DIRECTOR: PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS

The Mpumalanga Department of Education is seeking a highly experienced and suitably qualified leader to fill the permanent post of Director: Public Examinations, based at the Head Office in Mbombela. This is a senior management service position within the Chief Directorate of Public Examinations, falling under Programme 1 of the department. The successful appointee will be a member of the department’s management echelon and will be expected to contribute meaningfully at that strategic level, helping to shape and drive the province’s examination and assessment environment.

Candidates must hold a SAQA-recognised Bachelor’s Degree, Advanced Diploma, or equivalent qualification at NQF level 7 in a field relevant to the specific responsibilities of the post, coupled with a minimum of five years’ experience at a middle or senior managerial level. A valid driver’s licence is also required. Because this is an SMS-level appointment, applicants should note that, with effect from 1 April 2020, appointment is only possible if the candidate has successfully completed the Public Service Senior Management Leadership Programme and can produce the required pre-entry certificate issued by the National School of Governance (NSG), obtained at the candidate’s own cost. Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to two pre-entry assessments: one practical exercise designed to determine suitability based on the technical and generic requirements of the role, and another focused on integrity and ethical conduct.

The Director will be responsible for the full breadth of public examination administration in the province. This includes managing the examination administration system, encompassing certification services and logistical arrangements, as well as overseeing IT and data management support systems and related examination administrative support services. The role further entails managing and coordinating the development and editing of question papers, supervising the production of these papers, and overseeing the marking processes for content languages and technical subjects. The post-holder will also manage examination policy compliance and district coordination services, identify and resolve examination irregularities, and oversee the management of both GET and FET examinations, including school-based assessments. In addition, the Director will manage general administration, risk, and security services within the examinations environment by unit. Building proactive and sound relationships with key stakeholders and clients, including organised labour, is another critical aspect of the role, as is promoting a culture of efficiency and quality throughout the examinations value chain.

The Mpumalanga Department of Education is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action, and it intends to promote representivity in terms of disability, gender, and race through this appointment. Candidates whose appointment will advance representivity may receive preference. The department reserves the right to withdraw any post at any time and to verify qualifications before an offer is made. All shortlisted candidates will be subject to a vetting process, and only shortlisted candidates will need to submit certified copies of their qualifications, identity document, and driver’s licence. Applications are submitted online via the provincial e-recruitment portal, and applicants who do not receive a response within 90 days of the closing date should assume their application was unsuccessful. This role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for a seasoned manager to lead public examinations in Mpumalanga.