Academic Governance, Quality and Compliance Specialist

The Academic Governance Quality and Compliance Specialist provides coordinated editorial documentary and regulatory-readiness support to the institutions academic governance quality assurance and compliance functions. The role is responsible for ensuring that institutional documentation policies and regulatory submissions are accurate consistent audit-ready and aligned with applicable higher education frameworks under the oversight of designated senior role-players.

The role focuses on document quality assurance compliance alignment evidence compilation and general regulatory preparation and readiness while acting as a custodian of institutional academic documentation and quality records.

Key Performance Areas (KPAs)

Estimated functional focus:

Regulatory Readiness and Site Visits 10%

Quality Assurance Documentation 35%

Academic Governance Support 20%

Policy Custodianship 15%

Accreditation and Audit Support 15%

Coordination Risk and Improvement 5%

• Edit review and quality-assure institutional policies procedures guidelines strategic documents and academic governance materials to ensure clarity accuracy and alignment with CHE DHET HEQSF SAQA and other applicable frameworks.
  
• Ensure consistency in language tone structure and formatting across institutional documentation in line with approved standards and institutional identity.
  
• Support academic and administrative units by providing editorial and quality assurance input to strengthen the quality and coherence of documentation.
  
• Maintain version control and document histories to ensure traceability and audit readiness.
  

• Provide structured support to policy development and review processes by assisting with drafting editing and alignment of academic and governance policies.
  
• Support Quality Assurance Academic Governance and Regulatory Risk teams in ensuring policy and procedural documents align with institutional strategy and regulatory requirements.
  
• Assist committees and working groups with policy-related documentation and supporting materials.
  
• Ensure approved policies and procedures are correctly consolidated archived and disseminated.
  

3. Compliance Alignment and Regulatory Framework Monitoring

• Support compliance alignment by ensuring institutional documentation reflects current regulatory requirements and approved institutional positions.
  
• Monitor updates to higher education regulatory frameworks and flag implications for institutional documentation to senior role-players.
  
• Support the integration of approved regulatory or legislative changes into institutional documents in collaboration with the Legal Office and Quality Assurance Lead.
  

• Assist with the preparation editing and quality assurance of documentation required for accreditation processes institutional reviews regulatory audits and monitoring exercises.
  
• Coordinate and compile documentary evidence for Self-Evaluation Reports improvement plans and follow-up submissions.
  
• Support the preparation of briefing packs evidence schedules and document repositories for CHE and DHET engagements.
  
• Ensure regulatory submissions are internally consistent complete and aligned with approved institutional documentation.
  

• Coordinate institutional preparation activities for external site visits audits and monitoring reviews under senior oversight.
  
• Compile organise and quality-check evidence required for site visits including policies procedures reports minutes and supporting records.
  
• Maintain a centralised structured evidence repository to support regulatory engagement and post-visit follow-up.
  
• Support mock site visit preparations and internal readiness checks.
  

• Act as a custodian of academic governance quality assurance and compliance documentation.
  
• Ensure documentation is accurately stored accessible and maintained in accordance with institutional record-keeping standards.
  
• Support records management processes linked to audits disciplinary matters appeals and academic reviews.
  
• Assist with ensuring that approved documentation is published communicated and archived appropriately.
  
  

• Coordinate editorial workflows for governance compliance and quality-related documentation.
  
• Track document development timelines and follow up with contributors to ensure timely completion.
  
• Support the controlled publication and dissemination of approved policies and institutional documents.
  

• Assist in identifying documentation gaps inconsistencies or compliance risks through review and audit feedback.
  
• Support the tracking of corrective actions and improvement plans arising from internal and external reviews.
  
• Prepare summaries trackers and briefing notes to support management oversight.
  

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree at NQF Level 7 in Education Law Public Administration Governance Political Studies International Relations or a related field.
  
• A postgraduate qualification will be an advantage.
  

Experience

• 2 to 4 years experience in higher education administration quality assurance support governance coordination compliance support or a regulated environment.
  
• Demonstrated experience in document editing policy review regulatory reporting or audit preparation.
  
• Exposure to CHE accreditation processes will be an advantage.
  

Key Skills and Competencies

• Advanced editing and document quality assurance skills
  
• Strong understanding of higher education regulatory frameworks
  
• Excellent written communication and organisational ability
  
• High attention to detail and disciplined version control
  
• Ability to work collaboratively across institutional units
  
• Strong planning and coordination skills
  
• Professional discretion and confidentiality
  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly Word and Outlook.
  
• Research ability and willingness to learn new systems and processes.
  

Attributes

• High ethical standards and professionalism.
  
• Strong attention to detail.
  
• Ability to work well under supervision and independently.
  
• Integrity confidentiality and respect for institutional processes.
  
• Commitment to deadlines and continuous learning.
  

Relationships

Works in close collaboration with:

Quality Assurance and Compliance Lead

Legal Governance and Compliance Specialist

Academic Governance and Compliance Project roles

Faculties Broader Academic Services and Support Units