KYELA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST TITLE:
PRINCIPAL
The Kyela Polytechnic College is a vocational training institution, which is being established in Kyela
town, Mbeya Region, by the Mango Tree Orphan Support Trust – Tanzania ( www.themangotree.org ).
The College will initially comprise of FIVE teaching departments: Agriculture & Food Processing,
Hospitality & Tourism (training cooks, waiters and under-managers of hotels), Business Administration
(training secretarial staff and book-keepers), ICT ( training in both software maintenance and
development and hardware maintenance) and Construction Engineering ( training masons and
carpenters). Initially, the College will offer short foundation courses of six weeks to six months duration,
but intends to develop one-year certificate and two-year diploma courses in these disciplines. See Table
8 on page 12 of the consultants’ feasibility and business plan, dated March, 2010.
The College is seeking to recruit a dynamic, qualified and result-oriented person to fill the position of its
first Principal. This is a rare opportunity for an inspirational leader to stamp his/her mark on this new
well-resourced educational institution.
Job Purpose
To establish and develop the Kyela Polytechnic College into a nationally-recognised vocational training
polytechnic college, which enriches the lives of its students and equips them with qualifications and
skills to meet the demands of a changing world with confidence and assurance. The ULTIMATE goal is for
all graduates to be self-reliant and better able to support their families.
Reporting to: The Board of Directors of Kyela Polytechnic College through the Chairman. The Principal
will agree a Strategic Plan and various policies and procedures with the Board of Directors, who will
meet three or four times a year and will report regularly, initially monthly, to a local Advisory
Management Board, who will monitor and mentor the Principal and the Bursar.
General Competence
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Must be a mature person in age and character – at least 30 years.
Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Kiswahili.
Must demonstrate high level of maturity and integrity.
Be able to work under minimum supervision.
Must have good time management skills
6. Must be proficient in Computer Application Packages (Word Processors, Spreadsheets,
PowerPoint Presentations and the Internet).
7. Must have good problem analysis and problem solving skills.
8. Must have outstanding human relations and counselling skills.
9. Must exhibit good knowledge of the trends of higher education in the region and beyond.
10. Should be on top of (general) current affairs issues
Initial Duties and Responsibilities:
1. With the Board of Directors and the Advisory Management Board, refine the consultants’
Feasibility and Business Plan, dated March, 2010 into a budgeted Strategic Plan for the next
three years.
2. With the Board of Directors and the Advisory Management Board, develop the mission and
vision statements of the College and other key policies, including a code of conduct for staff and
students.
3. With the Board of Directors and the Advisory Management Board, recruit a Bursar for the
College, who will report directly to both the Principal AND the Board.
4. With the Advisory Management Board, recruit the Training Co-ordinator and the Heads of
Department of the five teaching departments.
5. Agree with the Training Co-ordinator and the Heads of Department the course curricula, (with
particular reference to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training’s new policies on
technical and vocational skills training through continuous assessment) and noting the need for
all courses to contain an element of training in entrepreneurship.
6. Agree with the Heads of Department and Bursar the starting dates for these courses.
7. With the Heads of Department and Bursar, recruit the teaching and support staff for the
College.
8. With the Bursar and Heads of Department, agree the final fitting out and equipping of the
College.
9. Prepare a prospectus and website for the College, highlighting the course contents and starting
dates.
10. Promote these courses in order that the courses are filled in time.
11. With the Bursar, work towards fulfilling and obtaining the necessary validation from the ministry
of Education and Vocational Training.
Duties and Responsibilities thereafter:
General Management
1. Ensure that the College is financially sound on an ongoing basis at all times.
2. Ensure the proper registration of all students and that such records are maintained
3. With the Bursar, develop and maintain the College premises, facilities and infrastructure so that
these are appropriate to the needs of the students and staff.
4. With the Bursar, develop and maintain sound procurement and accounting policies.
Planning:
1. Devise a strategic plan, which meets the College's developmental objectives as approved by the
Board.
2. Develop a culture of continuous improvement by ensuring that the students are at the centre of
all services and systems in the daily planning.
3. Continuously work towards raising the quality of the College's academic provision and in
particular improving student performance.
4. Develop a more innovative approach to the College's curriculum offer and in particular in the
use of information and communications technology but within the Government’s policies.
5. Focus on operational savings and the diversification and acquisition of additional sources of
revenue to meet on-going efficiency gains and requirements.
6. Lead the College’s commitment to long term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by developing
appropriate strategies and giving concise directions, priorities and mode of implementation.
Coordination:
1. Determine the academic provision and development of the College, within the framework of its
policies and strategies, after consultation with staff, students, employers and other partners
through appropriate structures and mechanisms
2. Encourage and support the development of a curriculum geared to meeting the new
qualifications framework and curriculum and in doing so, to address the initial and lifelong
learning needs of a wide range of individuals, corporate clients and external organizations.
3. Ensure that the College makes all necessary preparations and achieves deadlines in order to
comply with the requirements of all external quality assessment, validation and inspection
bodies.
4. Work closely with VETA, which is the Government coordinating body for all vocational training
institutions in Tanzania.
5. Ensure that customer-orientated and objective systems are established and are being utilised to
fulfil the College's function.
6. Establish and keep under review clear procedures and make sure that they are adopted and
consistently applied for the maintenance of student discipline and acceptable academic
performance, in accordance with the Government and the College's policies.
Supervision:
1. Provide both dynamic and empathetic leadership for all staff, creating a culture which
encourages debate, rewards innovation and fosters inclusiveness and a productive team spirit.
2. Encourage extra-curricula activities, such as drama, English teaching and sports.
3. Monitor and supervise the work of all of teachers and other staff working in the College and,
with the Bursar and Heads of Departments, develop an appraisal system which encourages and
develops all college staff.
4. Recruit, train, motivate, discipline and or terminate staff under the Board’s guidance and agreed
policies and procedures.
Accountability
1. Assist the Board in its determination of the education character vision and purpose of the
College.
2. Ensure that Board and Advisory Management Board members are regularly updated on progress
regarding the fulfilment of the College's mission and aims, the achievement of its strategic plan
in relation to those aims and on significant internal and external issues and new developments
likely to impact upon the College's future strategies and policies.
3. Be responsible for the implementation of the policies set and decisions made by the Board and
for reporting regularly upon their impact and consequences once implementation has been
effected.
4. Ensure that the College follows best practice in all matters relating to equality and diversity
because of understanding and commitment, not merely as a statutory duty
5. Ensure that the College's Strategic Plan (Aims, Objectives and targets and implementation
systems) is congruent with its stated Vision and Purpose, and with its adopted policies,
operating principles and regulations.
6. Lead strategic planning processes within the framework set by the Board and in doing so, to
oversee the collation, dissemination, monitoring, review and evaluation of the Strategic Plan
within the time scales required by the Board and external stakeholders.
7. Ensure that the College fulfils the various statutory and other requirements of the Government
and other interested parties.
General Activities:
1. Encourage development of mutually supportive partnerships and alliances with the local
community, other education providers, employers, professional bodies, VETA and appropriate
Government departments, in order to foster and strengthen these relationships and
networking.
2. Subject to the approval of the Board, represent the College on local, regional and national
committees or other bodies, which are considered relevant and influential to the present and
future needs of the College.
3. Instil and develop a dynamic and entrepreneurial culture in the College to enable it
to adapt to external changes, respond to opportunities, maximize income generation, increase
provision of quality education and maintain a position at the forefront of emerging post
education strategies and initiatives.
4. To perform any other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Education and Experience
1. A holder of Bachelor of Education degree, from a recognised university, with a specialisation in;
Education Technology, Education Science or Education Arts. A Masters degree in Education or
Social Science would be desirable but not essential
2. Not less than three years working experience in managing a similar institution either at Principal
level, deputy principal or head of department.
Submission of Applications:
Applications should be sent by e-mail to info@kaziservices.com by midnight on Sunday October 16, 2011.
Applicants should include
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One page covering letter detailing why he/she considers herself/himself qualified for the position.
Detailed curriculum vitae
Names and contact details (e-mail, telephone ) of three referees
Scanned copies of relevant certificates.
Details of their current and expected salary.
Short-listed candidates will be required for first interview during the week ending Sunday October 30, 2011.
The final interviews will be held in Kyela over the weekend of 5th-6th November, 2011
Successful candidate will be required to undergo medical examination.
.NB: Only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.
The Kyela Polytechnic College is an equal opportunity employer