DEPUTY DIRECTOR: S/DIR: ECD CENTRES- CONDITIONAL GRANT (SYSTEM MANAGER E-CARES) 3 YEARS CONTRACT

This position serves as the Deputy Director and System Manager for the eCares platform within the Department of Education’s Chief Directorate for ECD Centres, operating under the Conditional Grant programme. Based at the Head Office in Mbombela, this is a three-year contract role focused on the provincial management, adoption, and performance of the eCares system, which is used to support Early Childhood Development centre administration and data workflows. The incumbent will act as the primary provincial link between national government, provincial education departments, districts, and service providers, ensuring that the system functions effectively and is used consistently across all levels.

Candidates must possess a SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification at NQF Level 7 in Information Systems, ICT, Computer Science, Data, or a related field, combined with at least seven years of relevant experience in systems administration and user support. A valid driver’s licence is essential, as is a willingness to travel extensively. The role demands a solid understanding of cloud-based system operations, database management, and business intelligence reporting. Familiarity with the provincial EMIS environment and the broader ECD system landscape is critical. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and data manipulation skills, including advanced Excel proficiency, and be capable of coordinating stakeholders across national, provincial, and district levels. Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and a customer service orientation are also required, along with the capacity to work independently.

The core duties centre on managing provincial eCares system usage and performance. This includes leading support for system adoption, monitoring user compliance with data workflows, and advocating for the use of system data in decision-making. The Deputy Director will manage the first-line helpdesk for PED users, oversee user access, roles, and permissions, and escalate technical issues to national authorities and service providers. A significant portion of the role involves user training and capacity building, specifically conducting ongoing sessions on new releases, functional improvements, and reporting dashboards, while also supporting districts and circuits to drive usage. The position is responsible for leading provincial testing of system releases, developing test plans, recording User Acceptance Testing outcomes, and providing feedback to developers. The role also requires validating system enhancements before deployment, resolving technical issues affecting provincial users, and ensuring alignment between eCares and EMIS Masterlists by validating EMIS number allocations. Finally, the post supports provincial reporting needs and data accuracy.

Appointment is subject to a competency assessment. All shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise evaluating suitability based on the technical and generic requirements of the post, and an integrity assessment focusing on ethical conduct. This is a demanding, high-responsibility role for a skilled systems administrator looking to make a significant impact on early childhood development service delivery at a provincial level.