DIRECTOR: TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

(Permanent;Payclass 13-4)

Office of the Executive Director

Properties and Services

The Properties and Services division is responsible for managing all aspects of UCT’s many buildings and properties. It oversees and ensures the safe, secure, functional operation of the university, including project managing the erection of all new buildings, re-designing of spaces in existing buildings, maintaining existing properties, access control, security, transport, traffic control, cleaning, gardening, and postal services.

Properties and Services (P&S), among other diverse areas of campus management, is responsible for making a significant contribution to campus life for staff, students and stakeholders, through the planning and execution of Technology Services which enables a smart campus. The successful candidate must therefore lead the P&S Technology Services unit, as part of a University Wide function, that ultimately informs the Real Estate Technology landscape in shaping the UCT ICT Strategy.

The Director is responsible for managing all technology, information and Life and Safety systems supporting the respective sections within the P&S division, and its national and international footprint, by making use of both on premise infrastructure as well as hosted services.

As a member of the P&S Exco, UICTC (University Information and Communication Technology Committee), UCCC (University Computing Coordinating Committee), UCT Data Governance, the Director will lead and manage the department’s operational and strategic technology initiatives and align technology strategies with institutional strategies through strategic planning and integration of the technology architecture across multiple platforms, systems and departments.

The successful candidate will support the Executive Director: Properties and Services by effectively utilizing their professional skills and knowledge to provide the vision, strategic and technical oversight and leadership for the Properties and Services Technology strategy.

Requirements for the job:

• A relevant NQF7 level qualification, or similar equivalent, in either Information Systems, Computer Science or an aligned field.
• A demonstrated track record of Implementing and managing enterprise applications, business intelligence and reporting systems, information management, data integration, IoT devices and sensors and related connectivity.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior or executive leadership role within a technology organization or department.

    This experience should include:

• Knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure, data integration and visualization particularly in Real Estate, Facilities Management, Infrastructure and Services-based technologies to support a Real Estate, Infrastructure and diverse services portfolio.
• Working knowledge of Agile, Scrum, PMP/Prince2 or similar relevant project management methodologies.
• Systems development lifecycle, program and project management, IT Services and Operations Management, Quality Assurance and Testing, integration and change management.
•  Service Level Agreement management, Sourcing and Contracts management.

Advantageous:

• Extensive experience of working with relevant real estate technology and building information management systems in fields such as Integrated Workplace Management, Building and Energy Management, Building Information Modelling, Life and Safety, Security and similar.

Key Skills and Attributes:

• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Solid business and strategic acumen.
• An ongoing commitment to leadership in innovation, technology developments and aspects related to the role.
• An ability to successfully manage stakeholder expectations across the entire University community and interact successfully with individuals internal and external to the University.
• The ability to manage budgets, with a strong knowledge of budgeting and resource allocation procedures.
• A friendly disposition, coupled with sound interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written and presentation).
• The ability to communicate design and project information to committees clearly and confidently across all levels within the organisation.
• The ability to multi-task, work in a team or on an individual basis, with minimum supervision.

Responsibilities (further detailed in the attached position description):

• Operational execution of the real estate technology strategy.
• Strategy alignment, development and implementation.
• Driving digital innovation and adoption within the division.
• Technology and Information Services Management.
• Vendor/Supplier relationship management.
• Internal stakeholder and change management as they relate to the role.
• Influence UCT policy development where appropriate, including IT governance, risk and compliance.
• Be responsible for and have oversight of managing resources within the span of control, including people, financial controls and operations budgets for Technology Services.
• Ensuring effective communication and stakeholder management, including serving on planning and project committees, representing the University at internal and external forums, managing relationships and the work of external specialists and consultants.
• Managing the workload and resources within the department to ensure efficient operations and project implementation.

The annual cost of employment including benefits is between R 1 670 679,00 and R 1 965 508,00.

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs site to create a candidate profile and to submit your application. Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Cover letter that speaks to the specific requirements of the position.
• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments and references may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms Hlubi Ntsizi at hlubi.ntsizi@uct.ac.za or 021 650 2163.

Closing Date:  28 February 2025

Website:         https://hr.uct.ac.za/                         

UCT 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. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.