DEPUTY DIRECTOR: ECD: ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING SYSTEMS MANAGER

This is a senior contract position within the Western Cape Education Department’s Early Childhood Development directorate, based in Cape Town and graded at the Middle Management Service level. The successful candidate will act as the provincial manager for the eCares system, the digital platform used to support ECD provisioning and administration. Working under the provincial EMIS head while maintaining a close working relationship with the ECD Directorate, the Deputy Director is responsible for driving system adoption, ensuring data integrity, and supporting thousands of users across provincial, district and circuit levels. The role is central to making sure that ECD data is accurate, accessible and actually used for planning and decision-making.

Candidates must hold a SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification at NQF Level 7 in Information Systems, ICT, Computer Science, Data or a related field. They need between six and seven years of relevant experience covering systems administration and user support, user acceptance testing, training facilitation, and data reporting. A solid understanding of cloud-based system operations is essential, as is familiarity with the Provincial EMIS environment and the ECD system landscape. Advanced Excel skills, strong analytical and data manipulation abilities, and the capacity to coordinate stakeholders across national, provincial and district levels are all required. The position demands problem-solving, meticulous attention to detail, a customer service orientation, and the ability to work independently. Extensive travel is part of the role, so a valid driver’s licence is non-negotiable.

The core duties are wide-ranging. The Deputy Director will lead provincial support for system usage, monitor user compliance with data workflows, and champion the use of eCares for decision-making. This includes managing the first-line helpdesk for PED users, controlling user access, roles and permissions, and escalating issues to national bodies and service providers. Training is a major component, covering new releases, functional improvements, reporting tools and dashboards, while also supporting districts and circuits to increase uptake. On the technical side, the post holder will lead provincial testing of system updates, develop test plans, record UAT outcomes, and validate enhancements before they go live. They will work with the DBE and external vendors to ensure continuity, troubleshoot technical problems affecting provincial users, and maintain alignment between eCares and EMIS master lists, including validating EMIS numbers. Finally, the role involves close collaboration with PED ECD and EMIS directorates, national teams, and social partners such as Ilifa Labantwana and the Bana Pele Initiative. This is a demanding but pivotal position for anyone wishing to shape ECD data governance and service delivery in the province.