, implementation and maintenance of processes and systems that will ensure the quality of programmes submitted for accreditation and areas related to accreditation.
• Supervision of curriculum development and supporting the senior research and development specialist on submissions.
• Project management of programme review and graduate tracking projects.
• Management of relationships with and site visits related to partners and the legislative authorities.
• Support the institutional research projects and processes.

Key Areas of Responsibility Include:

Development of new qualifications as required by the brands

• Analysis of the market needs in cooperation with the brands and faculties.
• Develop and maintain systems for quality programme design and submissions.
• Support the Development of programmes (full qualifications) to respond to these needs (including management of the relevant subject matter experts and programme advisory committees).
• Supporting the accreditation submissions and writing of responses to conditions.

Supervision of curriculum development

• Works with the design teams to take concepts for new programmes and develop them into full proposals and then to develop the associated qualification structure within the quality and regulatory parameters that pertain to these.
• Quality assures programmes during the development process at specified intervals, in terms of academic appropriateness, level of the programme, language and meeting the specifications provided by authorities.
• Supervision and guidance in outcome writing for curriculums.
• Supporting the senior R&D specialist on actual submissions.
• Where required manage the R&D Assistant in the submission process

Review and Tracking of existing qualifications

• Project management and maintenance of the existing programme review process.
• Project manage the monitoring and tracking of existing qualifications and alumni.
• Support the senior R&D specialist in reaccreditation.

Stakeholder Relations

• Manage the BAC partnership and site visits.
• Supports the senior R&D specialist in site visits and other activities related to the legislative bodies.

Institution Research

• Contributes to research projects and associated reporting related to programme development and higher education demand trends which helps to inform programme development planning.
• Supports initiatives to improve the research profile of the institutions CAT.
• Supports the work of the senior R&D specialist related to research projects

Travel and work outside of normal hours will be required for which, given the level of seniority of the post, no overtime payment will be made

Desried Experience & Qualification:

A post graduate qualification

A qualification in higher education which includes curriculum design would be a strong recommendation

Experience:

• In-depth knowledge of South Africa higher education
• Three to five years in an academic position which has included programme accreditation work – review or development
• Academic research experience and some publication history.

Competencies:

• Guide people in a developmental way building trust relationships and positive interpersonal relationships
• Impeccable English verbal and written competency
• Impeccable communication and interpersonal skills that will enable the person to work with the academic teams, external parties and the brands
• Demonstrated ability to manage self and own output and to work to tight deadlines while retaining impeccable levels of accuracy
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong project planning, monitoring and evaluation skills
• High level systems thinking and planning skills
• Excellent analytic, writing and communication skills
• Excellent advocacy and networking skills
• Project management experience
• Proven ability to work constructively in a team, display initiative, manage own work including competing demands against tight deadlines and managing work to successful completion – including trouble shooting.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, if you have not received a response within 5 days, please consider your application as unsuccessful

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