Senior Director: DIRSIP (Post Level 4) at University of the Free State

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