Senior HEMIS Officer

UP Professional and Support DEPARTMENT OF INSTITUITONAL PLANNING, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION SENIOR HEMIS OFFICERPEROMNES POST LEVEL 6

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will provide expert leadership in the management, analysis, and use of student data in accordance with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) specifications, while advancing the University’s strategic and operational objectives through data-driven insights.

• Designing, developing, managing, and continuously optimising the student HEMIS database in accordance with DHET regulations and reporting frameworks;
• Leading quality assurance processes to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of student data, including validation of academic plan-module combinations and full-time equivalent (FTE) calculations;
• Managing the end-to-end process of student HEMIS data submissions, including preparing for DHET submissions and facilitating internal and external audits;
• Interpreting DHET policy frameworks, subsidy formulas, and funding mechanisms to assess and model the financial implications for the University;
• Advising senior management, deans, and institutional stakeholders on trends, anomalies, and policy-aligned responses in student and subsidy data;
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., academic departments, finance, IT, student administration) to enhance data workflows and data governance practices;
• Staying abreast of national and global developments in higher education funding, data standards, and regulatory compliance, including active participation in forums such as SAAIR and HEMIS user groups.

• Baccalaureus degree in Information Technology, Statistics and/or Computer Science with at least:
• A minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, Database Management or a related field;
• At least 4 years’ relevant experience within a higher education institution;
• Advanced knowledge of DHET HEMIS specifications, subsidy and full-time equivalent calculations, together with advanced proficiency in database management, SQL, data analysis, and reporting tools.

• Knowledge of University structure and regulations;
• Knowledge of higher education environment;
• Knowledge of HEMIS;
• Knowledge of DHET’s HEMIS prescriptions and how the University’s data should be adapted and presented to meet the requirements;
• Knowledge of the DHET’s Valpac software on which subsidy submissions need to be done. Continuously update the software as amendments are made;
• Knowledge of the DHET audit requirements and circulars in order to lead and perform a successful audit;
• Computer skills on several applications (Valpac, Excel, Word, Access, People Soft and SQL programming).
• Language skills;
• Good interpersonal skills;
• Analytical thinking;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Professionalism;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Interpret and analyse prescriptions;
• Render work outputs within tight timelines;
• Insight and sensitivity for information as asset of the University as well as its confidentiality;
• Knowledge of procedures at various faculties and divisions in order to be able to correctly interpret statistics.

• A relevant postgraduate qualification at NQF Level 8 in Information Technology, Statistics and/or Computer Science;
• Experience in institutional research, data analytics, business intelligence or higher education planning;
• Participation in relevant professional structures or communities of practice, such as SAAIR and HEMIS user groups.

PLEASE NOTE:

All shortlisted candidates may be required to participate in relevant skills assessments as part of the selection process.

CLOSING…