Director: IT Partnerships and Project Management

Duties/Pligte
- Serving as the liaison between IT and the Faculties, Teaching and Learning, Research, Social Impact and the professional academic and administrative support environments, understanding their needs and ensuring alignment with institutional goals and strategic priorities;
- Leading the design, implementation, and management of the Business Relationship Management (BRM) framework linked to the international BRM practice to include both institutional systems as well as special systems within divisions and faculties;
- Developing and managing the IT project portfolio, thereby ensuring alignment with institutional priorities;
- Developing and implementing demand management processes, guidelines and procedures to prioritise and align IT resources with institutional needs and strategic objectives;
- Managing and mentoring the relationship managers and project management team, providing guidance and support to ensure successful project outcomes and high levels of stakeholder satisfaction;
- Fostering a culture of innovation by identifying and implementing emerging technologies that support SU's strategic priorities;
- Implementing and managing communication strategies to keep stakeholders informed about IT initiatives, projects, and developments;
- Aligning with IT governance and, where applicable, defining, implementing and overseeing good governance of the portfolio;
- Developing and managing the relevant IT budget, ensuring cost-effective solutions and efficient resource allocation;
- Staying current with emerging technologies, industry trends and best practices in higher education IT, making recommendations for continuous improvement and innovation;
- Building and nurturing internal and external national and international networks (e.g. vendors, other higher education institutions and research associations).
- Dien as die skakel tussen IT en die Fakulteite, Onderrig en Leer, Navorsing, Sosiale Impak en die professionele akademiese en administratiewe steunomgewings, wat hul behoeftes verstaan en belyning met institusionele doelwitte en strategiese prioriteite verseker;
- Lei die ontwerp, implementering en bestuur van die Besigheidsverhoudingsbestuur (BVB)-raamwerk gekoppel aan die internasionale BVB-praktyk om beide institusionele stelsels sowel as spesiale stelsels binne afdelings en fakulteite in te sluit;
- Ontwikkel en bestuur die IT-projekportefeulje, om belyning met institusionele prioriteite te verseker;
- Ontwikkel en implementeer aanvraagbestuursprosesse, -riglyne en -prosedures om IT-hulpbronne te prioritiseer en in lyn te bring met institusionele behoeftes en strategiese doelwitte;
- Bestuur en mentor die verhoudingsbestuurders en projekbestuurspan, verskaf leiding en ondersteuning om suksesvolle projekuitkomste en hoë vlakke van belanghebbende tevredenheid te verseker;
- Kweek 'n kultuur van innovasie deur die identifisering en implementering van ontluikende tegnologieë wat die US se strategiese prioriteite ondersteun;
- Implementeer en bestuur kommunikasiestrategieë om belanghebbendes ingelig te hou oor IT-inisiatiewe, projekte en ontwikkelings;
- Belyn met IT-bestuur, en waar van toepassing, definieer, implementeer en doen goeie oorsigbestuur van die portefeulje;
- Ontwikkel en bestuur die toepaslike IT-begroting, wat kostedoeltreffende oplossings en doeltreffende hulpbrontoewysing verseker;
- Bly op hoogte van opkomende tegnologieë, industrie neigings en beste praktyke in hoër onderwys IT, en maak aanbevelings vir voortdurende verbetering en innovasie;
- Bou en koester interne en eksterne nasionale en internasionale netwerke (bv. verskaffers, ander hoëronderwysinstellings en navorsingsverenigings).

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes
- NQF 8 qualification (i.e. honour's degree, postgraduate dploma and qualifications) in computer science, information technology, business administration, higher education, or a related field (a master's degree preferred);
- More than ten years' experience in IT, with at least five years in a leadership role focusing on business relationship management, partnerships, project management, demand management, communication and innovation;
- Experience in building and maintaining internal and external strategic partnerships;
- An excellent understanding of the digital transformation opportunities and challenges of higher education institutions;
- An excellent understanding of the challenges facing South African higher education institutions;
- Proven experience in managing complex IT projects and developing strategic partnerships in a higher education environment;
- Strong understanding of demand management, project management methodologies, the software development lifecycle, tools and best practices;
- Experience in financial management and budgeting;
- Excellent leadership and team management skills;
- Strong problem-solving abilities and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure;
- The ability to adapt and be flexible in a fast changing enviro