Director: Human Language Technologies – Pretoria – Department Of Cultural Affairs And Sport

About the Role

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is seeking a dedicated and innovative Director: Human Language Technologies based in Pretoria. This role plays a vital part in enhancing access to information and promoting the usage of South African languages through advanced Human Language Technologies (HLT). By coordinating and facilitating HLT projects, you will contribute significantly to the preservation and modernisation of our diverse linguistic heritage, ensuring that all South Africans can access information in their native languages.

Working in this capacity means you will engage with various stakeholders and lead initiatives that address the urgent needs of language development within our communities. Your efforts will not only preserve linguistic diversity but also empower individuals, allowing them to interact with governmental services in ways that are meaningful to them. This is more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to be a champion for language rights and accessibility in South Africa.

About the Department

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is committed to promoting cultural diversity and heritage in South Africa. It plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s rich cultural landscape while fostering social cohesion through the arts, sport, and language. Employees in this department are driven by a shared mission to enhance the lives of citizens by facilitating access to cultural resources and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

Joining this department means becoming part of a team that influences positive change in society. The work you do will have lasting impacts on the community, supporting initiatives that strengthen the use of official languages and enhance the overall public service experience.

What You’ll Do

• Manage and promote access to services and information through HLT projects.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of language technology initiatives on development and accessibility.
• Initiate and create partnerships for HLT projects, including developing translation tools and speech data technology.
• Address project challenges and risks by engaging with project managers.
• Supervise the evaluation of project outputs and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain strategies for Human Language Technologies.
• Provide leadership in the promotion of official languages and the implementation of HLT strategies.
• Align HLT projects with national language policies and the National Development Plan.
• Advise government entities on HLT solutions tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with local and international stakeholders in language and technology sectors.
• Stay updated on local and international HLT trends.

What You’ll Need

• Senior Certificate/Matric or equivalent qualification.
• An Undergraduate qualification (NQF level 7) in Languages, Information Technology, Human Language Technology, Applied Linguistics, or a related field.
• Completion of the Pre-entry Certificate for the Senior Management Service (SMS) endorsed by the National School of Government.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Middle/Senior managerial role related to language technology or computational linguistics.
• A Project Management Certificate.
• Knowledge of machine translation, speech recognition, and corpus development.
• Understanding of the Public Finance Management Act and related regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with strategic capability and leadership qualities.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with a focus on quality and action orientation.
• Proven people management and empowerment abilities.

How to Apply

Please submit your application before the closing date as late applications will not be considered.