Executive Director: Information Technology (Chief Information Officer) - (N000022)
Listing reference: nwu_003659
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 15 August 2025
Position summary
Industry: Education & Training
Job category: University and Academy
Location: Potchefstroom
Contract: Fixed Term Contract
Remuneration: Market Related
About our company
NWU
Introduction
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Executive Director: IT (Chief Information Officer) is a strategic leader responsible for leveraging technology to enhance academic excellence, streamline operations, and drive innovation. This pivotal role shapes the university's digital and data landscape, aligning IT strategies with NWU’s goals to support evolving educational needs and research initiatives. The CIO will manage IT finances effectively, lead and develop a high-performing team, and ensure robust risk management, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. This role demands strong technical expertise, strategic vision, financial acumen, and exceptional people and communication skills.
The Executive Director will navigate a rapidly evolving technological landscape while aligning IT strategies with the NWU’s strategy and goals. This role requires a visionary leader with strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills.
Job description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic IT Leadership
- Develop and execute a forward-thinking IT strategy in alignment with the overall digital transformation objectives, ensuring that IT initiatives support academic, research, and administrative priorities.
- Lead efforts to adopt and integrate innovative IT solutions that enhance both academic excellence and operational efficiencies across the university.
- Collaborate with university leadership to identify technological needs, and to assess and prioritise technology initiatives.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in IT service delivery, ensuring the university stays ahead in leveraging technology trends and digital solutions.
- Implement robust IT governance frameworks to ensure the efficient use of technology, compliance with regulations, and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Establish IT policies, procedures, and standards that promote cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance while supporting the university’s strategic objectives.
Digital Transformation
- Spearhead initiatives that integrate emerging technologies (AI, data analytics, cloud computing, etc.) to enhance teaching, learning, and administrative processes.
- Cultivate a culture that embraces digital transformation, encourages innovation, and supports adaptability to new technologies across the university.
- Lead change management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption of new technology solutions, minimising resistance and maximising stakeholder engagement.
- Keep abreast of emerging technologies and trends in the higher education IT sector and recommend new technologies that could benefit the university.
- Establish a clear digital transformation vision that aligns with the organisation’s overall goals, focusing on how digital technologies can enhance operations, customer experiences, and strategic outcomes.
- Create a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap that prioritises key initiatives, timelines, resource allocation, and measurable outcomes, guiding the organization’s transition to a digital-first approach.
- Align digital transformation initiatives with the university’s AI strategy, incorporating artificial intelligence solutions in academic, research, and operational functions to drive efficiencies and innovation.
- Stay ahead of emerging technological trends, recommending and implementing solutions that will advance the university’s digital capabilities.
- Oversee the modernisation of IT infrastructure, ensuring that it supports digital initiatives such as cloud computing, AI integration, Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging technologies.
- Lead efforts to integrate legacy systems with new digital platforms, ensuring seamless data flow, process automation, and enhanced connectivity across departments.
Data Management & Analytics
- Establish a robust data governance framework to ensure data integrity, security, and accessibility.
- Develop and promote data governance frameworks and analytics capabilities that support data-driven decision-making across academic and operational areas.
- Utilise data analytics to inform decision-making, improve student outcomes, and enhance operational efficiency.
- Oversee the development of robust data analytics platforms and tools to provide valuable insights that support academic success and operational growth.
- Ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations, including managing data privacy, security, and risk across the institution.
- Drive the implementation of business intelligence (BI) tools and platforms that enable real-time data analysis, visualization, and reporting, making information accessible and actionable for stakeholders.
- Design and manage a scalable data infrastructure that supports data collection, storage, integration, and processing, ensuring data is readily available and accessible across systems.
IT Governance, Cybersecurity and Compliance
- Oversee the development and implementation of IT policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices in higher education.
- Develop and oversee cybersecurity strategies to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with regulations (e.g., POPIA, GDPR).
- Implement risk management protocols for IT operations, ensuring the university adheres to best practices in cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
- Conduct regular IT audits and assessments to ensure compliance with governance policies, identify gaps, and improve processes.
- Implement robust security infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, data encryption, and endpoint protection, to safeguard IT systems and sensitive information.
- Deploy proactive security measures, including threat detection, incident response, and penetration testing, to identify and respond to cyber threats in real-time.
- Conduct regular risk assessments.
Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement
- Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external partners e.g., service providers to drive collaboration on digital transformation projects and IT initiatives.
- Act as a liaison between IT and academic departments, ensuring that technology supports teaching, learning, and research.
- Engage with stakeholders to ensure alignment and smooth adoption of IT initiatives, including digital transformation, AI integration, and data-driven solutions.
- Maintain and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders and partners, nationally and internationally.
- Communicate and collaborate with peers, departments and the NWU community to articulate the benefits of technology initiatives and build consensus around IT related decisions.
Project Management
- Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of major IT and digital transformation projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
- Develop metrics to assess the impact of IT projects on academic and operational areas, ensuring alignment with university objectives.
Resource Management and Optimisation
- Optimise resources (software, hardware, employees, and spending) to provide the university with the most value and highest returns on investment.
- Manage the IT budget, ensuring cost-effective use of financial resources and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Identify funding opportunities and partnerships to support technology initiatives.
- Analyse costs, value and risks of information technology to advise leadership and suggest actions.
- Manage vendor relationships and contracts and ensure that IT services and solutions meet the university's needs and standards.
- Ensure that the university’s infrastructure, network, and systems support the university’s objectives.
Minimum requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- A master’s degree in a technical or commercial field or equivalent (NQF level 9).
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience with at least 3 years’ senior executive/managerial level experience in an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) environment – experience in higher education would be advantageous.
- Membership of any professional body will be advantageous.
KEY FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Strategic thinking and vision.
- Leadership and team management.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong organisational and project management abilities.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Financial acumen and resource management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proven track record of managing complex IT projects and initiatives.
- Expert knowledge of current issues and opportunities associated with information technology and cyber-security related to complex organisations.
- Experience overseeing IT risk management in a complex organisation.
- Experience overseeing the disaster recovery plan of an organisation.
- Proven track record of managing complex IT projects and initiatives.
KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:
- Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and to lead complex, cross functional teams.
- Strong organisational skills that demonstrate the ability to perform and prioritise multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
- Awareness of one's own emotions and the emotions of others, using this understanding to manage relationships and make empathetic decisions.
- Focus on achieving measurable outcomes and driving financial performance that supports the university’s strategic objectives.
- Competence in leading and managing financial changes, ensuring smooth transitions and effective adaptation to new processes or systems.
- Understanding and commitment to the NWU values and the ability to be a credible and effective exponent of these values.
REMUNERATION:
The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING JOB CONTENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Prof Marlene Verhoef on 018 299 2611
ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Mr Esrom Phungo on 018 299 4818
CLOSING DATE: 15 August 2025
PLANNED COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES: As soon as possible
Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official nwu vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.
The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
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