Senior Manager (P6) (Human Capital Management Division: Organisational Development) at University of Johannesburg

Job Description :


The Human Capital Management Division within the University plays a crucial role in the University's people management philosophy and processes, leadership development, instilling a culture of organisational citizenship behaviour, management of institutional culture and the implementation of strategies to optimally manage compensation expenditure.
We are seeking a visionary and strategic Senior Manager: Organisational Development to lead transformational people and organisational initiatives that will shape a high-performing, agile and future-fit institution.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned OD leader who thrives in complexity, influences at executive level, and is passionate about building cultures where people and performance flourish.


Why this role matters:


You will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing UJ's strategic priorities by driving organisational effectiveness, strengthening leadership capabilities, and embedding a high-performance culture across the institution. Your work will directly influence how we design, develop, and enable our people to deliver on UJ's ambitious goals.


What you will lead:

As a strategic OD partner to executive leadership, you will:

Drive organisational effectiveness


Lead the design and optimisation of organisational structures and operating models
Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on organisational design and effectiveness
Enable a future-ready, agile institutional workforce


Build a high-performance culture


Oversee and continuously improve the institutional performance management framework
Align individual, team, and organisational performance to strategic priorities
Embed a culture of accountability, feedback, and continuous development


Strengthen talent and leadership capability


Design and implement integrated talent management and succession strategies
Identify critical roles and build robust leadership pipelines
Partner with leaders to enhance management and leadership capability


Lead transformation and change


Drive structured change management across strategic initiatives
Support leaders through complex organisational change
Monitor and manage people impact to ensure sustainable adoption


Ensure governance and reward alignment


Oversee job evaluation, role profiling, and grading governance
Contribute to reward and recognition strategies aligned to performance and affordability
Strengthen and refine a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP)


Influence at the highest level


Partner with executive leadership, organised labour, and key stakeholders
Provide strategic insights, reporting, and recommendations to senior leadership
Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and governance frameworks


Who we're looking for:

A strategic thinker and trusted advisor who combines deep OD expertise with strong business acumen and leadership presence.

Minimum requirements


Postgraduate qualification in Industrial Psychology/Human Resources Management or equivalent (NQF Level 8)
Five (5) to eight (8) years' experience in organisational design, change management, talent and performance management
At least 3 years in a senior management role
Demonstrated facilitation and stakeholder engagement at executive level
Demonstrated capability in project management


Competencies and Behavioural Attributes:


Strategic and analytical thinker
Strong business and organisational acumen
Influential communicator and facilitator
High resilience and ability to operate in complex environments
Sound judgement and decision-making
Excellent reporting and presentation skills


Recommendations:


Master's degree in Industrial Psychology or Human Resources Management.
Professional registration with SABPP or relevant professional body.


Apply by: 2 March 2026