IT Project Manager at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte        

Project Planning and Governance:

• Defining the scope, objectives, and deliverables of the project, or executing predefined elements in existing projects.
• Creating a comprehensive project plan, including schedules, tasks, and resource allocation.
• Developing and managing the project budget, depending on the project type.
• Managing project scope and ensuring that all changes are documented and approved.
• Preventing scope creep where possible and documenting changes and associated costs.
• Maintaining comprehensive project documentation, including plans, charters, governance logs, milestone tracking, schedules, reports, and change logs (including JIRA).
• Ensuring that project documentation is well organised and accessible to team members and stakeholders.

Execution, Resource and Team Management:

• Assembling the project team and defining roles and responsibilities.
• Fostering a collaborative and productive working environment across stakeholders.
• Motivating and guiding team members to meet project goals and deadlines.
• Allocating and managing project resources, including personnel, equipment, and software.
• Ensuring that team members have the necessary tools and support to complete their tasks.
• Identifying and acquiring necessary materials, services, and equipment.
• Managing vendor relationships and contracts where applicable.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

• Acting as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, unless defined otherwise.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with project stakeholders.
• Addressing stakeholder needs, concerns, and expectations throughout the project.
• Ensuring effective communication within the team and with stakeholders.
• Keeping stakeholders informed about project progress, issues, and changes.
• Preparing and delivering regular status reports and presentations.

Monitoring, Control and Quality Management:

• Monitoring project timelines and deadlines.
• Adjusting schedules and priorities as necessary to keep the project on track.
• Employing project management tools and techniques to manage time effectively.
• Monitoring and controlling project costs to ensure adherence to budget, where applicable.
• Tracking expenditures and discussing budget adjustments with the project owner as needed.
• Identifying potential risks and issues that could affect project success.
• Developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitoring and addressing issues as they arise to keep the project on track.
• Establishing quality standards and processes to ensure deliverables meet specifications.
• Conducting quality assessments and audits to maintain high standards.
• Ensuring that all project components are integrated smoothly and function as intended.
• Coordinating dependencies across different project areas.

Evaluation, Improvement and Closure:

• Reviewing and analysing project performance to identify areas for improvement.
• Implementing lessons learned and best practices in future projects.
• Evaluating project outcomes against initial objectives and deliverables.
• Preparing a project closure report.
• Facilitating the transition of project outcomes to the operational phase.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes        

• At least an NQF level 7 qualification in a relevant field.
• At least three years' formal or demonstrated experience in change management practices (e.g. Prosci, ADKAR, or equivalent frameworks).
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with active listening skills.
• Highly organised with a focus on planning and execution.
• Proven ability to collaborate at all levels of an organisation.
• Excellent problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities.
• The ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Adaptability to work with both agile and traditional project management methodologies.
• High attention to detail, with a strong focus on stakeholder value and sustainable outcomes.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling        

• Experience and familiarity with academic calendars, institutional reporting cycles, and South African regulatory frameworks (e.g., POPIA, HEQSF).
• Experience with working in higher education or public-sector IT environments.
• Familiarity with project management tools (JIRA, SmartSheets, MS Project, or similar).
• Formal project management certification (e.g. ITIL, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum).

Closing Date : 18-Sep-2026