DEPUTY DIRECTOR :S/DIR: ECD CENTRES- CONDITIONAL GRANT (PROV MANAGER E-CARES) 3 YEARS CONTRACT

This senior contract position within the Mpumalanga Department of Education, based at Head Office in Mbombela, serves as the Provincial Manager for E-CARES under the Chief Directorate for ECD Centres, specifically concentrating on the Conditional Grant. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving the provincial implementation of national early childhood development business process reforms, ensuring that plans developed at national level are interpreted and adapted to meet the unique needs of Mpumalanga's districts. This is a three-year contract post at a senior managerial level, operating within Programme 4, and is central to improving ECD registration, subsidy management, infrastructure support, and quality assurance across the province.

To be considered, applicants must possess an undergraduate qualification at NQF 7, recognised by SAQA, in a relevant field, or an equivalent qualification, together with at least five years of relevant experience within an ECD environment. A valid driver's licence is mandatory. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the key challenges facing the ECD sector, as well as the ability to improve learning outcomes and contribute to long-term success. They must be familiar with ECD business processes, including registration, subsidy management and reporting, and be able to diagnose execution strengths and weaknesses, identify critical issues, and develop practical implementation plans. Experience in project management, the ability to translate strategy into operational reality, strong communication and report-writing skills, and a working knowledge of government prescripts and monitoring and evaluation systems are all essential. Good interpersonal relations and the ability to handle pressure are also required.

The role's core duties involve gathering and interpreting national business process reform plans, then facilitating their adaptation into integrated provincial implementation plans for ECD registration, infrastructure support, subsidy management, and quality assurance. The Deputy Director will coordinate the development, execution and monitoring of Silver/Gold registration and subsidy implementation plans across all districts, and will enable and support the Provincial Programme Management Unit's governance structures and processes. Training is a key responsibility, with the post holder planning, coordinating and facilitating all training related to new ECD business processes at provincial and district levels. The role also requires coordinating stakeholder engagements with key departments and sector partners, as well as overseeing communication through provincial channels and district platforms such as ECD forums. Monitoring provincial plans, tracking district implementation, consolidating reports from district supervisors and functional leads, and ensuring dashboards are updated weekly are all part of the day-to-day scope.

Appointment to this post will be subject to competency assessment, and all shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise testing technical and generic suitability, and an integrity assessment. The Mpumalanga Department of Education is committed to equal opportunities and affirmative action, and candidates whose appointment will promote representivity in terms of gender, race and disability will receive preference. Shortlisted candidates will need to produce certified copies of qualifications, identity documents and driver's licences, and the department reserves the right to verify qualifications and conduct vetting. As with all posts, the department may withdraw the position at any time, and applicants who have not received a response within 90 days of the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.