About the Role
The Department of Education is seeking a dedicated and skilled individual for the position of Deputy Director: S/DIR: ECD Centres – Conditional Grant, based at the Head Office in Mbombela. This pivotal role focuses on enhancing the functionality and performance management of the provincial eCares system, which is crucial for supporting early childhood development across the province. By advocating for system utilization, you will play a key part in ensuring that decision-making processes are informed by accurate data, ultimately benefiting the children and communities served by this essential public service.
In this role, you will oversee support for the usage and compliance of the eCares system among provincial users, ensuring that they have the resources and training necessary to effectively utilize the platform. Your efforts will directly impact the quality of early childhood education and care in Mpumalanga, making this position not only an opportunity for professional growth but also a chance to contribute meaningfully to the community.
About the Department
The Department of Education is committed to providing quality education and fostering the development of children throughout South Africa. With a mission to support the establishment of effective education systems, the department plays a vital role in shaping the future of the nation. Working here means being part of a team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of learners, educators, and communities, and contributing towards a brighter future for all.
What You’ll Do
- Oversee provincial eCares system usage and performance management
- Lead efforts to support system adoption and compliance among users
- Monitor user compliance with system functionality and data workflows
- Advocate for data-driven decision-making through effective system utilization
- Manage first-line helpdesk support for users within the Provincial Education Department
- Conduct user training and capacity-building sessions on new releases and functional improvements
- Support districts and circuits in driving system usage effectively
- Lead provincial testing of system updates and enhancements, providing valuable feedback to developers
- Identify and resolve technical issues affecting system users
- Ensure alignment between eCares and EMIS Masterlists, validating allocations as needed
What You’ll Need
- A recognized three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Information Systems, ICT, Computer Science, Data, or a related field
- A minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience in Systems Administration and user support
- Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel extensively
- Knowledge of cloud-based system operations and the provincial EMIS environment
- Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Excel for data reporting and manipulation
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
- Ability to coordinate with multi-level stakeholders and a strong customer service orientation
How to Apply
Please submit your application before the closing date as late applications will not be considered.
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Requirements
A SAQA recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Information Systems / ICT / Computer Science / Data or related field.7 years’ relevant experience in Systems Administration and user support.
Valid driver's license.
Knowledge of Cloud-based system operations.
Knowledge of the provincial EMIS environment and/ or ECD system landscape.
Knowledge of database management.
Knowledge of business intelligence reporting.
Skills should include User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and training facilitation as well as data reporting and system usage monitoring.
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, customer service orientation.
Ability to work independently and travel extensively.
Condition: Appointment will be subject to competency assessment.
All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
Job Duties
Provincial eCares system use and performance management.Leading provincial support for system usage, performance and adoption.
Monitoring user compliance with system functionality and data workflows.
Advocating system utilisation for decision-making.
User support and access management.
Managing first line helpdesk support for PED users.
Managing user access, roles and permissions.
Escalating issues promptly to national and service providers.
User training and capacity building, which entails conducting ongoing training on: New releases; Functional improvements; Reporting and dashboards.
Supporting districts and circuits to drive usage.
Leading provincial testing of system releases and updates.
Developing test plans, recording User Acceptance Testing (UAT) outcomes, and submit feedback to developers.
Validating system enhancements before deployment.
Identifying and resolving technical issues affecting provincial users.
Maintaining alignment between eCares and EMIS Masterlists.
Validating EMIS number allocation in eCares.
Supporting provincial reporting needs and accuracy.
