Manager: OD, Training and Development

Job Purpose

To manage and drive organisational development, talent management, performance management, learning and development, and skills development initiatives that support organisational effectiveness and the achievement of ERWAT's strategic objectives. The role provides specialist expertise, governance and oversight of workforce development interventions. It leads the establishment, accreditation and operation of the ERWAT Learning Academy, including the maintenance of accreditation and quality standards and learner support, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, policies and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Policy, Governance and Compliance

• Review and recommend amendments to HR, OD, training and Academy policies and procedures.
• Monitor compliance with approved policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
• Communicate policy changes and provide guidance to management and employees.
• Remain abreast of developments and best practices in OD, learning, skills development and talent management.
• Ensure compliance with the Skills Development Act, Skills Development Levies Act, NQF Act, Employment Equity Act, B-BBEE Codes, Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and SETA/QCTO accreditation requirements.
• Identify and mitigate organisational development and training-related risks.

Learning Academy Establishment and Operations

• Develop the Academy business case, establishment plan, governance structure, operating model, budget and implementation roadmap.
• Lead and sign off the application for accreditation of the Academy as a skills development provider with the relevant SETA (EWSETA, and LGSETA where applicable) and/or the QCTO, and ensure that accreditation is maintained.
• Specify and approve training infrastructure, including facilities, equipment, practical workshops, workplace-based learning sites, learning management systems, learner records and policies.
• Approve Academy policies and procedures, such as quality management, assessment, moderation, RPL, learner admission, appeals, certification and records management.
• Oversee Academy operations, including scheduling, resourcing, facilitator, assessor and moderator management, learner registration and learner support.
• Monitor Academy performance against approved learning, quality, operational and revenue targets, and present dashboards, throughput and completion rates to management.
• Monitor learner enrolment trends, programme demand, customer satisfaction levels, revenue generation and financial sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to expand the learning programmes and services offered by the Academy.
• Ensure a high-quality learner experience from enrolment through to programme completion.

Accreditation, Quality Assurance and Certification

• Own the strategy and scope for programme accreditation and registration of qualifications, part-qualifications and skills programmes against SAQA/QCTO occupational qualifications.
• Ensure compliance with SETA/QCTO accreditation criteria, including the quality management system, learning material, facilitator and assessor credentials, site and workplace approvals, and learner records.
• Lead engagement with SETA monitors, moderators and external verifiers during moderation, monitoring, evaluation, site visits and audits, and ensure that findings and corrective actions are closed out.
• Approve and quality-check learner achievement uploads, statements of results and certification on the relevant SETA/QCTO/NLRD systems.
• Remain accountable for accreditation validity periods, scope extensions and re-accreditation timelines.
• Approve the appointment of assessors, moderators and facilitators, and ensure that their registrations and credentials, and the SDF appointment, remain valid.

Performance Management

• Manage the annual performance management cycle.
• Ensure compliance with goal setting, performance reviews, probation reviews and development planning processes.
• Monitor completion of performance reviews and reporting requirements.
• Analyse organisational performance trends and identify improvement opportunities.
• Review and update competency frameworks.
• Link performance outcomes to development interventions, recognition and consequence management.
• Compile performance reports and escalate trends for management consideration.

Talent, Career and Succession Management

• Develop and implement the talent management framework, including talent identification, career pathing and individual development plans.
• Facilitate workforce planning and succession planning processes.
• Support departments with the identification of critical positions and succession risks.
• Manage talent identification and talent pool development initiatives, including mentorship and coaching.
• Ensure all developmental programmes are implemented.
• Facilitate career development and replacement planning initiatives, aligned with Employment Equity targets.

Organisational Development

• Facilitate values-based interventions and culture alignment programmes.
• Participate in workforce planning initiatives.
• Support organisational design, departmental restructuring, role clarification and job evaluation processes.
• Conduct climate and engagement surveys, compile survey results and reports, and provide recommendations.
• Coordinate organisational development and employee engagement interventions and act as the Change Lead for employee engagement initiatives.
• Assist with organisational structure reviews and job profile updates.
• Support implementation of approved change management initiatives.

Learning and Skills Development Programmes

• Define the skills audit and training needs analysis methodology, align it to strategy and job profiles, and approve the skills priority list.
• Oversee the development, approval and submission of the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR), and the claiming of mandatory and discretionary grants, ensuring quality, compliance and strategic alignment.
• Set the funding strategy, decide which discretionary grant windows to pursue, and negotiate with the SETA.
• Approve the design, budget and partners for learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, graduate programmes, skills programmes, bursaries, artisan development and technical training for wastewater and related operations.
• Oversee implementation of the annual learning plans and developmental programmes, ensuring they support workforce and succession planning requirements.
• Ensure training supports statutory requirements, including process controller competency and registration for wastewater treatment works and occupational health and safety training.
• Set the framework for measuring training effectiveness and return on investment, interpret the results and act on them.
• Monitor learner and bursary performance and recommend appropriate actions. Oversee maintenance and integrity of learning, performance and talent management systems.

System and Information Management

• Oversee maintenance and integrity of learning, performance and talent management systems.
• Ensure employees are trained on relevant systems.
• Monitor data accuracy, reporting and system functionality.
• Recommend and implement system enhancements to improve efficiency and reporting.

Stakeholder Management

• Maintain working relationships with SETAs, the QCTO, SAQA, the Department of Water and Sanitation, service providers, educational and training institutions, unions and municipalities.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments.
• Present reports and recommendations to management and governance structures.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the section's annual budgets, including the training and Academy budget.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets.
• Evaluate and approve training expenditure within delegated authority.
• Monitor adherence to procurement and supply chain requirements.
• Prepare budget forecasts and provide feedback on variances.
• Ensure efficient utilisation of learning and development resources and leverage SETA funding and partnerships.

Reporting, Employment Equity and Skills Development Compliance

• Oversee the preparation and submission of Workplace Skills Plans (WSPs), Annual Training Reports (ATRs) and SETA submissions.
• Ensure maximum recovery of mandatory, discretionary and PIVOTAL grants.
• Coordinate Employment Equity reporting and monitoring against approved plans.
• Monitor Skills Development B-BBEE targets and achievement.
• Oversee audit requests and management responses and ensure audit readiness.
• Report on learning effectiveness, organisational development outcomes and productivity improvements.
• Manage SLAs with external service providers.

People Management

• Set performance objectives and standards for direct reports, including the Specialists.
• Conduct performance reviews and coaching discussions.
• Identify development requirements and implement appropriate interventions.
• Provide direction on Academy administration to the Administrator: Training and Development through the Specialist: Training and Development and give input to that role's performance assessment.
• Promote employee engagement and a high-performance culture.
• Support leadership development initiatives.
• Drive accountability, continuous improvement and change readiness within the team.

• Bachelor’s degree or Honours in Human Resources, Industrial/Organisational Psychology, Education and Training, Organisational Development or a related field (NQF Level 7)
• SETA-registered assessor and/or moderator certification.
• 8 Years relevant experience in learning and development, skills development or organisational development.
• Proven experience establishing, or leading the establishment and accreditation of, a training academy or training centre, including successful SETA and/or QCTO accreditation
• Experience in programme accreditation, learnership and skills programme implementation, oversight of SETA grant management (WSP/ATR) and SETA audits
• Talent Management experience
• Ability to drive and optimise OD processes
• 5 years in Managerial/Supervisory experience

Special Requirements

• Driver's license
• Thorough understanding of SETA and QCTO requirements for accreditation of training providers, programme accreditation and certification
• High standard of confidentiality and integrity
• Attention to detail with strong follow-through
• Demonstrated ability to gain the trust and credibility of senior management

 Advantages

• Honours Degree in Human Resources, Psychology or Education and Training (NQF Level 8)
• SDF registration, ETDP qualification or Project Management qualification
• Experience in local government, municipal entities, utilities, water and sanitation, or a technical environment
• Knowledge of Department of Water and Sanitation process controller requirements