DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Department of Basic Education

Free State Department of Education Early Childhood Administration and Reporting System (eCares) Manager

Reference number: PS17/2026/01
Salary: R932 292 - R1 098 195 annum (Level 11)
Centre: EMIS Sub-Directorate: Bloemfontein (supporting ECD)
Province: Free State
Closing date: 23 October 2026
Circular: No 36 of 2026

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Fill the Z83 for this post

Requirements

Applicants must be in possession of a SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Education (B.Ed. / PGCE) or a SAQA-recognised three-year post-matric qualification (NQF Level 7) in Information Systems / ICT / Computer Science / Data or related field. 5 years Management Experience. 6-7 Years’ relevant experience in Systems administration and user support; User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and training facilitation. Data reporting and system usage monitoring. Knowledge of: Cloud-based system operations; Provincial EMIS environment and/or ECD system landscape. Strong analytical, data manipulation and reporting skills (Excel advanced level). Ability to coordinate multi-level stakeholders (national, provincial, district). Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and customer service orientation. Ability to work independently and travel extensively. A valid driver’s license is essential. EMIS experience will be an added advantage.

Duties

The successful candidate will be responsible for Provincial eCares System Use & Performance management. Lead provincial support for system usage, performance and adoption; Monitor user compliance with system functionality and data workflows; Advocate system utilisation for decision-making. User Support & Access Management; Manage 1st line helpdesk support for PED users; Manage user access, roles and permissions; Escalate issues promptly to national and service providers. User Training & Capacity Building- Conduct ongoing training on: New releases; Functional improvements; Reporting and dashboards. Support districts and circuits to drive usage. Testing & Implementation-Lead provincial testing of system releases and updates; Develop test plans, record UAT outcomes, submit feedback to developers; Validate system enhancements prior to deployment. Systems Maintenance Support- Work with DBE and vendors (e.g. Mezzanine/Vodacom) to ensure continuity; Identify and resolve technical issues affecting provincial users. Reporting & Master Data Management-Maintain alignment between eCares and EMIS Masterlists; Validate EMIS number allocation in eCares; Support provincial reporting needs and accuracy. Stakeholder Collaboration-Work closely with PED ECD and EMIS Directorates; National EMIS and ECD teams social partners such as Ilifa Labantwana and the Bana Pele Initiative. The candidate will report to the provincial EMIS head and work closely with the ECD Directorate.

Where to send your application

Effective from 01 April 2026, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure now utilises an e-Recruitment System which means all applicants must login/register (https://systems.fshealth.gov.za/e-Recruitment/Login)

Enquiries

Mr Randall Pienaar, Acting Director IT and Information systems at 079 503 5400

Note

To apply for positions, we only accept hand delivered/posted/emailed applications should an applicant prove that he/she tried to apply via e-Recruitment with no success and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure ICT unit was unable to assist. The applicant’s profile on the e-Recruitment is equivalent to the newly approved Z83, and it is the responsibility of applicants to ensure their profiles are fully completed or their applications will not be considered, as per the DPSA Practice Note. Certain documentation will still be required to be uploaded on the system such as copies of all qualifications including National Senior Certificate/Matric certificate, ID, etc., however these documents need not be certified at point of application, and however certification will be required prior to attending the interview. Please note: All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments. One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.

Taken from Public Service Vacancy Circular 36 of 2026, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration on 9 October 2026. Open the PDF to check this post against the original. Last checked 9 October 2026.