Director: Academic IT at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte        

• Formulating and implementing strategy and policy related to the Academic IT portfolio, such as the IT Digital strategy. Providing input to strategy and policy in related areas, such as the Strategy for Teaching and Learning;
• Leadership and management of the Academic IT team;          
• Establishing and maintaining the capacity and expertise to ensure effective service delivery: recruiting and training staff, strengthening partnerships, and managing resources;         
• Improving access to systems services and infrastructure, in particular storage and HPC;          
• Building, improving and maintaining relationships with academics and students;         
• Establishing and strengthening partnerships with other professional service divisions at SU, as well as with computer systems, software and service vendors;          
• Developing and managing internal service level agreements with the customers Divisions and with students;         
• Assisting the Chief Director: IT per the outcomes required of the Academic IT Division/Unit;        
• Guiding and facilitating selection and procurement of cost effective fit-for-purpose solutions (equipment, software and services) in the portfolio, starting from needs analysis, requirements gathering, procurement processes to contract negotiations, implementation management and ongoing service delivery, including planning for and ensuring sustainability;         
• Identifying and managing risks;       
• Financial planning and budgeting, and expenditure control in the Academic IT portfolio;       
• Promoting regional and national cooperation;        
• Expanding cooperation with other universities;       
• Facilitating and enhancing communication with the senior management of the University and all stakeholders.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes        
Qualification :

• An appropriate NQF 8 qualification (four-year bachelour's degree; honour's degree, postgraduate diploma) in Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science and / or related fields, AND at least ten years' proven experience in a senior IT management position or similar role; OR 
• An appropriate NQF 9 qualification (master's degree) in Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science and / or related fields, AND eight to ten years' proven experience in a senior IT management position or similar role;
• A good understanding of one or more of the academic functions in a higher education context (learning and teaching, research, and engagement); 
• Excellent at building and maintaining good stakeholder relationships; 
• Excellent at building and maintaining value adding vendor partnerships; 
• Customer-centric and approachable in order to build a positive rapport between IT and its stakeholders (i.e., staff and students); 
• Excellent analytic, technical and people skills for leading a team that supports online teaching and learning systems; 
• Experience in working with senior stakeholders and on the level of supporting a Group CIO/Chief Director; 
• Experience in analysis, specification, evaluation and implementation of IT systems; 
• A sound understanding of computer systems (hardware/software), services, networks, including cloud services; 
• Experience in controlling an information technology budget; 
• Excellent organisational and leadership skills; 
• Outstanding communication abilities and interpersonal skills.