Senior Manager: Middleware and System Integration - Information Technology Services

University of Pretoria; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Pretoria seeks a Senior Manager: Middleware and System Integration. Responsibilities include managing the Middleware team, overseeing system integrations, and ensuring operational excellence. Ideal candidates should have management experience and relevant qualifications, with a strong background in system integration and Java development.

Benefits

Medical aid schemes

Competitive remuneration package

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years’ experience, 2 years in management.
• Experience in system integration or development.
• Skills in Identity and Access Management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Middleware and System Integration team.
• Manage operational processes for applications and databases.
• Ensure SLA compliance with vendors and stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

System integration

Java development

Database administration

Conflict management

Education

Relevant Honours degree

Relevant Bachelor's / BTech degree

Tools

Oracle SOA

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Job description

UP Professional and Support

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

SENIOR MANAGER: MIDDLEWARE AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION

PEROMNES POST LEVEL 5

In pursuit of the ideals of excellence and diversity, the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the following vacancy.

The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research Universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international science and technology development.

Job Purpose

• To oversee the Identity and Access management, the Java ADF development and System Integration resources of the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team, prioritise work to be done, and oversee the team members’ involvement in UP projects;
• Supervise and ensure the effective and efficient operational management, coordination, planning, provisioning, maintenance (installation, configuration, upgrade and patching), user support, problem solving, availability, performance/monitoring, backups, disaster recovery and support (also after-hours) of all the applications, databases and supporting software that are supported by the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team – including the Oracle Identity and Access Management, Oracle WebCenter Portal, Oracle Java ADF, and Oracle Service Oriented Architect (SOA) platforms;
• Ensure that the technical leads within the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team reporting to this manager, conduct technical investigations related to Identity and Access Management and System Integration, to address new business requirements, enhance business processes, improve performance and stability of business processes, implement best practices, define strategies and plan towards implementation of strategies;
• Manage the budget and all software and service contracts, requisitions and invoices pertaining to the corporate UP software within the responsibility of the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team;
• Supervise the participation of the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team in UP and ITS project activities, and ensure that project goals are met.
  
  

Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the Enterprise Development and Support Division:
• Manage the ITS Middleware and System Integration division and subordinates;
• Establish strategic goals for the ITS Middleware and System Integration division (in line with the UP and ITS strategies), and ensure that those goals are met by compiling related action plans to be executed by the division;
• Participate in investigations into new software in order to improve the efficiency of the division/ITS department and the service delivered to the UP community;
• Co-ordinate activities across the ITS Middleware and System Integration environment and third-party vendors/service providers;
• Establish a systems management regime to ensure the reliability, availability, maintainability, testability and security (RAMTS) of the corporate databases and applications within the responsibility of the ITS Middleware and System Integration division;
• Establish processes and procedures for the timeous and effective patching and upgrading of software, with the minimum interruption to business processes. Liaise with vendors, users and stakeholders in order to build and enhance the Middleware and System Integration strategy, and to plan and implement software upgrades and migrations;
• Ensure proactive monitoring and problem solving within the database and application environments, and the identification of the need for extra hardware/software resources;
• Implement and enforce standards and control of the deployment, migration and integrity of databases and applications;
• Enforce change control procedures with regard to the deployment of changes to all system software;
• Ensure that all operational problems, as reported via the designated support channels, are solved in a timely and efficient manner;
• Establish standards, documentation and configuration management, and implement best practice procedures for the administration, maintenance, monitoring, tuning, backup, and recovery of databases and applications;
• Establish, maintain and manage SLA’s within the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team, and with the vendors responsible for providing software support to UP;
• Participate in the establishment and maintenance of the required support infrastructure, to ensure the effective management and timely resolution of operational problems;
• Supervise the participation of the ITS Middleware and System Integration division in UP and ITS project activities, and ensure that project goals are met;
• Provide statistics and other information to ITS management with regard to the availability and management of the software within the responsibility of the ITS Middleware and System Integration division;
• Adhere to the following:
• IT policies and procedures;
• Business processes and rules;
• Configuration management and documentation procedures;
• System security techniques and methods;
• Perform administrative duties e.g. filing, documenting, reporting, etc.;

• Financial management:
• Define a clear costing structure of the services provided;
• Plan, compile, manage and execute the budget pertaining to all software under the responsibility of the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team;
• Provide IT management with the necessary information and assistance to produce management reports;
• Liaise with vendors and UP stakeholders to establish software and services contracts within the responsibility of the ITS Enterprise Systems’ Middleware and System integration team, and ensure the timeous renewal or cancellation of such contracts;
• Ensure the timeous payment of software and services contracts by managing the placement of requisitions and obtaining invoices from vendors and submitting such to the UP-Finance department within the prescribed time frames;
  
  

• Human Resources management:
• Plan and execute personnel management strategy, including personnel development and recruitment;
• Implement effective performance management in accordance with University policy, to develop and enhance the performance of staff members and thus contributing to the overall performance of the University;
• Coordinate division’s after-hours support and task management;
• Manage the allocation of resources or resource time to projects conducted within UP and ITS;
• Improve performance by defining and executing an individual performance development plan; build proficiency levels for current position and future advancement by participating in formal and informal training opportunities.
  

Minimum Requirements

• A relevant Honours degree / Postgraduate Diploma; with
• Six years’ experience (Of which two years in management) in;
• System integration or development, and implementation of system integration processes (preferably Oracle SOA);
• Java software development management;
• Implementation of Oracle Fusion Middleware products;
• Identity and Access Management;
  

OR

• A relevant Bachelor’s / BTech degree; with
• Eight years’ experience (Of which three years in management) in;
• System integration or development, and implementation of system integration processes (preferably Oracle SOA);
• Java software development management;
• Implementation of Oracle Fusion Middleware products;
• Identity and Access Management.
  

Required Competencies (skills, Knowledge And Behavioural Attributes)

• Knowledge competencies:
• Knowledge and understanding of:
• Proper documentation of all relevant databases;
• The underlying data model;
• Systems and Database Life-Cycle management;
• Project Management;
• General computing principles;
• Installation and technical administration of databases and applications;
• Installation and technical administration of system software;
• Usage of diagnostic and monitoring software;
• Windows, Linux, and other Unix operating systems;
• Technical competencies:
• Troubleshooting within an IT software environment;
• Computer literate;
• Behavioural competencies;
• Must be able to:
• Manage conflict;
• Negotiate;
• Effectively manage staff;
• Communicate clearly and effectively with all stakeholders;
• Work under pressure, and adhere to strict deadlines;
• Follow instructions, guidelines, policies and procedures;
• Identify specific needs and solve problems effectively;
• Manage time and resources effectively;
• Manage and control change;
• Attend to a variety of tasks simultaneously;
• Maintain a high level of professionalism;
• Work in multi-disciplinary team environment;
• Write reports, motivations, business cases etc;
• Organize the division and its activities;
• Give the necessary attention to detail, whilst simultaneously seeing the bigger picture and providing direction to reach strategic goals;
• Must have the correct tendency to:
• Investigate and implement relevant best practices and guidelines;
• Investigate new technologies and methodologies;
• Share knowledge with others and assist with development.
  

Added Advantages And Preferences

• A Master’s degree (Information Systems / Technology);
• A total of three years’ experience in/of:
• Development of software solutions;
• General management;
• Proper documentation of all relevant databases;
• The underlying data model;
• Systems and Database Life-Cycle management;
• Project management;
• Business analysis;
• Management of design, and implementation of business processes;
• Management of technical resources who develop and monitor system integration processes.
  

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

The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.

Applicants are requested to apply online at www.up.ac.za, and follow the link: Careers@UP.

In Applying For This Post, Please Attach

• A comprehensive CV;
• Certified copies of qualifications;
• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone details of three referees whom we have permission to contact.
  
  

CLOSING DATE: 21 August 2025

No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.

ENQUIRIES: Ms V Makhubele, Email: [e-mail] , for application-related enquiries, and Ms T Nevhutalu, Email: [e-mail] for enquiries relating to the post content.

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 30 September 2025, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity.

In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups.

All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply.

By applying for this vacancy, the candidates consent to undergo verification of personal credentials and related information including, but not limited to, qualifications, criminal record, credit record, current and historic disciplinary proceedings as part of the selection process.

The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.