Assistant Director: S/DIR: ECD Centres- Conditional Grant (Data Quality Managers E-Cares) at Mpumalanga Department of Education

REQUIREMENTS

• A SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF L6 or higher) in Data Management, Information Systems, Statistics, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation or a related field.
• Five years’ experience in data management, data quality assurance, monitoring or system support. Experience in the education sector data (e.g., EMIS) or ECD programmes is beneficial.
• Knowledge of database management. Knowledge of business intelligence reporting. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data validation. Strong proficiency in Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is advantageous. Command of basic database and reporting processes.
• Ability to support end-users and provide helpdesk-style guidance. Good communication (verbal and written) and stakeholder coordination skills. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
• A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel provincially. 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.

DUTIES

• Monitoring and improving accuracy, completeness and consistency of ECD data in the Early Childhood Administration and Reporting System (eCares). Supporting district and provincial users with data entry, uploads, corrections and troubleshooting.
• Conducting data quality checks and implementing improvement measures. Maintaining records of discrepancies, resolutions and reporting artefacts. Supporting the preparation of routine provincial and district reports.
• Conducting and supporting user training and capacity-building. Promoting the utilisation of dashboards and reports for planning and service delivery. Supporting user access management and assisting with system usage queries. Collaborating with national, provincial and district stakeholders to drive improved data quality practices.
• Conducting or supporting training sessions (virtually and in-person) for provincial and district users on data quality requirements (working with a provincial training team). Reinforcing the importance of accurate data entry and maintenance. Sharing tips and guidance for improving data quality. Designing and implementing data quality and completeness reviews. 
• Advocating for the use of eCares reports and dashboards to support ECD operations and planning. Advocating and training provincial and district users in using reports and dashboards to support their operations and planning for ECD, including data collection where appropriate. Ensuring that reports and new plans are prepared with enough lead time to get the necessary approvals.