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