Centre Manager

Centre Manager (Part-time 4/8) – Centre for Interdisciplinary Agriculture, Food and Planetary Health

Organisation/Organisatie: Faculty of AgriSciences – Dean’s Office, Stellenbosch University Department Description/Departement Beskrywing: Faculty of AgriSciences; Dean’s Office; Centre for Interdisciplinary Agriculture, Food and Planetary Health

Centre for Interdisciplinary Agriculture, Food and Planetary Health – three-year fixed-term contract (Stellenbosch Campus)

Job Summary

The Centre seeks to appoint a proactive and highly organised Centre Manager on a part-time basis to provide the operational coordination required during its establishment phase. Reporting to the Director of the Centre, the incumbent will manage the Centre’s day-to-day administration, serve as secretariat to the Advisory Board, administer affiliation arrangements, coordinate events and seminars, maintain records and communications, and monitor progress against the approved project plan and Strategic Fund milestones. The role requires sound judgement, strong written communication and the ability to work effectively across departments, faculties and professional environments where the Centre often operates through collaboration and influence.

Duties/Pligte

• Providing day-to-day operational management of the Centre and acting as the first point of contact for enquiries.
• Serving as secretariat to the Advisory Board, including scheduling meetings, compiling and circulating agendas and papers, taking minutes, maintaining governance records, and following up decisions and actions to closure.
• Administering affiliation agreements with academics and entities across partner faculties and schools, maintaining an accurate register, and tracking the contributions and benefits associated with each affiliation.
• Maintaining the Centre’s project plan and monitoring delivery against the milestones in the funded application.
• Maintaining complete and accurate Centre records and ensuring appropriate document management and institutional continuity.
• Preparing reports required by the Strategic Fund and assembling management information for the Director, Dean and Advisory Board.
• Identifying delays, risks or slippage in delivery and escalating these promptly and in writing.
• Planning and coordinating the Centre’s seminar and colloquium programme, launch activities and participation in Faculty events, including logistics, invitations, materials and event records.
• Coordinating the Centre’s activities with related initiatives while maintaining clear role boundaries, responsibilities and accountability.
• Undertaking other reasonable operational duties aligned with the purpose and approved project plan of the Centre.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A relevant post-school qualification at NQF Level 7 in administration, project or programme management, higher education management, or a related field.
• At least three years’ relevant administrative and coordination experience in a complex organisation, preferably within a university or research environment.
• Demonstrated experience in committee servicing, including agenda preparation, records management and follow-up of decisions.
• Proven experience in project or programme administration, including maintaining plans, tracking milestones, identifying risks and preparing progress reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare professional minutes, correspondence and reports for senior governance and management structures.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time-management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take initiative in a multidisciplinary and multistakeholder environment.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments, faculties and external partner organisations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, and the ability to work with institutional information systems.
• A high level of accuracy, attention to detail, professionalism and discretion.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling None.

Closing Date 03-Dec-2026