Deputy Vice President

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor:
Operations, Digital and AI Systems provides executive leadership and strategic stewardship of the institutional environment that enables the University’s academic mission. The role serves as a strategic integrator between the academic enterprise and the University’s operational, campus, infrastructure, student experience and digital ecosystems, ensuring that institutional capabilities and resources are aligned to teaching, learning, research, student success and institutional performance.

The position has particular responsibility for the executive stewardship of the Potchefstroom Campus through the Campus Chief Director and provides strategic oversight of infrastructure, facilities, protection services, institutional resilience, ceremonies and technology-enabled institutional transformation.

Technology, digital transformation, data and artificial intelligence are strategic institutional enablers. While the Chief Information Officer reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal on an interim basis, the DVC provides the executive integration necessary to ensure that these capabilities remain aligned with the University’s academic and institutional priorities. As a member of the University Management Committee, the DVC contributes to the collective leadership, governance and strategic management of the University.

• A PhD in a field of one of the key result areas e.g. Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Digital Transformation, or Public/Institutional Management (NQF level 10).
• A minimum of seven (7) years demonstrated experience of operating across academic and professional support environments, preferably within higher education, on senior management level.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ operational/ specialist experience in a large, complex organisation (public, corporate, or higher education sector).

• Membership of relevant professional bodies (e.g., Institute of Directors, ISACA, ECSA, or equivalent) will be an advantage.

• Provide strategic oversight of strategies that optimise the University’s physical and digital resources to support teaching, learning, research and operational priorities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive digital transformation strategy aligned with the University’s mission, vision and strategic plan.
• Serve as the executive bridge between the academic enterprise and institutional support functions, ensuring that facilities, infrastructure, technology and operational services are responsive to academic priorities.
• Collaborate with academic executives and faculties to identify and address systemic operational constraints affecting delivery of the academic project across campuses.
• Champion the integration of innovative technologies and data-driven solutions to advance academic excellence, operational efficiency and digital ways of working.
• Foster an inclusive environment that supports digital adoption, continuous improvement and innovation across University functions.

• Provide strategic direction and executive stewardship of the Potchefstroom Campus through the Campus Chief Director. Exercise executive stewardship without displacing the delegated operational accountability of the Campus Chief Director or the academic authority and responsibilities of the relevant academic executives and faculties.
• Ensure alignment between the academic project, campus operations, infrastructure, student life, student…