Basic Education Director: National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The Department of Basic Education is seeking a dedicated professional to lead its National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in Pretoria. This pivotal director-level position involves overseeing a critical initiative that provides nutritious meals to schoolchildren across South Africa.

The successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening programme delivery, ensuring its impact, and managing the associated conditional grant to foster improved well-being and educational outcomes for learners.

Minimum Requirements

• A qualification at NQF Level 7 as recognised by SAQA.
• 5 years’ experience at a Middle/Senior managerial level.
• In-depth experience of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
• Experience of policy formulation processes.
• Experience in managing diverse stakeholders and working effectively within communities.
• Strong analytical, strategic, project management, and research skills.
• A good understanding of the national, provincial, district, and school interface.
• Knowledge and understanding of nutrition/dietetics and research.
• Knowledge of Government’s strategic vision, Public Service legislation, and policies pertaining to the education sector in South Africa.
• Knowledge of the public sector policy, legislative, and regulatory environment, particularly the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) and Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPFA) and Public Service Regulation (PSR).
• Understanding of Government strategies and intervention.
• Possession of a valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel extensively.
• Strong computer literacy skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a dynamic and demanding environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Management of the National School Nutrition Conditional Grant.
• Developing and/or reviewing norms and standards for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
• Ensuring the effective implementation of three components of the NSNP, including integration with other Government programmes such as the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme (IFSNP).
• Overseeing and supporting the implementation and monitoring of NSNP service delivery across national, provincial, district, and schools levels to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality.
• Evaluating programme impact in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
• Establishing and implementing risk management measures to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery outcomes.
• Overseeing, managing, and supervising NSNP staff at both national and provincial levels.
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment with departmental priorities and Government interventions.
• Continuously monitoring compliance.

What the Work Involves

As Director, you will be at the forefront of managing the National School Nutrition Conditional Grant, which underpins the programme's operational capacity. Your daily work will involve a blend of strategic planning, such as developing and reviewing NSNP norms and standards, and hands-on oversight, ensuring the effective delivery of nutritious meals to schools nationwide.

You will be responsible for leading and supervising NSNP staff both nationally and provincially, working from the Pretoria centre with extensive travel required. A key aspect of this role is fostering strong partnerships with various stakeholders and Government programmes like the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme (IFSNP) to maximise impact and ensure continuous compliance and accountability across all levels of service delivery.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications via email to Sechele.O@dbe.gov.za.

Please ensure your application reaches the department before the closing date of 11 September 2026.