Senior Manager : Business Intelligence

Key Responsibilities

Oversee the development of enterprise-level BI systems aligned with DHET, CHE, and NQSF data governance and reporting standards.

Direct and mentor a team of BI and data specialists in designing, maintaining, and optimising systems that support institutional analytics and HEMIS compliance.

Oversee the design, population, and validation of HEMIS databases and related data submissions to DHET.

Manage the configuration and maintenance of VALPAC software, ensuring accurate subsidy simulations, audit traceability, and compliance with DHET circulars.

Lead the development and maintenance of BI infrastructure, data pipelines, and integration systems (e.g., People Soft, SQL Server, Power BI, Tableau, Azure, or Google Cloud).

Lead the University's BI strategy as part of the Digital Transformation Strategy, ensuring integration of data from multiple systems into an institutional intelligence framework.

Ensure interoperability of data systems with NQF, NQSF, and HEQSF requirements.

Provide strategic and technical direction in system architecture, database design and BI analytics deployment.

Determine and prepare Agreed‑Un­poun­ed Procedures (AUPs) for data audits.

Serve as institutional liaison with DHET and external auditors regarding data quality and audit trail.

Foster a culture of innovation, technical excellence and accountability in institutional analytics and reporting.

Drive automation of data validation, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and system updates using APIs and cloud‑based workflows.

Plan, design and maintain a HEMIS database consisting of data from the student production database.

Develop computer programmes to test and store data to meet the HEMIS requirements and definitions, also ensure that the programs support any other enquiries, requests or investigations from UP or the DHET.

Understand and analyse HEMIS requirements and definitions as provided by the DHET (Audit directives, Circulars).

Keep abreast of audit requirements as provided by the DHET and according to the relevant external auditors for University.

Build and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including Faculties, Finance, ITS, HR, UP Executive, and DHET officials.

Represent UP at national bodies (HEMIS Institute Forum, SAAIR, DHET working groups).

Lead BI‑related training, capacity building and professional development at UP.

An Honours degree in information systems, data science, computer science, or any relevant fields.

6 years' experience (of which 2 years in management or technical leadership).

Proven experience in database management, and system integration within complex organisational or higher education environments.

Knowledge of HEMIS, VALPAC frameworks and DHET reporting requirements.

Business intelligence systems, data warehouses, and cloud analytics.

Knowledge Automation, AI, and predictive modelling for institutional decision‑making.

Data modelling, governance, and validation in higher education.

Knowledge Higher Education regulatory landscape (NQSF, NQF, HEQSF, CHE, POPIA).

Strategic planning and KPI design within institutional analytics.

BI software (Power BI, Tableau, Qlik) and dashboard design.

Database management and SQL programming.

Project management and Agile system development.

Strong leadership and mentoring abilities to guide multidisciplinary BI and technical teams.

Analytical, innovative, and strategic mindset with systems‑level thinking.

Effective communicator and collaborator with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Commitment to continuous learning, digital transformation, and institutional excellence.

Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic, data‑driven environment.

A Masters degree in information systems, data science, computer science, or any relevant field.

Proven experience in VALPAC operations, HEMIS submissions, and compliance with DHET frameworks.

Experience developing data pipelines, data…