Career Opportunities at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Develop the community engagement programme: Help develop and lead the CGC community engagement programme.
• Engage with the community: Help the CGC build relationships with local stakeholders, traditional leaders and the Royal Families of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality.
• Ensure compliance: Monitor CGC adherence to local regulations, guidelines, and municipal bylaws.
• Promote social development: Help inform the CGC research agenda and community development programme.
• Organise community events: Coordinate outreach programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns aligned with the CGC community development programme.
• Promote community participation: Encourage community participation in local development projects initiated by the CGC.
• Provide support: Assist vulnerable groups and connect them to CGC and UFS resources and opportunities.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• Grade 12 or national vocational certificate on NQF Level 4.
• A minimum of one (1) year relevant experience initiating and leading community engagement
• programmes in previously disadvantaged communities.

Recommendations:

• Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 or a three-year national diploma on NQF Level 6.
• Two (2) years’ relevant experience initiating and leading community engagement
• programmes in previously disadvantaged communities.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities

Project Management:

• Develop the research agenda: Work closely with the director to develop and refine the CGC research agenda in line with the drivers of global change.
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders: Work closely with CGC-linked researchers and students across faculties to keep abreast of research developments at the Centre.
• Write grant proposals: Help write and submit grant proposals aligned with the CGC research agenda to local and international funding bodies.
• Write reports: Help write CGC reports for various stakeholders, including UFS management, the Department of Science and Innovation, and the National Research Foundation.

Strategic Planning:

• Curate research data: Help to store, process, analyse, and interpret the data generated from various CGC research projects.
• Publish and disseminate research findings: Publish papers in local and international outlets and presents CGC research findings at local and international conferences.
• Co-supervise CGC students: Help supervise and mentor CGC students in select natural and social sciences fields.
• Inform community engagement: Translate research findings into actionable knowledge for public or policy use.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in any field of natural or social sciences.
• A track record of five or more first-authored publications in relevant fields of natural or social sciences.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in related duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations

• A PhD on NQF Level 10 in any field of natural or social sciences.
• Three (3) years of relevant experience as a researcher.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

• Lead the strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Institutional Student Governance Office’s (ISGO) strategic goals in line with the vision, mission and values of the Division Student Affairs (DSA) and the UFS.
• Oversee the integrated reporting of ISGO on all three campuses.
• Lead engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) and the entire student body on all three campuses.
• Ensure participation of the Student Representative Council (SRC) in all relevant UFS forums.
• Lead the management of risks within Student Governance.
• Provide a strategic oversight of the programmes and activities of the ISRC.
• Create strategies for addressing the underlying issues that may be driving student protests.
• Participate in the development of DSA strategy as directed by the Executive Director.
• Engage Student Life to facilitate Leadership training and related capacitation programmes.  

Financial Management:

• Direct the overall budget and financial management of ISGO.
• Manage allocation of budgets to sub-units of the ISGO.
• Ensure intentional spending of all allocated funds in alignment with UFS goals and to advance DSA goals.

Project Management:

• Identify new opportunities in respect of student needs, conceptualize relevant programmes and direct the implementation in line with divisional goals.
• Lead the architecture of strategic projects within IGSO.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of strategic projects’ impact.
• Oversee the implementation and strengthening of systems that promote a culture of accountability and integrity at the UFS, with a special focus on Student Leaders.
• Ensure, in consultation with the Executive Director, the planning and smooth running of SRC elections.

Policy Development:

• Identify policy gaps for development within Student Governance and review existing policies for alignment.
• Lead and review the development, and ensure compliance with consultative processes and the submission to relevant approval structures.
• Ensure implementation of policies within the ISGO environment.
• Guide and provide strategic leadership within ISGO as a core part of the Student Affairs Senior Leadership Group.
• Represent ISGO in relevant Institutional committees.
• Represent the Executive Director in various institutional committees when delegated.
• Ensure ISRC constitution and related ISGO policies are reviewed when the policy term ends.

Personnel Management:

• Lead human resources processes, in collaboration with Human Resources, concerning personnel in ISGO.
• Provide strategic leadership to attract and retain sufficiently qualified and competent staff.
• Oversee the enhancement of teamwork and departmental coherence.
• Oversee the implementation of the staff Performance Management Programme.
• Oversee the efficient management of leave processes.
• Oversee efficient and effective administration of Student Affairs financial resources.
• Oversee the adherence of university procurement procedures within ISGO.
• Oversee the implementation of processes aligned to achieve employment equity targets in Student Affairs.
• Oversee continuous development of ISGO staff.

Protest Management and Resolution:

• Act as a liaison between the administration and student groups to reach a consensus and peaceful resolution.
• Work with campus security to maintain order and manage potential risks during the protests.
• Monitor social media and other communication channels to stay updated on the progress of protests, to respond to student concerns and advise the Executive Director: Student Affairs.
• Develop communication plans to inform students, faculty members, and the public about the protests and any related activities or news.
• Facilitate discussions and other forms of debate to promote conversation and dialogue rather than violence.
• Work with university leaders and faculty members to identify potential solutions to the challenges that students are protesting about.
• Advise, through the Executive Director, university executive management on potential protests and solutions thereof.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree on NQF Level 9.
• A minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in areas indicated in the duties and responsibilities.
• Five (5) years of the eight (8) years of relevant experience must have been in a managerial and strategic leadership position within the Student Affairs environment.
• Experience in strategic and operational planning and execution.
• Experience in a university or similar environment.

Recommendations

• Experience in and sound knowledge of Student Governance.
• Ability to think strategically and engage strategic frameworks.
• Demonstrated administrative experience.
• A firm understanding of the challenges in the higher education sector in South Africa.
• Background in higher education and student Governance structures.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• The Director is responsible for the strategic leadership and the operational management of the centre, over and above his/her normal academic responsibilities within the faculty, which include:
• Continuous updating of the strategic plan of the centre in consultation with the UFS structures.
• Continuous updating of the business plan of the centre.
• Manage operations.
• Prepare an annual project and financial report.
• Arrange meetings as outlined in the proposal and provide administrative support for meetings.
• Market and profile the centre within and beyond UFS.
• Fundraise for the activities.
• Identify projects to undertake within the centre.
• Manage finances.
• Manage information.
• Ensure effective resource utilisation.
• Ensure the realisation of the research and community engagement mandate of the centre.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• PhD on NQF Level 10 in any discipline within Theology and Religion. 
• Any full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Recommendations:

• Appointed at Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor/Professor level.
• A proven track record of well-developed national and international networks.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

Research Administration 

• Process, compile and monitor research outputs.
• Send all research-related documents to Deans, faculties, and staff members.
• Compile training documents and manuals for all capturers.
• Provide training to capturers. 
• Update and prepare all e-forms and backend of the research module on the Research Information Management System (RIMS). 
• Review all outputs on RIMS.
• Capture outputs in certain cases.
• Circulate all outputs electronically to sub-committees for internal reviewing. 
• Communication between authors, capturers, and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
• Obtain all supporting documentation to be uploaded to RIMS in support of outputs. 
• Prepare all documents ready for when our journals are audited.
• Handle all the enquiries during the audit process.
• Run reports and provide reports to numerous different individuals and entities regularly.
• Provide numerous research-related statistics to top management, deans, and heads of departments.
• Handle all data matters relating to outputs for internal and external purposes.

General Administration 

• File documents. 
• Handle all general queries and enquiries pertaining to research and output matters.
• Update all relevant research documentation as needed. 
• Compile letters for staff to confirm outputs.

Financial Administration 

• Compile Research Awards payment summaries after submission to DHET.
• Distribute this summary report to faculties. 
• After feedback, compile a journal transfer letter to the finance department. 
• Capture Ad hoc claims on the system. 
• Handle all queries in this regard.
• Summarise all payments for each output year.

Meeting Administration 

• Handle the agenda and minutes of the UFS Journal editors' meeting. 
• Handle most of the administration of this meeting.
• Distribute relevant information to the committee members.
• Responsible for the yearly payments of the honorarium to all editors and co-editors.
• Handle most of the journal-related enquiries.
• Schedule meetings between 2 and 4 times a year.

Coordination 

• Serve as the contact between DHET and other research entities and the UFS, pertaining to research output matters.
• Communicate all relevant information to all relevant parties at the UFS.
• Distribute all reports and relevant information to all parties involved (mostly UFS).
• Liaise with DHET and other research entities on behalf of UFS staff concerning research-related matters.
• Work closely with the external auditors for research outputs submission.

Inherent requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 or a three-year national diploma on NQF Level 6 in Administration.
• Minimum of two (2) years relevant working experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Knowledge of a university environment, policies, procedures and relevant systems.
• Excellent Excel knowledge and skills.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities

Provide the following administrative support to the Research Chair in Climate Change and Agriculture: 

Academic Administration:

• Manage communication to students and staff active in the chair.
• Plan practical work conducted by students in the chair.
• Organise workshops and seminars.
• Assist with the quarterly reporting of the chair to the ARC and with reporting on externally funded projects.
• Capture research data for RIMS and other monitoring purposes.
• Enter scientific literature into the database.

General Administration:

• Provide administrative support to line manager.
• Responsible for general office administration and operations.
• Manage the diary of the Chair holder.
• Schedule appointment.
• Receive visitors.
• Handle general enquiries.
• Scrutinise and record the incoming mail and categorise it into priorities of urgency.
• Administer departmental venue bookings.
• Responsible for meeting administration.
• Arrange events within the department or section.
• Responsible for travel and accommodation arrangements.
• Liaise with external and internal stakeholders.
• Draft letters.
• Ensure office compliance with safety regulations.
• Receive and process auditing information.
• Capture and make sure of the accuracy of data.
• Maintain a pending system for follow-up of previous correspondence and pass items to line manager for follow-up.

Financial Administration:

• Request and appraise quotations.
• Create/Receive purchase orders and provide it to the suppliers.
• Process invoices for payments of service providers.
• Create and distributes invoices.
• Manage ad-hoc claims.
• Capture, approve, report, and follow up on job requests for maintenance and repairs where necessary.
• Responsible for the insurance of equipment.
• Manage and administer the asset registers.

Inherent requirements:    

• Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 or a National Diploma on NQF Level 6 in Office Management/Administration or closely related field.
• Minimum of one (1) year’s relevant working experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Experience within the higher-education environment.
• Knowledge of university systems, policies, and procedures.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Responsible for strategic alignment and collaboration with clients.
• Advice and support managers regarding people management tools and principles.
• Responsible for- and facilitate recruitment and selection processes (and related duties).
• Guide, advise and facilitate staff on HR related processes and procedures.
• Ensure adherence to UFS policies, practices and legislation.
• Perform additional duties when needed to achieve team objectives.
• Responsible for administration duties linked to recruitment and other HR processes.

Inherent requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree or a B-Tech degree/Postgraduate Certificate on NQF level seven (7) in the field of Human Resources/Industrial Psychology or related field.
• A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience in Human Resources.

Recommendations:

• Experience within the higher-education environment.
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership: 

• Provide leadership and support to the University’s strategic and institutional planning processes and activities. 
• Oversee the University’s planning processes, including annual performance planning, resource projection, and long-term strategic planning. 
• Provide sound coaching and mentoring to subordinates and University staff in relation to policy and planning processes and activities. 
• Formulate strategic direction and plans for the unit.  
• Represent the unit in DIRAP across university campuses and to the local community.
• Manage and provide leadership in all operational functions of the unit. 
• Provide timely and appropriate advice to university leadership. 
• Lead the development and direct the implementation of strategies and plans for the unit to enable the effective development and delivery of plans. 
• Provide timely monthly reports to the Senior Director: DIRAP and other reports as requested.
• Take responsibility for developing and implementing a budget for the unit as part of the planning and resource allocation process and then manage within it.

Strategic planning:

• Coordinate the formulation of the University’s long-term strategic plan.
• Work closely with senior managers and stakeholders to guide the University's policy and planning programs to support long-range development and strategic initiatives and evaluate institutional effectiveness. 
• Manage the development and implementation of core institutional capabilities to promote sound planning, decision-making, and reporting.

Research: 

• Manage the analysis of university performance and conduct institutional studies, surveys and research as needed.
• Manage the analysis of the directorate’s needs and articulate them in DIRAP and to the University. 

Internal/external reporting:

• Manage the timeous submission of accurate statutory reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), i.e. annual performance plan, mid-year performance report, and annual report.
• Manage the accurate and timely monitoring of institutional performance against the annual performance plan on the HEDAWeb APPM (Higher Education Data Analyzer Web Annual Performance Plan Module) dashboards with other DIRAP units.
• Manage stakeholder collaboration in producing planning documents and performance reports.
• Manage the monitoring and improvement of the uptake and impact of planning documents and performance reports.

Ad hoc: 

• Manage tasks delegated by the Senior Director’s Office.  
• Manage other tasks or responsibilities that arise spontaneously in MIR.

Personal development:

• Keep abreast of new higher education regulations to ensure institutional compliance.  
• Participate in the activities of relevant professional associations. 

Inherent Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree on NQF Level 9.
• A minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in areas indicated in the duties and responsibilities, of which five (5) years must have been in a managerial and strategic leadership position.
• Experience in strategic and operational planning and execution.
• Experience in a university or similar environment.

Recommendations

• Deep knowledge of South African higher education planning and reporting regulations.
• Comprehensive understanding of social science research methodologies and research ethics.
• Strong publication record demonstrating research capability.
• Advanced project management and strategic planning abilities.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools, including Microsoft Office programs.
• Financial management skills for budget development and resource allocation.
• Leadership and stakeholder management skills for coordinating across multiple university departments and external organisations.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Curriculum Studies and Agricultural Sciences Education.
• Participate in the Work Integrated Learning programme of the faculty (Teaching Practice) and other engaged scholarship activities.
• Ensure active involvement in research activities of faculty and publish articles in accreditation journals.
• Contribute to curriculum development in the field of Curriculum Studies and Agricultural Sciences Education specifically.
• Synthesize knowledge through the publication of scientific papers in peer reviewed journals.
• Communicate research findings at scientific conferences.
• Source funding for research from international and national funding organisations.
• Participate actively in the professional community.
• Supervise postgraduate students at master’s and PhD levels.
• Participate actively in leadership and administration on Departmental and Faculty level.

Key Inherent requirements:

• A PhD in Education on NQF Level 10, with a focus on the teaching and learning of Agricultural Sciences in  schools (for a permanent appointment) 

or

• Master’s degree in education on NQF Level 9, with a focus on the teaching and learning of Agricultural Sciences in schools (contract appointment: five years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Education focusing on the teaching and learning of Agricultural Sciences in schools  MUST be obtained to be converted to a permanent position). 
• Candidates must submit proof of registration for a doctoral degree in Education with the Teaching and learning of  Agricultural Sciences in schools as the focus of specialisation (attach).
• Candidates should submit an abstract of their thesis (or dissertation) to indicate relevance to the teaching and learning of Agricultural Sciences in schools (attach).
• A formal teaching qualification with Agricultural Sciences as one of the majors (e.g. Diploma in Education or Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent) (attach).
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant working experience in a school environment or at least two (2) years in a higher education or research and development environment.
• Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities (attach evidence).
• Provide evidence of manuscript(s) produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals (attach evidence).
• A good academic record (attach).

Recommendations:

• A proven research record of relevant publications in national or international Q1-Q4 accredited journals.
• Experience in postgraduate supervision.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Respond to escalated client inquiries.
• Provide training to academic/support staff on policies and processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial and accounting policies and procedures. This relates to procurement, general entity/account structure processes and other relevant financial policies.
• Ensure compliance with NRF policies and guidelines.
• Review and approve financial transactions, expense claims, advance requests, foreign payments, petty cash claims, and journal requests.
• Generate and follow-up on exception reports on the general ledger, as well as NRF to ensure data quality.
• Review of transaction allocations in preparation of the year-end process and external audit. 
• Prepare monthly general ledger reconciliations.
• Internal Reporting.
• Generate and follow-up exception reports and internal management reports on the general ledger data and NRF.
• Prepare external audit files 

Inherent requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 in Accounting. 
• Minimum of two (2)  years’ relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Honours degree on NQF Level 8 in a related field. 
• Three (3) years of relevant work experience related to the duties and responsibilities. 
• Knowledge of university systems, policies, and procedures. 

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Present undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Languages in Education and General Education. 
• Participate in the Work Integrated Learning programme of the faculty (Teaching Practice).
• Engage in faculty research activities and produce research outputs in accredited journals and other outlets.
• Contribute to curriculum development in the field of Languages Education in general and teaching English in schools (as a Home or Additional Language) specifically.
• Supervise and provide consultation sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Work in a team with colleagues within the faculty.
• Synthesize knowledge through the publication of scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals.
• Communicate research findings at scientific conferences.
• Source funding for research from international and national funding organisations.
• Participate actively in the professional community.
• Supervise postgraduate students at master’s and PhD levels.
• Participate actively in leadership and administration on Departmental and Faculty level.

Key Inherent requirements:

• A PhD in Education on NQF Level 10, focusing on the teaching of English in schools (for a permanent appointment) 

or

• Master’s degree in education on NQF Level 9, with a focus on the teaching of English in schools (contract appointment: five years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Education focusing on the teaching of English in schools MUST be obtained to be converted to a permanent position). 
• Candidates must submit proof of registration for a doctoral degree in Education with the Teaching of English in schools as the focus of specialisation (attach a copy).
• A formal teaching qualification (e.g. Diploma in Education or Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent) with English as one of the major subjects (attach a copy).
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant working experience in a school environment or at least two (2) years in a higher education or research and development environment.
• Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities (attach evidence).
• Provide evidence of manuscript(s) produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals (attach evidence).
• A good academic record (attach a copy).

Recommendations:

• A proven research record of relevant publications in national or international Q1-Q4 accredited journals.
• Experience in postgraduate supervision.