Head: SIS Solutions

Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Stellenbosch University invites applications for the Head: SIS Solutions (Post Level 7) at the Stellenbosch Campus. You will lead the SIS Solutions team and oversee the planning, development, implementation, and management of the Student Information System portfolio, including SIS, ERP, and related integration environments.

You will drive alignment with ICT architecture, governance, and institutional priorities, ensure reliability and security, manage risks, and lead ITIL processes across

Qualifications

• NQF 7 qualification in computer science, information systems, or related discipline, with at least five years' experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment.
• NQF 6 qualification with at least nine years' relevant experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment.
• NQF 4 or 5 qualification with at least thirteen years' relevant experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment.
• Strong experience in project management, and/or, system lifecycle management, and/or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with ITIL-aligned service management processes.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management capability.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing the SIS-Solutions team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Taking custodianship of the SIS portfolio, ensuring reliability, security, and alignment with institutional needs.
• Managing the full lifecycle of SIS solutions, including implementation, upgrades, integrations, and decommissioning.
• Driving strategic alignment with ICT architecture, governance, and institutional priorities.
• Managing risks within the SIS-Solutions environment, including identification, escalation, and mitigation.
• Acting as the primary service management point of contact for SIS-related stakeholders.
• Collaborating with academic and administrative departments to support student and academic system-processes.
• Managing vendor relationships and ensuring effective delivery of SIS-related services.
• Leading ITIL processes, including incident, problem, change, and release management.
• Overseeing project delivery within the SIS-Solutions environment.
• Driving digital transformation and continuous improvement across the SIS-Solutions and processes.
• Ensuring compliance with audit, governance, and security standards.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Project management

ITIL service management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

NQF 7 qualification in computer science/information systems

NQF 6 qualification with extensive SIS experience

NQF 4/5 qualification with extensive SIS experience

Job description

Head: SIS Solutions (Post Level 7)

Department Description/Departement Beskrywing

Information Technology

Institutional Software Solutions

Head: SIS Solutions (Post Level 7)

(Stellenbosch Campus)

Ref. IT/090/0426

The IT Division is Stellenbosch University's (SU) strategic partner on the digital transformation journey. We provide exceptional digitally enhanced experiences for our stakeholders in partnership with our internal and external stakeholders by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities and campus facilities, enhancing the transformative student experience, enriching teaching-learning-assessment and promoting student success, advancing research activities and processes by supporting the research journey and enabling social impact initiatives.

Institutional Software Solutions (ISS) within the IT Division is responsible for the design, implementation, and ongoing management of the University's enterprise software landscape. The Department develops and maintains system integrations, commercial software platforms, and business intelligence capabilities, while coordinating agile delivery practices that ensure sustainable digital operations. ISS implements, configures, and supports the University's core institutional solutions -- including the Student Information System (SIS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Learning-Teaching-Assessment (LTA), Research, and Business Enablement Solutions. This position is situated within the Institutional Solution Operations team, which focuses on the configuration, management, and optimisation of these institutional solutions.

The Head: SIS Solutions is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, implementation, and management of Stellenbosch University's Student Information System (SIS) solution. This includes, but is not limited to, the University's student information and academic records systems, timetabling platform, and related integration environments. These systems form the backbone of the institution's academic and student administration, supporting key processes such as enrolment, curriculum management, residence management, assessment, scheduling, and academic record-keeping across the University.

The Head leads a team of IT professionals to ensure these solutions are reliable, secure, and continuously improved, aligned to ICT Architecture, driving innovation and facilitating digital transformation. Through effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and service management, this role ensures that the SIS Solution is aligned with the University's strategic objectives and operational priorities.

Duties/Pligte

• Leading and managing the SIS-Solutions team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Taking custodianship of the Student Information System (SIS) portfolio, ensuring reliability, security, and alignment with institutional needs.
• Managing the full lifecycle of SIS solutions, including implementation, upgrades, integrations, and decommissioning.
• Driving strategic alignment with ICT architecture, governance, and institutional priorities.
• Managing risks within the SIS-Solutions environment, including identification, escalation, and mitigation.
• Acting as the primary service management point of contact for SIS-related stakeholders.
• Collaborating with academic and administrative departments to support student and academic system-processes.
• Managing vendor relationships and ensuring effective delivery of SIS-related services.
• Leading ITIL processes, including incident, problem, change, and release management.
• Overseeing project delivery within the SIS-Solutions environment.
• Driving digital transformation and continuous improvement across the SIS-Solutions and processes.
• Ensuring compliance with audit, governance, and security standards.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• NQF 7 qualification in computer science, information systems, or related discipline, with at least five years' experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment;

OR

• NQF 6 qualification with at least nine years' relevant experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment;

OR

• NQF 4 or 5 qualification with at least thirteen years' relevant experience managing and/or developing a SIS solution in a higher education environment.
• Strong experience in project management, and/or, system lifecycle management, and/or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with ITIL-aligned service management processes.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management capability.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• Experience with enterprise SIS platforms and academic administration systems.
• Knowledge of IT governance, audit, and risk frameworks (e.g. GITC, NIST).
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and SDLC.
• Experience with the Serosoft Academia SIS-Solutions and/or Data Structure.

The University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the institutional EE Plan. Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to undergo medical screening to determine whether they be fit to work in those occupations.

If you have received no feedback from the University after four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application was unsuccessful.

Enquiries about this post: Mr Luke Cuff on 021 808 9792, or at [e-mail]

Enquiries about remuneration/benefits and technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre, on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch), or 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at [e-mail]

CurrencyZAR Commencement Date01-Nov-2026 Closing Date14-Sep-2026 Amount of Travel Work At Home