Chief Director: Legal and Legislative Services

Overview

Lead the Chief Directorate for Legal and Legislative Services at the Department of Basic Education, providing strategic legal advice and managing litigation and legislative services.

Requirements

• An appropriate Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification (NQF level 7) recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA);
• Admission as an attorney or advocate in South Africa;
• The successful candidate must be in good standing with the relevant professional regulatory body.
• A minimum of 10 years’ relevant post-qualification legal experience, of which at least 5 years must be at senior managerial level;
• Experience in the interpretation, development, implementation and/or litigation of legislation, policies and regulations within the education sector or a comparable public sector environment;
• Demonstrable experience in education law, including experience in advising on, developing, interpreting or implementing education legislation, regulations or policy, is an essential requirement;
• Proven experience in constitutional law, administrative law, legislative drafting and regulatory development, public sector litigation and regulatory governance will be an advantage;
• Knowledge of Administrative law and constitutional law as applied to the education sector;
• Ability to deliver legal advisory services to government departments, public entities or statutory bodies.
• Process competencies: Knowledge management; problem-solving and analysis; client orientation and customer focus; communication; negotiation; stakeholder management; and risk management.
• Core Competencies The post requires a person with excellent Strategic capability and leadership; people management and empowerment; financial management; change management; programme and project management; and service delivery innovation. leadership and strategic management skills, Excellent written and verbal communication;
• Computer skills;
• Research and policy formulation;
• Presentation skills;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Candidates must be confident, trustworthy, accurate, adaptable and diplomatic.: Strategic Capacity and Leadership, People Management and Empowerment, Financial Management and Change Management, promotion communication.

Duties

• The successful candidate will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and management to the Chief Directorate: Legal and Legislative Services, comprising the Directorates: Litigation and Advisory Services and Legislative Services.
• Provide high-level, independent and practical legal advice to the Minister, Director-General and the Department on constitutional, administrative, education and public law matters.
• Managing and overseeing litigation involving the Minister, the Director-General and the Department, including the development of litigation strategy, the instruction of the State Attorney and external counsel, and the monitoring of court orders and settlements.
• Leading and overseeing the drafting, amendment, interpretation and implementation of education legislation, regulations and related legal instruments.
• Coordinating and monitoring the Department’s legislative programme and ensuring that proposed legislation and policy are constitutionally and legally sound.
• Providing legal support, where appropriate, to provincial education departments on matters affecting the national basic education system.
• Advising on the legal mandates, governance and administration of statutory bodies falling within the basic education portfolio.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating national and international agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal instruments.
• Developing and maintaining systems for legal risk management, compliance monitoring and the implementation of legal opinions and court orders.
• Managing the Chief Directorate’s human, financial and operational resources and ensuring effective performance, accountability and service delivery.

How to apply

Submitted via post to: Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 or hand-deliver to: The Department of Basic Education, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria or you can email your application Sechele.O@dbe.gov.za/Monyela.N@dbe.gov.za/Segowa.M@dbe.gov.za/Ku malo.N@dbe.gov.za. Please visit the Department of Education’s website at www.education.gov.za

Enquiries: Ms N Monyela Tel No: (012) 357 3294/ Mr M Segowa Tel No: (012) 357 4291 OTHER POST

Notes

Applications must be submitted on the most recently approved Z83 Application for Employment Form, obtainable from the DBE Website or any Public Service Department/Webpage. Use of the old Z83 Form will result in disqualification. The Z83 must be completed in full and page 2 duly signed. A clear indication of the post and reference number that is being applied for must be indicated on your Z83. Applicants are not required to submit copies of qualifications and other relevant documents on application but must submit the Z83 with a detailed Curriculum Vitae (only). Certified copies of qualifications and other relevant documents will be requested from shortlisted candidates on or before the day of the interview. Successful candidates will be subjected to Personnel Suitability Checks (criminal record, citizenship & financial/asset record checks, qualification and employment verification including social media profiles). Appointment is subject to positive results of the security clearance process. The successful candidate will be required to sign an annual performance agreement and, where applicable, annually disclose his/her financial interests. All applicants are required to declare any conflict or perceived conflict of interest, to disclose memberships of Boards and directorships that they may be associated with. Applicants, who do not comply with the requirements outlined above, will not be considered. A Pre-entry Certificate for the Senior Management Service (SMS) (Nyukela Certificate) is required for all SMS appointments; the full detail of the outlined requirements and course information can be sourced by following the link https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course-SMS-pre-entry programme. All shortlisted candidates for SMS posts will be subjected to a technical exercise and interview. Following the technical exercise and interview, a maximum of three (3) SMS candidates will undergo psychometric assessments to assess cognitive capabilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence, and integrity All shortlisted candidates, including SMS, shall undertake two pre- entry assessments. One must be a practical exercise, and the other must be an Integrity (Ethical Conduct) Assessment. Selection panels shall score both technical exercises as an additional criterion in the interview process MANAGEMENT ECHELON