SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: ECD:

This three-year contract position, based in Cape Town and located within the Western Cape Education Department’s Early Childhood Development directorate, focuses on the practical implementation and daily support of the eCares system. The role is essentially a bridge between the provincial ECD information system and the district officials and ECD service providers who must use it for registration, enrolment, data capture, document uploads and funding-related submissions. The successful candidate will not simply administer the system from an office; they will be expected to travel across the province to offer on-site support, conduct hands-on training and coaching, and help embed a culture of accurate data use and accountability in district ECD structures. This makes the job as much about change management and user enablement as about data administration.

Applicants need a relevant post-school qualification in Information Systems, Education, Data Analysis, Public Administration or a related field, supported by strong computer literacy. Practical experience with information systems or databases is essential, including work related to system rollout support, training facilitation, or user support, ideally within the education or ECD sector. Intermediate data analysis and reporting skills are also required, allowing the post holder to identify data quality issues, trends and gaps. The role demands clear communication and problem-solving ability, especially the capacity to explain technical concepts to non-specialist users. A willingness to travel and provide on-site support is a core condition.

In day-to-day work, the Senior Administrative Officer will be the first line of support for district officials and ECD centres using eCares. This includes troubleshooting, assisting with data capture and document uploads, and helping users maintain up-to-date enrolment records. The post holder will also deliver training and coaching, support data verification and maintenance, and produce basic analyses and reports that inform operational decisions and funding processes. Unresolved technical issues must be escalated to provincial or national support structures, and the officer will contribute to improving training and support approaches based on user feedback and operational needs.

The position is advertised as a three-year contract in the Western Cape, and applicants should be prepared for a role that combines administrative rigour with field-based support and capacity building. It is an opportunity to help strengthen early childhood development services by making sure reliable data supports planning, funding and accountability.