Strategic Initiatives, International and Institutional Affairs
Directorate for Institutional Research, Strategic Analytics and Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (DIRSIP)
Bloemfontein Campus
Senior Director: DIRSIP (post Level 4) (Contract appointment: five years with the possibility of reappointment)
Job ID: 6556

The University of the Free State invites applications from visionary, innovative and strategic leaders for the position of Senior Director: Directorate for Institutional Research, Strategic Analytics and Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (DIRSIP). Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategic Initiatives, International and Institutional Affairs, the Senior Director provides strategic leadership for institutional planning, strategy implementation, institutional research, business intelligence, statutory reporting, project portfolio management and enrolment planning.

The incumbent will play a pivotal role in supporting evidence-based decision-making, organisational effectiveness and the successful implementation of the University's Vision 130 and strategic priorities. As a member of the University's senior leadership community, the successful candidate will lead the University's institutional planning and performance management functions while ensuring that strategic information supports sound governance and executive decision-making.

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 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.

Term of Appointment
The Senior Director will be appointed on a five-year fixed-term performance-based contract in accordance with the University's policies and procedures and may be eligible for reappointment subject to institutional requirements and performance.

Assumption of duties:
01 October 2026

Closing date:
11 August 2026

Salary:
The salary is available on request and will be commensurate with the responsibilities attached to the position.

Fringe benefits:
(Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!
To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed here:
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
• Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
• A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
• Confirmation of employment in the form of a letter, appointment contract, service certificate, or recent payslip from your current or most recent employer (applicable to external applicants only).

Enquiries:
For enquiries, please contact 051 401 9329 or email VermaakM@ufs.ac.za / 051 401 9848 or email TeateaPR@ufs.ac.za.

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at: ufs-employment-equity-plan_2025.pdf

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.