DIRECTOR: HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES is a South African government vacancy at Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). This job is part of Circular 20 of 2026 from the DPSA. centre: Pretoria | closing date: 29 June 2026. Use this page to review the requirements, duties, application instructions and official source links before applying.
Job details
Applications
Where to send your application.
Applicants must use this link or QR code below to access DSAC E-Recruitment System. https://erecruit.dsac.gov.za/public/login_test.php Hand delivery: Sealed envelope addressed to Chief Director: Human Resource Management and Development, Sechaba House, 202 Madiba Street, Pretoria Central. Postal mail to The Chief Director: Human Resource Management and Development, Private Bag X897, Pretoria, 0001.
Salary
R1 317 384 per annum, an all-inclusive remuneration package, consisting of a basic salary (70% of the total remuneration package), State’s contribution to the Government Employees Pension Fund (13% of basic salary) and a flexible portion that may be structured in terms of applicable rules and guidelines.
Centre
Pretoria
Requirements
- Senior Certificate/Matric Certificate /Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent qualification.
- An Undergraduate qualification (NQF level 7) as recognised by SAQA specialisation in Languages/ Information Technology/ Human Language Technology/ Applied Linguistics or any relevant Language/Technology qualification;
- Successful completion of the Pre-entry Certificate for the Senior Management Service (SMS) as endorsed by the National School of Government;
- 5 years of experience at a Middle/ Senior Managerial level in project management dealing with language technology, computational linguistics or any relevant environment.
- Project Management Certificate;
- Knowledge and understanding of human language technologies (machine translation, speech recognition, corpus development, etc.);
- Knowledge and understanding of Public Finance Management Act and relevant Regulations;
- Use of Official Languages Act, PanSALB Act, etc.
- Knowledge and understanding of language policies, ICT policies, digital transformation strategies and procedures;
- Analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Strategic capability and leadership;
- Planning and organising skills;
- Quality and action orientation;
- People management and empowerment.
Duties
- The purpose of this post is to manage and promote access to service, information and modernisation of South African languages through the coordination and facilitation of Human Language Technologies (HLT) projects and activities;
- Monitor and Evaluate Human Language Technology projects;
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of HLT initiatives on language development and access to information;
- Initiate projects and create partnerships for Human Language Technology projects such as development of translation memory, terminology management tools, speech data technology, etc;
- Intervene and engage with project managers to address project challenges and risks;
- Supervise evaluation processes of project outputs/deliverables;
- Develop and maintain Human Language Technology strategies.
- Provide leadership and guidance in the development and promotion of official languages and implementation of Human Language Technology Strategy;
- Develop and implement policies, strategies, and frameworks for the use of Human Language Technologies in government and society;
- Align HLT initiatives with National Language policies, the Use of Official Languages Act, and the National Development Plan;
- Provide expert advice to the Department and other Government Entities on HLT solutions to ensure they address the needs of persons with disabilities Identify areas of most urgent needs for Human Language Technology projects;
- Drive the process of locating Human Language Technology within broader Information Society;
- Manage Human Language Technology engagement with relevant stakeholders including project stakeholders;
- Build and strengthen partnerships with local and international stakeholders in the technology and language sectors;
- Negotiate with National and International role players for critical information, permission to access relevant databases, to collect data in the different languages of SA;
- Monitor Human Language Technology trends locally and internationally.;
- Collaborate with PanSALB, SADiLaR, research councils, and ICT bodies to mainstream HLT and popularise the concept of HLT industry Manage Subordinates and the Directorate-Reporting in terms of the Performance Management.
Enquiries
Ms L Combrinck Tel No: (012) 441 3144 OTHER POSTS
Department Notes
Please create a user profile by completing all required personal information and setting up your login credentials. Once registration is complete, log in to the system and you will be directed to the “Welcome Page”. From the Welcome Page, you may browse all vacant positions opportunities listed below. Applicants are strongly advised to complete all information required for the electronic Z83 form on the system before applying for any position. The Z83 form has been adopted into the system, and applications cannot be processed unless all mandatory fields are completed. After completing your profile and Z83 information, you may apply for any relevant advertised position through the system. Ensure that your application is fully completed and submitted before the closing date, as incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Once submitted, the system will provide a confirmation message indicating that your application has been successfully received. The eRecruitment portal is also accessible via smartphones and other mobile devices. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Only shortlisted candidates will be required to bring certified copies of ID, Driver’s licence (where required) and qualifications on or before the interview. Should you be in possession of any foreign qualification(s), it must be accompanied by an evaluation certificate from the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA); Applicants must be South African citizens. Shortlisted candidates must avail themselves for a virtual or in-person panel interview at a date and time determined by DSAC. The applicant should make own arrangement for access to internet connectivity and equipment for this purpose. Applicants must note that pre-employment checks and references will be conducted once they are shortlisted. The appointment is also subject to a positive outcome on these checks, including security clearance, security vetting, qualification/study verification, citizenship verification, financial/asset record check, previous employment verification and criminal record. If an applicant wishes to withdraw an application, it must be done in writing. We encourage all applicants to declare any criminal and/or negative credit records. 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, the logistics of which will be communicated by the Department. The successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment contract and sign an annual performance agreement. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. The employment decision shall be informed by the Employment Equity Plan of the Department to achieve its Employment Equity targets. It is the Department’s intention to promote equity (race, gender and disability) through the filling of these posts. The Department reserves the right not to make an appointment and to use other recruitment processes, thus withdrawing this advert by notice on its communication channels. Prior to appointment for SMS post, a candidate would be required to complete the Nyukela Programme: Pre-entry Certificate to Senior Management Services as endorsed by the DPSA, which is an online course endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG). The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into the SMS and the full details can be sourced from the following link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entryprogramme/.If you have not been contacted within three months of the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. We thank all applicants for their interest.
Original Text
SALARY : R1 317 384 per annum, an all-inclusive remuneration package, consisting of a basic salary (70% of the total remuneration package), State’s contribution to
the Government Employees Pension Fund (13% of basic salary) and a flexible portion that may be structured in terms of applicable rules and guidelines.
CENTRE : Pretoria
REQUIREMENTS : Senior Certificate/Matric Certificate /Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent qualification. An Undergraduate qualification (NQF level 7) as recognised by
SAQA specialisation in Languages/ Information Technology/ Human Language
Technology/ Applied Linguistics or any relevant Language/Technology qualification; Successful completion of the Pre-entry Certificate for the Senior
Management Service (SMS) as endorsed by the National School of
Government; 5 years of experience at a Middle/ Senior Managerial level in project management dealing with language technology, computational
linguistics or any relevant environment. Project Management Certificate;
Knowledge and understanding of human language technologies (machine translation, speech recognition, corpus development, etc.); Knowledge and
understanding of Public Finance Management Act and relevant Regulations;
Use of Official Languages Act, PanSALB Act, etc. Knowledge and understanding of language policies, ICT policies, digital transformation
strategies and procedures; Analytical and problem-solving skills; Strategic capability and leadership; Planning and organising skills; Quality and action
orientation; People management and empowerment.
DUTIES : The purpose of this post is to manage and promote access to service, information and modernisation of South African languages through the
coordination and facilitation of Human Language Technologies (HLT) projects and activities; Monitor and Evaluate Human Language Technology projects;
Monitor and evaluate the impact of HLT initiatives on language development and access to information; Initiate projects and create partnerships for Human
Language Technology projects such as development of translation memory, terminology management tools, speech data technology, etc; Intervene and
engage with project managers to address project challenges and risks;
Supervise evaluation processes of project outputs/deliverables; Develop and maintain Human Language Technology strategies. Provide leadership and
guidance in the development and promotion of official languages and implementation of Human Language Technology Strategy; Develop and
implement policies, strategies, and frameworks for the use of Human
Language Technologies in government and society; Align HLT initiatives with
National Language policies, the Use of Official Languages Act, and the
National Development Plan; Provide expert advice to the Department and other
Government Entities on HLT solutions to ensure they address the needs of
persons with disabilities Identify areas of most urgent needs for Human
Language Technology projects; Drive the process of locating Human Language
Technology within broader Information Society; Manage Human Language
Technology engagement with relevant stakeholders including project stakeholders; Build and strengthen partnerships with local and international
stakeholders in the technology and language sectors; Negotiate with National and International role players for critical information, permission to access
relevant databases, to collect data in the different languages of SA; Monitor
Human Language Technology trends locally and internationally.; Collaborate with PanSALB, SADiLaR, research councils, and ICT bodies to mainstream
HLT and popularise the concept of HLT industry Manage Subordinates and the
Directorate-Reporting in terms of the Performance Management.
ENQUIRIES : Ms L Combrinck Tel No: (012) 441 3144
OTHER POSTS
Official source
This vacancy was imported from DPSA Circular 20 of 2026 for reference.
Disclaimer: This vacancy was imported from the official DPSA circular PDF. Please confirm the reference number, closing date, and application instructions in the original circular before applying. View the official DPSA vacancy circulars.