Head: Business Intelligence Services (IT05)

at  University of the Witwatersrand

To build and strengthen a culture of data-driven decision making within the institution, engage with SET, deans, HOS, faculty managers, student advisors, and administrators to advise on the use of analytics and to deliver on their reporting and analytics requirements in different contexts across all levels (planning, management, operations, and information domains: staff, student, finance, research). Additionally, oversee the maintenance of a robust and reliable data warehouse. To work together closely with BIS partners such as ICT, AISU, HRIS, FINIT on data access and infrastructure requirements and to coordinate reporting to stakeholders. To collaborate with Senior Director Academic Affairs; Senior Director Research and Student Affairs.
To direct the provision of infrastructure, processes and expert skills to provide timely and accurate information, analytics (descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive), institutional research and insight to support planning, monitoring, operations across all information domains (staff, student, finance and research). This responsibility requires leadership, strategy formulation, and management for the five teams that comprise BIS:
1) Data Engineering
2) Data Science
3) Institutional Research
4) Constitutional Relationship Management, and

REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in information technology or management qualification or data science.
• At least 10 years’ senior management experience and strategic leadership.
• Experience in higher education would be an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact across a broad range of society – including business, government and other national stakeholders as well as with students, and staff.
• Have highly developed organisational and planning skills.
• Analytical and problem solving skills – ability to extract and interpret data.
  Detailed Description
  Job Requirements
  Additional Details
  How To Apply
  Submit a detailed CV with names, addresses (preferably email addresses) and contact details of
  referees, certified copies of degrees and diplomas, and covering letter.
  External applicants are invited to apply, by registering your profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting your application. Internal employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/
  Closing date: 06 September 2024
  By submitting an application for this post the Applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant, by their conduct in proceeding with an application for this position, gives their consent to the processing of their personal information as required by the University’s Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy. Such processing includes logging their information on the University’s recruitment systems and disclosing their personal information to University employees identified to take part in the selection and recruitment process. The Applicant consents to any further processing of their personal information as may be required for relevant verification and reference check purposes. The confidentiality of the Applicant’s personal information will be maintained.

• Develop an analytics strategy for the Institution.
• Develop a strategic plan with each of the teams within BIS.
• Provide strategic leadership to SET on data driven decision making.
• Development of data driven culture within the institution and proactively promote a culture of data literacy and information use, and to facilitate data access across the university.
• Manage the provision of information that support the planning functions of the university such as the 5 year, the internal annual enrolment plan, and the and real time enrolment processes to ensure the targets are met.
• Oversee the provision of information that supports the monitoring functions of the institution such as the QQR and the institutional scorecard, and the SET, Deans, HOS Executive Reporting.
• Ensure that there are effective and appropriate views, ETL processes, ODS design, multidimensional data modelling, semantic layer, access and security measures, data quality controls, reporting tools, report training, operational reports etc in place.
• Ensure that data informed support (descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive) for student success, executive summaries, institutional scorecard updates, Quinquennial Reporting reports, and regular and ad-hoc reporting is functioning effectively
• Ensure the successful delivery of regular tasks, such as rankings, surveys, and data enrichment processes (GES, FYE, BQ, etc.), as well as ad-hoc projects like the Culture Survey, according to the agreed annual IR plan. Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with ethical considerations.
• Provide oversight in the planning process for the implementation partner to implement the Salesforce CRM to meet the needs of various stakeholders (e.g., WBS, Wits Plus, SENC, Call Centre, DFO, ARO) and to expand the reach of the system over time.
• Design and maintain a BIS website through which BIS will maintain a positive presence within the institution.