Skills Development Officer (12 Months Fixed-Term Contract)

SUMMARY:
To provide operational, technical and programme coordination support for the implementation and monitoring of the company''s Skills Development and Job Placements Programme.

POSITION INFO:

Role Summary

To provide operational, technical and programme coordination support for the implementation and monitoring of the company''s Skills Development and Job Placements Programme. The Skills Development Officer will coordinate skills development interventions, strategic partnerships, accredited training providers, beneficiary recruitment and placement, online portal administration, learner monitoring and employment verification. The incumbent will also coordinate the company''s accreditation readiness and quality assurance processes. In collaboration with the Third-Party Funds function within Human Capital, the officer will provide technical programme inputs, implementation plans, learner targets, budgets and performance information required for external funding applications.

Outputs

Skills Development Programme Implementation and Coordination

• Coordinate the implementation of approved learnerships, internships, apprenticeships, graduate programmes, TVET workplace experience and other skills development interventions.
• Translate approved programme proposals and funding agreements into implementation plans, schedules, milestones and deliverables.
• Coordinate implementation with training providers, employers, strategic partners and participating institutions.
• Monitor programme delivery against approved learner targets, budgets, timelines and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate learner agreements, attendance registers, training schedules and programme documentation.
• Monitor learner participation, workplace exposure, training progress and completion rates.
• Identify implementation challenges, coordinate corrective actions and escalate risks to management.
• Maintain programme records to support reporting, audit and compliance requirements.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

• Assist with company’s process of becoming an accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP).
• Support institutional readiness assessments and identify accreditation requirements and gaps.
• Coordinate engagements with QCTO, relevant SETAs and Quality Partners.
• Assist with preparing accreditation applications, policies and supporting documentation.
• Monitor accreditation milestones, compliance requirements and implementation progress.
• Coordinate assessments, site visits and quality assurance engagements.
• Verify external training providers’ accreditation status and maintain accreditation records.

Online Portal, Strategic Partner and Beneficiary Administration

• Administer the online Skills Development Portal and monitor partner and beneficiary applications.
• Screen applications against approved eligibility criteria and documentation requirements.
• Track application statuses, outstanding documents and screening outcomes.
• Maintain accurate partner, beneficiary and application records.
• Coordinate the collection, verification and filing of supporting documentation.
• Manage routine enquiries and refer specialised queries to the relevant officials.
• Coordinate with IST on portal testing, enhancements and technical issues.
• Monitor application and recruitment progress against approved programme targets.
• Ensure confidentiality and appropriate management of beneficiary and partner information.

Strategic Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination

• Identify and engage potential strategic partners, including employers, accredited training providers, TVET colleges and implementation agencies.
• Coordinate Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and partner proposals.
• Assist with preliminary partner assessments against approved the company’s criteria.
• Conduct administrative due diligence covering partner capacity, compliance, accreditation, co-investment and employment opportunities.
• Prepare partner evaluation schedules and reports for management consideration.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagements and support the administration of MoUs, SLAs and partnership agreements.
• Maintain a partner database and monitor agreed deliverables and commitments.

Youth Recruitment, Selection and Placement Support

• Coordinate recruitment, screening and selection of unemployed youth, graduates, interns, trainees and TVET learners.
• Assist with advertising opportunities and managing applications through the company’s and its strategic partners.
• Verify beneficiary eligibility against company and funder-specific requirements.
• Coordinate shortlisting, interviews, onboarding, contracting and registration.
• Facilitate placements with training providers and host employers.
• Maintain accurate beneficiary records and supporting documentation.
• Monitor recruitment and placement progress against approved targets and timelines.

Beneficiary Monitoring, Support and Employment Verification

• Monitor learner attendance, participation, training progress and workplace exposure.
• Maintain communication with learners, training providers and host employers to identify implementation challenges.
• Coordinate support interventions to minimise learner attrition.
• Track beneficiary progression into employment, enterprise development and self-employment.
• Collect and verify employment evidence, including contracts, appointment letters, payslips and employer confirmations.
• Monitor employment retention against applicable funder requirements.
• Maintain beneficiary tracking records covering recruitment, enrolment, completion, placement and employment outcomes.
• Escalate beneficiary-related challenges and programme delivery risks to management.

Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance Support

• Compile programme implementation reports, funding reports, performance dashboards and management submissions.
• Consolidate programme information and monitor performance against approved targets.
• Maintain accurate programme records and Portfolios of Evidence (POEs).
• Support reporting to EXCO, MANCO, the Board and funding institutions.
• Monitor compliance with funding agreements, programme requirements and the company governance frameworks.
• Coordinate programme close-out documentation, learner verification and financial reconciliation inputs.
• Liaise with Finance, Legal, Procurement, Strategy and Planning, Internal Audit, Third-Party Funds and other relevant departments.
• Identify reporting gaps, implementation risks and areas requiring corrective action.

Experience / Skills Required

• 3–5 years'' relevant experience in skills development, programme administration, project coordination or youth employment.
• Experience in SETA-funded programmes, discretionary grants, learnerships, internships and workplace-based learning will be advantageous.
• Experience in beneficiary recruitment, screening, onboarding and placement.
• Experience in stakeholder coordination, programme monitoring and reporting.
• Exposure to accreditation processes, training-provider compliance and quality management systems will be advantageous.
• Experience in online portal administration, databases and funding programme administration will be an advantage.

Qualification Requirement

• National Diploma or Bachelor''s degree in Human Resource Management, Skills Development, Project Management, Public Administration, Business Management or a related field.
• Additional training in Skills Development, Training and Development, Quality Assurance or Project Management will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of QCTO and SETA accreditation requirements will be advantageous.

Personal Attributes/Behaviours/Attitudes

• Skills Development Knowledge: Understanding of SETA funding, NQF requirements, learnerships, internships and workplace-based learning.
• Programme Coordination: Ability to coordinate implementation plans, schedules, milestones and deliverables.
• Accreditation and Quality Assurance: Understanding of QCTO, SETA accreditation processes and training-provider compliance.
• Portal Administration: Ability to administer online platforms, application workflows and beneficiary databases.
• Recruitment and Placement: Ability to coordinate screening, selection, onboarding and placement processes.
• Funding Programme Support: Ability to develop technical programme inputs, budgets, learner targets and implementation plans.
• Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage professionally with employers, funders, training providers and beneficiaries.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Ability to track programme performance, verify outcomes and compile reports.
• Administrative and Organisational Skills: Strong planning, record management and attention to detail.
• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of programme management systems will be advantageous.
• Communication and Analytical Skills: Strong report-writing, problem-solving and communication abilities.