Senior Manager: Business Intelligence needed at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Senior Manager: Business Intelligence (BI) leads the strategic design, development, and governance of the University’s business intelligence, HEMIS, and subsidy data ecosystems.
• The incumbent ensures that UP’s BI and reporting systems are accurate, policy-compliant, and strategically aligned with national frameworks such as the DHET, CHE, NQF, NQSF, HEQSF, and POPIA.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Overseeing the development of enterprise-level BI systems aligned with DHET, CHE, and NQSF data governance and reporting standards;
• Directing and mentoring a team of BI and data specialists in designing, maintaining, and optimising systems that support institutional analytics and HEMIS compliance;
• Overseeing the design, population, and validation of HEMIS databases and related data submissions to DHET;
• Managing the configuration and maintenance of VALPAC software, ensuring accurate subsidy simulations, audit traceability, and compliance with DHET circulars;
• Leading the development and maintenance of BI infrastructure, data pipelines, and integration systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, SQL Server, Power BI, Tableau, Azure, or Google Cloud);
• Leading the University’s BI strategy as part of the Digital Transformation Strategy, ensuring integration of data from multiple systems into an institutional intelligence framework; 
• Ensuring interoperability of data systems with NQF, NQSF, and HEQSF requirements; 
• Providing strategic and technical direction in system architecture, database design and BI analytics deployment; 
• Determining and preparing Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUPs) for data audits; 
• Serving as institutional liaison with DHET and external auditors regarding data quality and audit trail; 
• Fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence and accountability in institutional analytics and reporting; 
• Driving automation of data validation, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and system updates using APIs and cloud-based workflows; 
• Planning, designing and maintaining a HEMIS database consisting of data from the student production database;
• Developing computer programmes to test and store data to meet the HEMIS requirements and definitions, also ensure that the programs support any other enquiries, requests or investigations from UP or the DHET; 
• Understand and analyse HEMIS requirements and definitions as provided by the DHET (Audit directives, Circulars); 
• Keeping abreast of audit requirements as provided by the DHET and according to the relevant external auditors for University;
• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including Faculties, Finance, ITS, HR, UP Executive, and DHET officials;
• Representing UP at national bodies (HEMIS Institute Forum, SAAIR, DHET working groups);
• Leading BI-related training, capacity building and professional development at UP.

MMINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• An Honours degree in information systems, data science, computer science, or any relevant fields; 
• 6 years’ experience (of which 2 years in management or technical leadership); 
• Experience in business intelligence, information systems; 
• Proven experience in database management, and system integration within complex organisational or higher education environments. 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Knowledge of HEMIS, VALPAC frameworks and DHET reporting requirements;
• Business intelligence systems, data warehouses, and cloud analytics;
• Knowledge Automation, AI, and predictive modelling for institutional decision-making;
• Data modelling, governance, and validation in higher education;
• Knowledge Higher Education regulatory landscape (NQSF, NQF, HEQSF, CHE, POPIA);
• Strategic planning and KPI design within institutional analytics;
• BI software (Power BI, Tableau, Qlik) and dashboard design;
• Database management and SQL programming;
• Project management and Agile system development;
• Team leadership and technical mentorship; 
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities to guide multidisciplinary BI and technical teams;
• Analytical, innovative, and strategic mindset with systems-level thinking.; 
• Effective communicator and collaborator with technical and non-technical stakeholders;
• Commitment to continuous learning, digital transformation, and institutional excellence;
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic, data-driven environment.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• A Masters degree in information systems, data science, computer science, or any relevant field; 
• Experience at a higher education institution;
• Proven experience in VALPAC operations, HEMIS submissions, and compliance with DHET frameworks;
• Experience developing data pipelines, data warehouses, and cloud-based BI architectures; 
• Experience in managing or improving data quality assurance and governance processes, including audit preparation and policy compliance; 
• Familiarity with DHET, CHE, NQF, NQSF, HEQSF, and POPIA frameworks; 
• Membership in SAAIR, AIR, or equivalent professional association; 
• Proven ability to lead a technical BI team and coordinate system development in line with institutional and national policy standards.

CLOSING DATE:  16 January 2026