ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: GENDER FOCAL POINT & DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

This vacancy is for an Assistant Director responsible for Gender Focal Point and Diversity Management within the Transformation Services Directorate of the Limpopo Provincial Treasury, based at Head Office in Polokwane. The post is graded at Level 09 and forms part of the department’s strategic effort to drive employment equity, gender mainstreaming and diversity across the provincial public service. The incumbent will act as a coordinator and advisor, ensuring that departmental policies, plans and practices align with national and international legislative frameworks governing gender equality, disability, youth development and human rights.

To be considered, candidates must hold an NQF level 6 qualification in Public Administration, Human Resource Management or Public Management, recognised by SAQA, together with three years’ functional experience at supervisory, senior or administrative officer level within Special Programmes, Employment Equity or a related field. A valid driver’s licence is required, with an exception for persons with disabilities. The role demands sound and in-depth knowledge of relevant prescripts, including the Employment Equity Act, Skills Development Act, Labour Relations Act, Public Service Act, Children’s Act, the Gender Equality Strategic Framework for the Public Service, the NYDA Act, the African Youth Charter, and various bargaining council resolutions. Applicants should also bring strong negotiation, report writing, people management, strategic planning, policy analysis, facilitation, coordination, leadership, diversity management and change management skills.

The core duties revolve around coordinating diversity management and employment equity throughout the department. This includes facilitating the identification of barriers to employment equity, conducting information and sharing sessions, compiling employment equity targets and ensuring they are incorporated into the departmental equity plan. The Assistant Director will manage compliance with the Employment Equity Act, oversee the completion of declaration forms by employees and ensure exit interviews are conducted, and provide secretarial services to employment equity forums. The role also involves monitoring the commitment register, controlling the capturing of data on the system, and popularising the employment equity plan across the department. A significant part of the work is mainstreaming programmes for gender, women, disability, youth, older persons and human rights, as well as establishing special programme forums and coordinating meetings for youth, disability, women, men and gender forums. The incumbent will facilitate dialogue sessions, information sharing sessions and workshops, monitor youth participation in departmental projects, and evaluate adherence to policy prescripts in areas such as tendering and employment.

In addition, the position carries responsibility for the full employment equity reporting cycle. This includes facilitating the development of the equity plan, circulating the draft annual report for departmental inputs, consolidating comments, and submitting the final report to the Office of the Premier and the Department of Labour. The Assistant Director will coordinate the establishment and functioning of the employment equity committee and forum, act as scribe during committee meetings, and provide guidelines and support to line managers in drafting their branch-level equity plans. The role also requires monitoring international and national instruments for women development and gender equality, analysing trends, challenges and gaps from gender audits, and compiling qualitative and quantitative reports for the Head of Department and the Office of the Premier. Finally, the incumbent will coordinate annual internal and external stakeholder events and ministerial activities, render an advisory role on approved employment equity recommendations, and coordinate research and analysis of departmental policies and procedures on employment equity.

This is a demanding but strategic position for an experienced transformation professional. As with all public service posts, the standard Z83 application process applies, and the advertisement is circulated through provincial and national government platforms. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply, and the driver’s licence requirement is waived for them. Enquiries may be directed to the contact persons listed in the advertisement.