Director: Student Support Systems at University of Cape Town

• The Director: Student Systems Support is required to provide strategic leadership, governance and oversight of the University’s student administrative systems, ensuring the effective selection, use and optimisation of systems to support the University’s academic mission.
• This includes establishing appropriate structures for the identification, evaluation, prioritisation and delivery of system enhancements; enabling efficient and high-quality service delivery; ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, stakeholder needs, and long-term sustainability; and providing institutional leadership in shaping student systems strategy, policy and practice.

Requirements for the position:

• NQF level 8 qualification in either one of the disciplines or relevant discipline (Information Systems Management, Education / Higher Education Studies, Business Administration or Public Administration, Project or Programme Management)
• 10 years’ experience in university student/academic administration or a related environment, including:
• at least 5 years in a senior management role with responsibility for strategic leadership and governance
• demonstrated experience in student systems, administrative systems or enterprise systems environments
• experience in leading cross-functional initiatives and working with diverse stakeholder groups at an institutional level
• experience in programme or project governance and oversight
• proven track record in leading, managing and developing high-performing teams
• Knowledge of higher education systems, policies and academic administration
• Knowledge of student administrative and enterprise systems environments
• Knowledge of governance, risk, audit and institutional processes

Advantageous:

• A postgraduate qualification.
• Experience with the implementation of administrative systems to support operational processes for student-centered service provision and communication.
• Experience within a higher education environment.

Responsibilities:

• Providing strategic planning and leadership in relation to student administrative and user support software and processes
• Leading the development and implementation of policies, frameworks and standards for the governance of student systems and administration processes and the continuous optimisation of systems capability, usage, business processes and enablement
• Identifying and managing system and functional enhancements and ensuring support and service delivery in alignment with agreed institutional priorities and timelines
• Leading committees and working groups of stakeholders to ensure effective governance and decision-making
• Monitoring delivery performance and driving the resolution of issues and risks through the appropriate structures
• Resolving complex stakeholder issues and managing competing priorities
• Identifying, assessing and managing strategic and operational risks within the student system and support functions
• Recruiting, developing and managing a high-performing team to support the delivery of student systems strategy and services
• Developing and managing budgets
• Building and maintaining strong engagements and positive professional and interpersonal relations with colleagues at different levels and across multiple functional areas within the University.

The annual cost of employment, including benefits (where applicable), is between R1 375 821 and R1 618 612

Closing date: 15 November 2026