Chief Director: Information Technology at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte

The position provides strategic informational and technical leadership to the University, in collaboration with other support divisions, enabling the University staff and students through innovative application of information and communication technologies and processes in a digitalised higher education (HE) context.

• Developing and aligning the digital ICT strategy with SU's strategy in collaboration with executive management;
• Overseeing institution-wide ICT operations, reporting to the institutional management and governance structures, and managing the IT Division with its large staff complement;
• Aligning SU's ICT policies, regulations and practices with the relevant and proven national and international best practices;
• Identifying, developing and implementing appropriate ICT frameworks, standards, best practices in the ICT and HE sectors, policies and regulations;
• Overseeing the development and management of technology policies and procedures to comply with legislation in respect of data management;
• Operational and tactical planning and management to ensure effective and efficient delivery of ICT services for information systems related to human resource management, financial management, student information management, research information management, learning and teaching management, enterprise content management, facilities management, access control and various electronic communication facilities, such as communication networks, data centres and cloud platforms;
• Planning, implementing and maintaining standard industry practices, such as ICT Architecture, ICT Service Management, ICT Programme and Project Management, IAM and ICT Security Management, ICT Risk Management, Business Analysis, ICT Infrastructure Change Management, Information Systems Life-cycle Management, and ICT Business Resources Management;
• Operational, tactical, and strategic planning and management of cyber security, including cyber risk assessment and mitigation, acquiring and sharing threat intelligence, and disaster preparedness and recovery;
• Overseeing the long-term operating strategy for the IT Division in support of effective and efficient service delivery;
• Operational and financial management and responsible for cost effectiveness;
• Maintaining and developing a professional ICT support staff complement to enhance SU's effective employment of ICT systems;
• Providing ICT-related project management support across the University;
• Representing the University at appropriate internal and external forums.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• A relevant Master's degree;
• At least ten years' relevant experience in an ICT environment;
• At least five years' experience in ICT systems management at a senior level, including knowledge of implementation of and responsibility for cyber security;
• The ability to lead effectively within a multilingual and multicultural environment, specifically in higher education;
• Knowledge and implementation of modern aspects of computing, including high performance computing, cloud and hybrid, hyper-converged computing, and software defined infrastructure;
• Working knowledge of business intelligence and analytics, Agile and DevOps methodologies;
• The ability to develop and maintain a future-orientated innovative strategy for the provision of an enabling, stable and reliable information technology services platform;
• Proven ability to provide dynamic and strategic leadership in the areas of responsibility, including strategic planning and implementing abilities, human resource management, the management of change, risk, budgets and operational plans;
• Excellent communications skills;
• Proven experience as a successful leader with sound interpersonal relations;
• Proven track record of problem-solving and innovation.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• An MBA or PhD;
• Experience at senior management level in a higher education environment;
• High-level project management capability;
• Skills to facilitate diverse knowledge and information management projects and technologies;
• Knowledge and understanding of general sectoral drivers affecting higher education;
• Proven knowledge of and experience in scenario or strategic planning, in complex and diverse knowledge and information management environments, including systems thinking abilities;
• Experience in teaching and learning support platforms or systems in higher education.