Senior Director: DIRSIP (Post Level 4)

Duties and responsibilities​​​​

Strategic Plan Tracking

• Coordinate the implementation of Vision 130, the Strategic Plan, and the Annual Performance Plan.
• Steer strategy, institutional research and operational projects.
• Monitor the Key Performance Indicators across all portfolios, faculties and divisions.

Executive Decision Support

• Produce the University of the Free State's annual report to Department of Higher Education and Training DHET, mid-term review report, and student enrolment plan, which are aligned with the academic risk register.
• Steer the UFS to a forward-looking strategic institution by leading business intelligence information needs, translating complex institutional data into high-level briefings, providing predictive analytics, trend mapping, and data modelling
• Facilitate HEMIS data submissions.

Global Benchmarking

• Utilise institutional data for global positioning, supporting the university's internationalisation mandate and rankings.
• Manage data to be submitted to global rankings bodies.

Institutional Effectiveness and Optimisation

• Lead institutional initiatives that identify operational bottlenecks and resource allocation efficiencies to drive overall institutional effectiveness.
• Lead the Institutional Project Management Office.
• Develop and maintain institutional project governance frameworks.
• Coordinate, monitor and evaluate strategic institutional projects funded through the University's strategic initiatives.
• Monitor institutional project performance, risks and benefits realisation.
• Provide executive reports on strategic project implementation.

Institutional Strategy and Planning

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the University's Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and institutional performance framework.
• Coordinate institutional planning processes and monitor progress against strategic objectives.
• Provide strategic advice to Executive Management on institutional performance, organisational effectiveness and strategic initiatives.
• Lead institutional change management initiatives supporting strategic transformation.

Institutional Research and Business Intelligence

• Direct institutional research and policy analysis to support executive decision-making.
• Develop and maintain an integrated institutional management information and business intelligence environment.
• Produce executive dashboards, strategic reports and institutional analyses that inform planning, policy development and performance improvement.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making throughout the University.

Institutional Data Governance and Statutory Reporting

• Provide strategic leadership for institutional data governance and data quality management.
• Oversee HEMIS submissions and all statutory reporting to the Department of Higher Education and Training and other regulatory authorities.
• Ensure compliance with legislative, audit and quality assurance requirements.
• Develop institutional data policies, standards and governance frameworks.

Enrolment Planning and Performance Monitoring

• Lead institutional enrolment planning and student performance analysis.
• Develop forecasting models and strategic enrolment scenarios.
• Monitor institutional performance indicators and benchmarking against national and international best practice.
• Produce the University's Annual Report, Mid-term Review Report and other strategic institutional reports.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop strategic partnerships with government departments, regulatory authorities, professional bodies, universities and national higher education structures.
• Represent the University on institutional and national committees relating to planning, institutional research and higher education policy.
• Manage data to be submitted to global rankings bodies

Leadership and Directorate Management

• Provide strategic leadership to the Directorate.
• Translate institutional strategy into operational plans and measurable performance outcomes.
• Lead organisational development, succession planning, talent management and staff development.
• Manage the Directorate's human, financial and physical resources in accordance with University policies.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A relevant Doctoral qualification on NQF Level 10 in Higher Education Management, Strategy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems or a related field.
• A minimum of seven 7 years' experience within the higher education sector.
• At least five 5 years in a senior strategic leadership role.
• Experience in institutional strategy development and implementation.
• Experience in institutional research and higher education policy analysis.
• Experience in business intelligence and management information systems.
• Experience in data governance, HEMIS and statutory reporting.
• Experience in institutional project portfolio management.
• Executive stakeholder engagement and organisational leadership experience.

Recommendations

• A postgraduate qualification in Higher Education Management, Strategy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems or a related field.
• Knowledge of South African higher education policy, funding and quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience in digital transformation, data analytics and institutional performance management.
• Experience leading complex organisational change initiatives.
• Advanced knowledge of business intelligence platforms and data visualisation.

Closing date: 11 August 2026