Director: Early Childhood Care and Education

Requirements:

• The candidate must have: An applicable qualification at NQF level 7 as recognized by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 5 - 8 Years of experience at a middle/senior managerial level. Valid Code B/EB Drivers license.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge: PFMA, PSR, Basic Education, Treasury Regulations, M&E, QMS, Legal, HR, Labour relations.
• Skills: Strong conceptual and formulation skills; strong leadership skills with specific reference to the ability to display thought leadership and co-ordination of complex applications; strong interpersonal skills; excellent verbal and written communication skills; outstanding planning, organizational and people management skills; computer literacy. highly developed interpretative and conceptualization/ formulation ability; the ability to render advice and guidance in an objective and dedicated manner;
• The ability to multi-task, deal with ambiguity and manage under rapidly changing and pressurized circumstances; the ability to persuade and influence; the ability to lead and direct teams of professionals and service providers and ability to deal with complex situations.

Duties:

• Ensure effective and efficient coordination and overall management of the Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) service in the province. To manage the implementation of strategic plan, Annual Performance Plan and the Operational Plan.
• To manage the performance of the unit in term of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 pertaining to partial care and Child Protection as well as the implementation of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and all other applicable legislations in the ECCE sector.
• Ensure proper financial management and coordination in the ECCE sector in line with the PFMA and related policies. Monitor and ensure timely transfer payments to ECDs. Ensure proper planning, coordination of professional development of Social Workers and ECCE practitioners in the ECD sector. To ensure that Partial care database/registers are in place and monitored.
• Ensure that all ECCE service is uploaded on the agreed upon Learner Management System. Ensure that capacity building support programs and training are conducted and monitored for ECCE management and governance and output assessed. Ensure that the district quarterly review sessions are arranged and guidance is provided on the expected outcomes. Ensure the expansion of the ECCE service within the province by providing the necessary support across the districts. Facilitate Inter-Sectoral Coordination to improve and better the ECCE service.
• Manage the provision of partial care facilities and programmes in the Free State. Manage the provision of Early Childhood Care and Education programmes. Develop and manage the implementation of norms and standards for Early Childhood Care & Education Centre’s. Manage a comprehensive electronic information Management system. Manage funding of partial care and Early Childhood Care & Education facilities and programmes.