Careers at University of Fort Hare

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• The Senior Manager: Student Housing and Residence Life reports to the Executive Director: Student Affairs and provides institution-wide leadership for student accommodation and residence life across UFH campuses. The incumbent will oversee fair admissions and allocations, occupancy, residence operations, student development and discipline, private accommodation accreditation and contract management, and the coordination of maintenance, safety, emergency and wellbeing services. The role must ensure compliance with University policies, the DHET Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing and other applicable requirements, while using reliable data and financial controls to provide safe, inclusive and academically supportive living-learning environments.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

• Compliance assurance for University-owned, leased and accredited private accommodation, including accessibility, health, hygiene, fire, building, security and occupational-safety requirements.
• Accreditation, contracting, monitoring and enforcement of service standards for private and off-campus accommodation providers.
• Maintenance and facilities coordination through defined emergency, urgent and routine response standards and service-level agreements.
• Fair, transparent and data-controlled admissions, allocations and waiting-list processes, including access for first-year, rural, low-income and disabled students.
• Risk registers, incident and occupancy dashboards, compliance audits and regular performance, financial and governance reporting.
• Student wellbeing, inclusion, emergency support and referral arrangements within residences.
• Living-learning, co-curricular and residence-development programmes that support academic success and graduate attributes.
• Structured engagement with students, residence governance bodies, faculties, service units, private providers, communities and external agencies.
• Strategic leadership, governance, policy implementation and performance management for Student Housing and Residence Life.
• Financial planning, separate residence management accounts, procurement, contract and lease management, and responsible use of housing resources.
• Leadership, staffing, supervision, performance development and training of residence personnel and student residence leaders. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Post Graduate qualification in Business Administration or any related field
• At least eight (8) years’ working experience
• Three years managerial experience in the higher education sector
• Full knowledge of ITS and Budgeting
• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in residential life 

ADDED ADVANTAGES

• A relevant Master's degree at NQF Level 9 in Student Affairs, Higher Education Studies, Business or Public Administration, Facilities or Property Management, Human Settlement, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the DHET Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing, relevant health and safety requirements, residence governance and private-accommodation accreditation.
• Demonstrated experience using housing, occupancy, financial, contract and incident data for operational control and governance reporting.
• At least eight years' relevant experience in student housing, residence life, accommodation operations or a comparable large residential-services environment, including substantial higher-education experience.
• At least four years' management experience with responsibility for staff, budgets, accommodation operations, contracts, facilities coordination, student services and risk. 

COMPETENCIES (AS PER THE UNIVERSITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK)

• Business Acumen
• Change Leadership
• Critical Thinking
• Partnering
• Clear communication, negotiation and stakeholder management 

Deadline:11th October,2026

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JOB DESCRIPTION:

• The Senior Manager: Health and Wellness Services reports to the Executive Director: Student Affairs and provides institution-wide strategic, professional and operational leadership for Student Health, Counselling and related wellness services across UFH campuses. The incumbent will develop and implement an integrated, accessible and student-centred service model; ensure clinical and professional governance, lawful handling of health information, crisis response and referral pathways; manage people, budgets, contracts and partnerships; and use service data to improve student wellbeing and the overall student experience. The role supports institutional goals on student life, governance, risk, digital transformation and financial sustainability. 

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

• Leads the Health and Wellness function
• Financial Planning and Budgeting
• Organisational Unit Staff Management
• Campus Counselling, Health and Wellness Management 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters degree in Social Sciences or Health Sciences
• At least eight (8) years’ experience working in Higher education
• Three years' management experience in Health or Wellness
• Active HPCSA/SANC/SACSSP Registration
• Demonstrated experience in multidisciplinary service leadership, crisis-response protocols, referral networks, confidential information governance and data-informed performance reporting. 

Added Advantages 

• Experience leading integrated student health and counselling services across more than one campus.
• Experience with Higher Health programmes, clinical-quality systems or secure digital case and service-data systems.
• Relevant training in crisis management, suicide prevention, substance-use interventions or survivor-centered GBV support. 

COMPETENCIES (AS PER THE UNIVERSITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK) 

• Business Acumen
• Change Leadership
• Critical Thinking
• Clear communication, negotiation and stakeholder management

Deadline:11th October,2026

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JOB DESCRIPTION:

• The Senior Manager: Sports reports to the Executive Director: Student Affairs and provides institution-wide strategic and operational leadership for recreational, developmental, competitive and high-performance sport across UFH campuses. The incumbent will broaden inclusive participation, strengthen athlete development and academic support, oversee clubs, teams, facilities, events and partnerships, and ensure compliance with University policies, federation rules, event-safety and anti-doping requirements. The role includes people leadership, budget and contract management, sponsorship and resource mobilisation, risk management and performance reporting in support of an enhanced student experience and UFH's sporting profile.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS: 

• Leads the Institutional Sports function
• Financial Planning and Budgeting
• Organisational Unit Staff Management
• Institutional Sports Development
• Create a conducive set-up to enable University athletes to participate at the highest level of University Sport, Provincial, National and International representation 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Post Graduate qualification(NQF Level 8) in Sport Management/Sport Administration/ Sport Science.
• At least five (5) years’ experience at senior level within an organised sports environment
• Exposure to leadership in university or other sports director positions would be advantageous.
• Experience in managing a complex student sport environment, including having an appreciation for the increasing high performance and semi-professional level of student sport (Five years)
• Knowledge of the latest legislation and trends in sport and their impact on sport at tertiary level.
• Sound knowledge of sport at local and national levels. An understanding and appreciation of the role of sport in Higher Education 

ADDED ADVANTAGES 

• Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences or related fields 

COMPETENCIES (AS PER THE UNIVERSITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK)

• Business Acumen
• Change Leadership
• Critical Thinking
• Clear communication, negotiation and stakeholder management

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Description:

• The Geography and Environmental Science Discipline wish to appoint one Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to focus on Community-Based Soil Resource Management and Soil Rehabilitation. The research will use a mixed-methods approach for data collection. Satellite images will be used to assess and map erosion across the Tyume catchment, alongside interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires.

Requirements:

• The successful candidate must have a doctorate completed within the last five years in Geomorphology, Environmental Geomorphology, Environmental Science/Studies, Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing, Natural Resource Management, or a related field. at a higher education institution in South Africa or abroad.
• The successful candidate may not be employed by UFH (including Time on Task) at the time of accepting the postdoctoral fellowship, and thereafter.
• The successful candidate may not be employed in any other institution/company during their postdoctoral fellowship.
• The successful candidate may be of any age, gender or nationality (subject only to the visa regulations of the Department of Home Affairs).
• Preference will be given to South African females. 

Conditions:

• By the end of the first year, the PDRF is expected to have published or submitted papers amounting to 2 units for publication review in DHET-accredited journals on the topic of their postdoctoral research.
• PDRF extending into the second and subsequent years is expected to have 2 units published (or be in press). All papers must be on postdoctoral research, and details of the papers must be submitted by the host to the PGS office by the end of each renewal year.

Project requirements:

• Competence in data analysis (SPSS, Thematic and Discourse)
• Proficient in statistical analysis.
• Proficient data management.
• Demonstrate relevant experience, understanding, and knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
• Field research experience.
• Strong academic writing skills.
• Exceptional command of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

Deadline:9th October,2026

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Description:

• The Department of Psychology, Social Work and Criminology wishes to appoint one Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to join the Digital Innovation in Child Protection Research Programme under the supervision of Prof Ulene Schiller.
• The programme is an interdisciplinary research initiative that seeks to transform statutory child protection systems through the development, implementation, evaluation and continuous advancement of digital innovations that strengthen evidence-informed practice, organisational effectiveness and outcomes for vulnerable children and families. The programme integrates expertise from social work, digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), implementation science, public administration, information systems and data analytics.
• The project within the programme is the Integrated Child Protection Management Application (ICPMA), an innovative digital platform funded through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), designed to improve statutory child protection practice through enhanced case management, workflow efficiency, decision support, supervision and organisational accountability. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to the next phase of research associated with this nationally significant project.

Requirements:
The successful candidate will preferably:

• Hold a doctoral degree completed within the last five years in Social Work, Psychology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence,  or a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution in South Africa or abroad.
• Applicants awaiting graduation must submit an official letter from their university confirming that all doctoral requirements have been completed.
• Demonstrate a strong publication record appropriate to career stage.
• Have experience in quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed-methods research.
• Demonstrate excellent academic writing and communication skills.
• Have experience with research related to digital innovation, implementation science, AI, social services, public sector innovation or child protection (advantageous).
• Demonstrate competence in statistical and/or qualitative data analysis software.
• Be willing to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.
• Be based primarily at the University of Fort Hare, East London Campus.
• In accordance with the University Postdoctoral Fellowship Policy:
• The successful candidate may not be employed by the University of Fort Hare (including Time on Task appointments) during the fellowship.
• The successful candidate may not hold employment at another institution or organisation during the fellowship.
• Candidates of any nationality may apply (subject to South African visa regulations where applicable).
• Preference will be given to South African citizens, with particular emphasis on women.

Fellowship Expectations:
The successful candidate will contribute to the growth of the Digital Innovation in Child Protection Research Programme through:

• Conducting high-quality interdisciplinary research.
• Publishing in accredited national and international journals.
• Supporting the implementation and evaluation of the Integrated Child Protection Management Application (ICPMA).
• Contributing to grant applications and collaborative research initiatives.
• Mentoring Master's and Doctoral students.
• Presenting research at national and international conferences.
• Producing policy briefs and stakeholder reports.
• Research may contribute to one or more of the programme's five research pillars:
• Digital Transformation in Child Protection
• Artificial Intelligence for Child Protection
• Implementation Science and Digital Adoption
• Professional Practice and Workforce Wellbeing
• Child Outcomes and System Performance

Conditions:

• The fellowship is awarded for a 24-month period.
• Renewal after the first year will be subject to satisfactory research performance.
• During the first year, the fellow is expected to submit manuscripts equivalent to two DHET-accredited research output units.
• During the second year, the fellow is expected to have published (or have papers accepted/in press) equivalent to two DHET-accredited research output units.
• Renewal will be in accordance with the University of Fort Hare Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Policy.

Deadline:9th October,2026

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Description:

• The Centre for Global Change wishes to appoint one Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to focus on a project titled: Reconfiguring Agro-Industrial Systems for Just Transitions, Net-Zero Pathways, and Inclusive Livelihoods in Eastern Cape. Building on the prior agro-ecological research at the Centre for Global Change (CGC), the purpose of the project is to establish the Food Factories Work (FFW) model in the Eastern Cape through strategic partnerships with government officials and the private sector. Crucially, this project employs transdisciplinary and participatory methods, such as living labs and the co-production of knowledge, to ensure that innovations are locally relevant, socially inclusive, and scalable.

Requirements:

• The successful candidate will preferably have a doctorate, completed in the last five years, in Agriculture, Business management, Geography, Development Studies, Sociology, Communication, or any other closely related area, at a higher education institution in South Africa or abroad.
• If not yet in possession of a doctoral degree, they need to submit a written statement from the Registrar (or equivalent) at the issuing University confirming that they satisfactorily fulfilled the University’s requirements for a doctoral degree at the time of application for a postdoctoral research fellowship. Details of the qualification and expected date of graduation should be included in the statement.
• The successful candidate may not be in the employment of UFH (including Time on Task) at the time of taking the postdoctoral fellowship.
• The successful candidate may not be employed in any other institution/company during their postdoctoral fellowship.
• The successful candidate may be of any age, gender or nationality (subject only to the visa regulations of the Department of Home Affairs)
• Preference will be given to South African females.

Conditions:

• By the end of their first year, the PDRF is expected to have submitted manuscripts amounting to 2 units on the topic of their postdoctoral research.
• A PDRF extending into their second and subsequent years is expected to have published (or have in-press) 2 units. All papers must be on the topic of the postdoctoral research and details of the papers must be submitted by the host to the PGS office by the end of each renewal year.

Project requirements: .

• Possession of technical research skills such as conducting socio-economic surveys, perform environmental and agro-ecological assessments, design and evaluate pilot interventions, conduct monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills.
• Acquaintance with systems thinking, such as, socio-ecological systems, food–energy–water nexus, food–energy–labour nexus, and circular systems.
• Excellent record of peer-reviewed articles in accredited journals.

Deadline:9th October,2026

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• Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Computational Sciences under the discipline of Physics at the University of Fort Hare, under the supervision of Prof Patrick Mukumba. The fellowship forms part of an active research programme focusing on advanced wind energy technologies, with particular emphasis on low-wind-speed energy harvesting, including ducted wind turbine systems, concentrator-diffuser augmented wind turbines (CD-AWTs), INVELOX systems, shrouded wind turbines, and other innovative wind energy concepts. The research programme also encompasses offshore wind resource assessment, offshore wind turbine innovation, wind resource characterisation using ZX Wind LiDAR technology, and the design and optimisation of renewable energy mini-grid systems. A strong emphasis is placed on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), digital modelling, and advanced optimisation techniques to improve wind resource assessment, turbine design, system performance, and decision-making for next-generation wind energy technologies.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Applicant must have completed doctoral degree within the last five years.
• Must have graduated with a PhD in Renewable Energy, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.
• Should have demonstrated expertise in wind energy systems, wind resource assessment, and renewable energy mini-grid design and performance optimisation.
• Experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and numerical modelling for wind energy applications will be a distinct advantage

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO:

• Conduct innovative research on advanced wind energy technologies for low-wind-speed energy harvesting.
• Develop, model, and optimise wind turbine systems using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced optimisation techniques.
• Conduct wind resource assessment and characterisation using the ZX Wind LiDAR system for onshore and offshore wind energy applications.
• Design, construct, install, and experimentally evaluate innovative wind energy augmentation systems, including ducted, shrouded, concentrator, diffuser, and INVELOX-based technologies for both horizontal-axis and vertical-axis wind turbines.
• Contribute to the design and optimisation of renewable energy mini-grid systems integrating wind energy technologies.
• Contribute to the research productivity of the research group, postgraduate students as well as the Department.
• Must produce a research publication unit of 2.0 per annum with the host.

FELLOWSHIP VALUE AND DURATION

• The fellowship is valued at R300,000 per annum (tax-free).
• The initial appointment will be for 24 months, subject to the University's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Policy.
• Renewal beyond the initial appointment period will be based on satisfactory performance and achievement of the required research outputs.

Deadline:9th October,2026

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Description:

• The Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance wish to appoint one Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to focus on Corporate Cash Holdings in South African Listed Companies.  The study incorporates a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods using corporates listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The candidate must be based in the East London precinct area.

Requirements:

• The successful candidate will preferably have a doctorate, completed in the last five years, in Accounting or Finance at a higher education institution in South Africa or abroad.
• If not yet in possession of a doctoral degree, they need to submit a written statement from the Registrar (or equivalent) at the issuing University confirming that they satisfactorily fulfilled the University’s requirements for a doctoral degree at the time of application for a postdoctoral research fellowship. Details of the qualification and expected date of graduation should be included in the statement.
• The successful candidate may not be in the employment of UFH (including Time on Task) at the time of taking the postdoctoral fellowship.
• The successful candidate may not be employed in any other institution/company during their postdoctoral fellowship.
• The successful candidate may be of any age, gender or nationality (subject only to the visa regulations of the Department of Home Affairs)
• Preference will be given to South African females.

Conditions:

• By the end of their first year, the PDRF is expected to have submitted papers amounting to 2 units for review on the topic of their postdoctoral research which meets the following minimum requirements
• PDRF extending into their second and subsequent years are expected to have published (or have in-press) 2 units. All papers must be on the topic of postdoctoral research and details of the papers must be submitted by the host to the PGS office by the end of each renewal year.

Project requirements:

• Conduct innovative research and produce scholarly output on the corporate cash holdings behaviour of South African corporates and the impact on economics development.
• Demonstrate relevant experience, understanding, and knowledge of quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Fieldwork experience
• Strong academic writing abilities
• Competence in data analysis (STATA, R and Thematic)

Deadline:9th October,2026