Head of Department: Risk & Insurance

Application close date: 10 July 2026

The Position

The ideal candidate for this position will have a passion for Risk and Insurance and for leading academic excellence in the field. The successful candidate will be committed to making a significant contribution to the development of competent, ethical and industry-relevant Risk and Insurance professionals through high-quality education, training and programme leadership. This Head of Department position is housed within the Department of Risk and Insurance in the School of Financial Services.

Responsibilities

Business development:

• Build relationships with potential and current clients and/or industry bodies to grow the department of financial planning.

Curriculum development

• Work closely with various teams and stakeholders to roll out the new qualification within the Department and take ownership of the development.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders and take responsibility for the development and authoring of learning material, including all subject-related content and information uploaded to the virtual learning environment (VLE).
• High attention to detail and strict adherence to deadlines.
• Build good relationships with internal departments and part-time academics.

Teaching

• Implement the assessment policy and procedures of Milpark in line with HEQC requirements regarding assigned programmes and subjects.
• Lecture and assess on assigned programmes in field of expertise.
• Manage the assessment drafting process for assigned subjects across programmes within timelines as require.
• Conduct internal moderation on assigned subjects.
• Sign off on all assessments on assigned subject.
• Manage academic assessment discrepancies for assigned programmes and make recommendations to the Results Committee.
• Control and sign-off of marks for assigned programmes.
• Assist with academic policy development for the faculty processes.
• Obtain input from industry to ensure innovation and relevance of teaching and to improve teaching material.
• Take responsibility for all learning material as well as subject-related information loaded on Milpark platforms.
• Assist students with content related queries and deal with requests for extra student support.
• Build good relationships with internal departments and part-time academics.
• Serve on relevant academic committees.

Programme Oversight

• Develop and document admission and exemption policies for the programme
• Develop RPL policy for a specific programme
• Oversee implementation of admission and selection policies for the assigned programmes (ensuring all entry criteria met and approval of selection and admissions)
• Track and manage student throughput on assigned programmes, in consultation with PMs, including the oversight of “at risk” student management
• Action items that come out of specific student surveys and focus groups, in coordination with programme managers
• Take responsibility and ownership for the coherence and relevance of the assigned programmes and areas
• Ensure adequate author briefing for new subjects
• Manage all assigned programmes with reference to quality of course content and teaching and student support
• Monitor curriculum development implementation, performance and quality of assigned programmes
• Prepare documentation (submissions) for registration (SAQA) and accreditation of programmes (HEQC)
• Assist with preparation of Prospectus/Milpark Rules/similar
• Manage the review process of material for assigned subjects in line with Milpark’s processes and procedures

Recruitment, performance management and people development

• Recruit academic staff (online lecturers, examiners, critical readers, authors, moderators, tutors, supervisors, markers) for assigned areas.
• Take responsibility for the quality of academic staff appointed and contracted on assigned subjects.
• Manage induction and development of new academic staff.
• Manage the performance of lecturing staff to ensure that part-time lecturers meet Milpark’s standards.
• Take responsibility for lecturer and examiner development of teaching and learning ability according to quality assurance requirements.
• Address poor performance of full-time and part-time academic staff.

Research (if applicable)

• Conduct research and produce publications or other research outputs in line with departmental objectives
• Assist with the research of students and faculty
• Act as supervisor and/or marker for student research in field of expertise
• Recruit supervisors and markers in the field of expertise
• Give input into the services delivered by the LRC

Customer Service

• Improve and ensure student motivation.
• Assist with after – hour academic representation online.
• Be available to meet with students in terms of an agreed schedule.
• Ensure the student profiles are kept up to date with all contact intervention information and/or academic info.
• Manage students across horizontal and vertical articulation
• Address student academic queries and disputes
• Provide academic consulting services to students, faculty and sales & marketing department
• Participate in HEQC/DoE enquiries
• Consult with marketing and administrative departments in connection with student evaluation and feedback.
• Maintain professional relationships with all Milpark management and staff.

Take accountability for own development

• Expand your own expertise on a continuous basis.
• Attend workshops and engage with the professional and academic communities to stay abreast of developments in the field of expertise.

Special projects 

• Assist in the delivery of special projects as determined by management.
• Provide consulting services as and when required in field of expertise, in consultation with management

Education

• Masters Degree (NQF 9) in Risk or Insurance related field (preferred), at least a NQF8 industry related qualification.
• Risk and/or Insurance industry related designation holder.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience working in the Risk and/or Insurance Industry (preferred).
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in the academic field.
• Management experience (preferred).

Desired Behavioural Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proven record of ability to manage time and to work to strict deadlines in a fast-moving environment
• Ability to give high attention to detail
• Ability to work in a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Commitment to continuous professional development
• Passion for education and for students
• Good analytical skills

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• That you have no objection to us retaining your personal information in our database for future employment opportunities that might arise.

Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups, and appointments will be made in line with our EE requirements