About the Role
The Department of Education is seeking a dedicated Deputy Director to join its EMIS Sub-Directorate in Bloemfontein, a vibrant city in the Free State province of South Africa. This pivotal role supports early childhood development (ECD) initiatives by managing the Provincial eCares system, enhancing its use and performance across the region. Your contributions will directly impact the educational landscape, ensuring that data-driven decisions improve outcomes for children and educators alike, thereby fostering a brighter future for the community.
Working closely with various stakeholders, including the provincial ECD and EMIS directorates, you will play a key role in advocating for system utilization and compliance, as well as providing essential support and training to users. Your work will not only streamline processes but also empower educators and administrators to leverage technology in impactful ways, making a significant difference in the public service sector.
About the Department
The Department of Education is committed to providing quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all South Africans. It plays a crucial role in shaping policies and programs that enhance the educational experience, particularly in early childhood development. By fostering collaboration among various educational stakeholders, the department strives to create a robust educational framework that supports both learners and educators across the country.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the provincial support for the eCares system, ensuring effective use and performance management.
- Monitor user compliance with system functionalities and data workflows.
- Manage 1st line helpdesk support for Provincial Education Department (PED) users, including access management and issue escalation.
- Conduct ongoing user training sessions on new system releases, functional improvements, and reporting tools.
- Oversee testing and implementation of system updates, developing test plans and validating enhancements.
- Collaborate with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and vendors to resolve technical issues affecting users.
- Maintain alignment between eCares and EMIS masterlists, supporting provincial reporting accuracy and needs.
- Foster strong relationships with national and provincial stakeholders to enhance collaboration and system usage.
What You’ll Need
- A SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Education (B.Ed. / PGCE) or Information Systems/ICT/Computer Science/Data.
- At least 5 years of management experience and 6-7 years of relevant experience in systems administration and user support.
- Proficiency in data reporting and monitoring system usage.
- Strong knowledge of cloud-based systems, particularly within the provincial EMIS and ECD environment.
- Advanced analytical and data manipulation skills, particularly in Excel.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail, with a strong customer service orientation.
- Capacity to coordinate with multi-level stakeholders and work independently, including extensive travel.
- A valid driver’s license is essential; experience with EMIS is an added advantage.
How to Apply
Please refer to the application instructions below for details on how to apply.
Requirements
Applicants must be in possession of a SAQA-recognised three-year post- matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Education (B.Ed.
/ PGCE) or a SAQA- recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Information Systems / ICT / Computer Science / Data or related field.
5 years Management Experience.
6-7 Years’ relevant experience in Systems administration and user support; User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and training facilitation.
Data reporting and system usage monitoring.
Knowledge of: Cloud-based system operations; Provincial EMIS environment and/or ECD system landscape.
Strong analytical, data manipulation and reporting skills (Excel advanced level).
Ability to coordinate multi-level stakeholders (national, provincial, district).
Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and customer service orientation.
Ability to work independently and travel extensively.
A valid driver’s license is essential.
EMIS experience will be an added advantage.
Job Duties
The successful candidate will be responsible for Provincial eCares System Use & Performance management.Lead provincial support for system usage, performance and adoption; Monitor user compliance with system functionality and data workflows; Advocate system utilisation for decision-making.
User Support & Access Management; Manage 1st line helpdesk support for PED users; Manage user access, roles and permissions; Escalate issues promptly to national and service providers.
User Training & Capacity Building- Conduct ongoing training on: New releases; Functional improvements; Reporting and dashboards.
Support districts and circuits to drive usage.
Testing & Implementation-Lead provincial testing of system releases and updates; Develop test plans, record UAT outcomes, submit feedback to developers; Validate system enhancements prior to deployment.
Systems Maintenance Support- Work with DBE and vendors (e.
g.
Mezzanine/Vodacom) to ensure continuity; Identify and resolve technical issues affecting provincial users.
Reporting & Master Data Management-Maintain alignment between eCares and EMIS Masterlists; Validate EMIS number allocation in eCares; Support provincial reporting needs and accuracy.
Stakeholder Collaboration-Work closely with PED ECD and EMIS Directorates; National EMIS and ECD teams social partners such as Ilifa Labantwana and the Bana Pele Initiative.
The candidate will report to the provincial EMIS head and work closely with the ECD Directorate.
