Project Manager

Universities South Africa is a national association that represents the interests of the South
African public universities through its key roles of advocacy, strategic research and sector
support services. Universities South Africa also encourages cooperation among universities
and among partners with whom it shares interests. Universities South Africa is based in
Pretoria. As a non-profit organisation, Universities South Africa is funded through
membership fees and revenues from contract management services and donor agencies.

Applications are invited for the position of a Project Manager: University Lecturer
Development Programme (ULDP)
PROJECT MANAGER (RE-ADVERT)
FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT (ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE CONTRACT)
Remuneration package: Market-related salary package

The Project Manager: University Lecturer Development Programme (ULDP) will provide
strategic, operational, financial, and compliance leadership for the national implementation of
the ULDP. The role is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of programme
outcomes, adherence to grant conditions, coordination across participating universities, and
achieving measurable impact in lecturer development.

REQUIREMENTS: Honours degree in Higher Education, Education, Leadership, or a related
field • Master’s qualification will be an added advantage • Minimum 2–5 years’ relevant
experience in higher education, academic development, or leadership development •
Demonstrated experience in project or grant management at institutional or national level •
Proven track record in programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation • Experience
working with multiple universities or sector-wide initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES: Strong understanding of the South African higher
education landscape • Knowledge of governance, compliance, and financial accountability in
funded programmes • Advanced project management, planning, and organisational skills •
Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and communication abilities • High-level
analytical, reporting, and problem-solving capability • Ability to work independently and
manage complex national initiatives • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel
and PowerPoint) Adobe Acrobat. Competitive advantage: Knowledge of project
management software and advanced level use of Excel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (but not limited to): Programme Leadership and
Implementation – Lead end-to-end implementation of the ULDP across participating
institutions; Oversee recruitment, selection, and onboarding of lecturer participants;
Coordinate curriculum development, piloting, delivery, and continuous improvement; Ensure
alignment with national higher education priorities and institutional needs • Project
Management and Governance – Develop and execute a detailed project implementation
plan with timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation; Manage programme schedules,
deliverables, and resource allocation; Support the functioning of the Project Steering
Committee and implement its resolutions; Maintain comprehensive project documentation
and audit-ready records • Financial Management and Compliance – Oversee utilisation of
project funds in line with approved budgets and grant conditions; Ensure accurate tranchebased invoicing, expenditure tracking, and financial reconciliation; Coordinate internal and
external audit requirements and compliance reporting; Mitigate financial and governance
risks associated with programme implementation • Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks for programme effectiveness;
  Track performance indicators, learning outcomes, and institutional impact; Produce phase
  progress reports, stakeholder briefings, and final close-out report; Use data insights to inform
  programme refinement and sustainability planning • Stakeholder Engagement and
  Partnerships – Serve as primary liaison with participating universities, sector partners, and
  funders; Facilitate collaboration among academic leaders, trainers, and institutional
  coordinators; Represent HELM in lecturer development forums, meetings, and sector
  engagements; Strengthen partnerships to support future scaling and funding opportunities •
  Team Leadership and Coordination – Manage consultants, trainers, and project support
  personnel; Foster a high-performance, collaborative project culture; Ensure effective
  communication across all stakeholders and partners.

Interested candidates should please submit a letter of motivation and their CVs with the
names and contact details of at least three traceable referees, by close of business on 28
August 2026, to: recruitment@usaf.ac.za.

This is a readvertisement. Applicants who previously applied for this position need not
reapply, as their applications will be considered.

Correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. If you have not been
contacted within 30 days after the closing date, please consider your application as
unsuccessful. People from designated groups, including those with disabilities, are
encouraged to apply.

Universities South Africa reserves the right not to make an appointment.

We wish you all the best with your applications