Deputy Director: Early Childhood Administration and Reporting System (eCares) Manager x1
Job Details
Job Title: Deputy Director: Early Childhood Administration and Reporting System (eCares) Manager
Reference Number: PS17/2026/01
Post Number: POST 36/154
Department: Free State Department of Education
Directorate/Sub-Directorate: Education Management Information Systems (EMIS)
Location: Bloemfontein, Free State
Salary: R932,292 – R1,098,195 per annum
Salary Level: Level 11
Closing Date: 23 October 2026
Enquiries: Mr Randall Pienaar, Acting Director: IT and Information Systems
Contact Number: 079 503 5400
Job Description
The Free State Department of Education is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced Deputy Director to manage the provincial Early Childhood Administration and Reporting System (eCares).
The successful candidate will oversee system performance, user support, training, data accuracy, reporting, and implementation of system updates. The role involves supporting provincial, district, and circuit users, ensuring effective system utilisation, and collaborating with national departments, service providers, and early childhood development (ECD) stakeholders.
The position plays an important role in improving the quality of ECD data, strengthening reporting processes, and supporting informed decision-making across the province.
Key Responsibilities
Provincial eCares System Management
Lead provincial support for eCares system usage, performance, and adoption.
Monitor user compliance with system functionality and data workflows.
Promote effective system utilisation for planning and decision-making.
Identify opportunities to improve system performance and user experience.
User Support and Access Management
Manage first-line helpdesk support for Provincial Education Department users.
Manage user accounts, access rights, roles, and permissions.
Identify, investigate, and escalate technical issues to national teams and service providers.
Ensure provincial users receive timely and effective technical support.
User Training and Capacity Building
Conduct ongoing training on new system releases and functional improvements.
Train users on reporting tools, dashboards, and system functionality.
Support districts and circuits in improving system usage.
Build user capacity to ensure accurate data capturing and reporting.
System Testing and Implementation
Lead provincial testing of system releases, upgrades, and updates.
Develop test plans and document User Acceptance Testing (UAT) outcomes.
Submit feedback and recommendations to system developers.
Validate system enhancements before deployment.
Identify and report issues that may affect system functionality.
Systems Maintenance and Technical Support
Work with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and service providers, including Mezzanine and Vodacom, to maintain system continuity.
Identify and help resolve technical problems affecting provincial users.
Coordinate with relevant technical teams to address system issues.
Reporting and Master Data Management
Maintain alignment between eCares and EMIS master lists.
Validate EMIS number allocation within the eCares system.
Support provincial reporting requirements and ensure data accuracy.
Monitor system usage and reporting performance.
Use data analysis to identify trends, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Work closely with the Provincial Education Department’s ECD and EMIS directorates.
Collaborate with national EMIS and ECD teams.
Engage with social partners, including Ilifa Labantwana and the Bana Pele Initiative.
Coordinate stakeholders across national, provincial, district, and circuit levels.
Report to the provincial EMIS head and work closely with the ECD Directorate.
Job Requirements
Educational Qualifications
Applicants must have one of the following:
A SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification at NQF Level 7 in Education, such as a B.Ed. or PGCE; or
A SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification at NQF Level 7 in Information Systems, ICT, Computer Science, Data, or a related field.
Work Experience
At least 5 years of management experience.
6–7 years of relevant experience in:
Systems administration and user support.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
Training facilitation.
Data reporting and system usage monitoring.
Additional Requirements
Knowledge of cloud-based system operations.
Knowledge of the provincial EMIS environment and/or ECD system landscape.
Advanced Excel skills.
Strong data manipulation, analytical, and reporting skills.
Ability to coordinate stakeholders at multiple organisational levels.
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Good customer service orientation.
Ability to work independently and travel extensively.
A valid driver’s licence is essential.
Experience in Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) will be an added advantage.
Skills and Competencies
Systems administration and technical troubleshooting.
Data management, analysis, and reporting.
User support and access management.
Training, facilitation, and capacity building.
User Acceptance Testing and system implementation.
Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
Stakeholder engagement and coordination.
Planning, organisation, and problem-solving.
Attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
Strong communication and customer service skills.