Job Vacancies at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Execute and provision of legal services and Office Administration
• Perform administrative tasks related to the provision of legal services.
• Provide legal services in line with the services offered by the Law Clinic, including drafting court pleadings and attending to court appearances
• Report to management structures within the UFS Law Clinic and Faculty of Law.
• Compliance with internal quality assurance measures.
• Provision of leadership, supervision and training to Candidate Attorneys
• Facilitate and assist the training of candidate attorneys.
• Supervise candidate attorneys.

Community Engagement & Research

• Implement, facilitate and monitor community engagement programmes/projects at the UFS Law Clinic.
• Perform administrative tasks related to community engagement.
• Active involvement in research activities of the UFS Law Clinic.

Student Teaching & Training

• Contribute to academic coordination.
• Perform administrative tasks related to student teaching at the UFS Law Clinic.
• Facilitate the implementation of community-based learning programmes/projects for undergraduate law students at the UFS Law Clinic.
• Provide consultation sessions for undergraduate law students.
• Facilitate and assist the training of undergraduate law students.

Inherent requirements:

• An LLB degree on NQF Level 8 from a South African University (attach a copy).
• Currently an admitted and practising Attorney in the High Court of South Africa (attach proof).
• Right of Appearance in terms of Section 25(3) of the Legal Practice Act (attach proof).
• Good standing with the relevant Legal Practice Council (attach proof).
• A minimum of three (3) years post-admission experience in superior court/lower court litigation in the preceding 5-year period.

Recommendations:

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in teaching and/or facilitating legal education and/or training in a higher education environment.
• Experience with Supervising Candidate Legal Practitioners.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification or accredited legal practice management course. 

Competencies

Required competencies: 

Results Orientated:

• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
• The ability to stick with tasks, not give up, and overcome obstacles in completing one’s task.

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.
• The ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision. 

Closing date:

• 17 September 2026

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Support theoretical and practical training of students through lecturing, supervision and assessment of practical dispensing training.
• Provide dispensing supervision and perform dispensing assessments of students during clinical Optometry training.   
• Assist with the cutting and fitting of assistive devices in various settings, including in community-based settings.
• Provide support to dispensing skills development for students within Optometry.
• Assist in the coordination of clinical training of students in various settings, including in community-based settings.
• Contribute to relevant teaching development within the domain of Optometry clinical training.   
• Perform general administration and dispensing quality assurance related to clinical training.
• Attend and contribute to relevant committees and meetings.  
• Perform general administration in the department.

Inherent requirements:

• A relevant National Diploma in Optical Dispensing or Opticianry at NQF Level 6 (attach a copy).   
• A minimum of five (5) years’ relevant professional experience.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in the supervision, training and/or assessment of Optometry students.
• A good academic record (attach a copy).
• Active registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Dispensing Optician (attach a copy).  
• A valid driver's licence (attach a copy).

Recommendations:

• Postgraduate qualification on NQF Level 7 or higher, or willingness to enrol for a postgraduate degree in a health-related field at the first available opportunity, if not yet attained by the time of appointment.
• Delivery of a poster or oral presentation at a conference.

Competencies

Required competencies: 

Results Orientated:

• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
• The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to plan work and to follow plans.
• The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:

• As soon as possible.

Closing date:

• 17 September 2026

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Duties and responsibilities:

Provide psychosocial assessment and support services to students by:

• Conducting psychosocial assessments of students experiencing personal, academic, emotional or social challenges.
• Providing short-term counselling and psychosocial interventions within the scope of professional social work practice.
• Developing intervention plans aligned to individual student needs.
• Attending to psychosocial emergencies after hours as needed and where possible.
• Providing trauma-informed support where appropriate.
• Provide input on policies and procedures that assist in management of students.
• To support student wellbeing, resilience and academic success.

Provide crisis intervention services by:

• Responding to students experiencing mental health crises, trauma, bereavement, abuse, gender-based violence, financial or social distress.
• Assessing immediate risks.
• Supporting students who experience setbacks in academic performance.
• Coordinating emergency support and referrals where required.
• Ensuring timely intervention and student safety during crises.

Manage student support cases by:

• Managing cases from initial assessment through resolution.
• Maintaining confidential case records.
• Monitoring student progress.
• Reviewing intervention outcomes and follow-up actions.
• Ensuring coordinated and effective psychosocial support services.
• Support other academic staff as it pertains to students in crisis the MBChB and LOP programmes.
• Coordinate referral services by;
• Identifying students requiring specialised intervention.
• Referring students to appropriate internal and external support services.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary support where required.
• Monitoring referral outcomes where appropriate.
• Ensuring students receive appropriate specialist support.

Develop and facilitate student wellness programmes by:

• Planning and facilitating wellness initiatives addressing mental wellbeing, resilience, stress management, self-care and burnout prevention.
• Conducting awareness ·campaigns relevant to health sciences students.
• Promoting preventative wellbeing and student resilience.

Collaborate with academic and support stakeholders by:

• Liaising with academic staff, programme directors, clinical training platforms and faculty management regarding students requiring support.
• Participating in multidisciplinary student support meetings.
• Providing professional recommendations on student support interventions.
• Building relationships with internal and external support service providers.
• Promoting integrated student support and coordinated intervention

Ensure professional and legislative compliance by:

• Delivering services in accordance with SACSSP ethical standards, University policies and relevant legislation.
• Supporting compliance with HPCSA accreditation requirements relating to student support.
• Maintaining professional registration and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Ensuring ethical, professional and compliant service delivery.

Maintain student support records and management reporting by:

• Maintaining confidential student records.
• Compiling statistical and management reports on student interventions, referrals, wellness programmes and case outcomes.
• Safeguarding confidential information in accordance with POPIA requirements.
• Supporting institutional reporting, service improvement and governance.

Inherent requirements:

• Bachelor of Social Work or equivalent qualification in the field of Social Work on NQF Level 8.
• A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience as a registered Social Worker.
• A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience in working with young adults or students.
• A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience in counselling, crisis intervention and case management.
• Active registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) as a social worker (attach proof).

Recommendations:

• Experience within a higher education institution or healthcare environment.
• Experience supporting students in professional or clinical training programmes

Competencies

Required competencies: 

Results Orientated:

• The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.
• The ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:

• As soon as possible.

Closing date:

• 28 September 2026

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Duties and responsibilities: 

• Present undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Vegetation Ecology, Plant Taxonomy and Systematics, and Advanced Biostatistics.
• Provide supervision to postgraduate students. 
• Actively conduct research in their field of specialisation.
• Synthesise knowledge through the publication of scientific papers in peer-reviewed, DHET-accredited journals.
• Communicate research findings at scientific conferences.
• Source funding for research from international and national funding organisations.
• Participate actively in the professional community.
• Participate actively in leadership and administration at Departmental and Faculty level.
• Participate in various scholarly engagement opportunities at learning and teaching, research, community engagement, and/or in-service learning levels.
• Contribute to curriculum development within the department.
• Perform general administration duties.

Inherent requirements:

Lecturer

• A PhD on NQF Level 10 in Botany/Plant Ecology/Plant Taxonomy and Systematics/Biological Invasions
• or
• Master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in Botany/Plant Ecology/Plant Taxonomy and Systematics/Biological Invasions and registered or willing to register at the first available opportunity for a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Botany/ Plant Ecology/ Plant Taxonomy and Systematics/ Biological Invasions (attach proof of registration if applicable).
• Proven teaching experience in Higher Education at undergraduate level.
• Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences in a relevant field.
• Evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.
• Proven experience in supervision of Honours/MSc/PhD students.

Recommendations:

• Active involvement in Botany/Plant Taxonomy and Systematics/ Biological Invasions research.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in teaching Botany/ Plant Ecology/ Plant Taxonomy and Systematics/ Biological Invasions at tertiary level.
• Member of, or registration at, a professional body, such as a national or international scholarly society or committee.

Competencies

Required competencies: 

• Results Orientated
• The ability to set high standards, establish tough goals, and to work to achieve success.
• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.

Assumption of duties:

• 01 December 2026 or as soon as possible.

Closing date:

• 25 September 2026 

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the UFS Terminology Development Project activities.
• Conduct research in the areas of the development of African languages, terminology development, and multilingualism initiatives. 
• Coordinate language policy implementation initiatives in the Academy for Multilingualism.
• Work in collaboration with UFS faculties and departments, and external stakeholders on terminology development projects.   

Inherent requirements:

• A PhD on NQF Level 10 in the field of languages, linguistics, terminology development, lexicography or related language studies (permanent appointment), 
• or
• A Master of Arts degree on NQF Level 9 in the field of languages, linguistics, terminology development, lexicography or related language studies (contract appointment: five years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in the field of languages, linguistics, terminology development, lexicography or related language studies must be obtained to be converted to a permanent position).
• A minimum of two (2) years’ relevant experience in a terminology development project.
• Have worked in a Higher Education Institution or any Government Department or Entity that specialises in African Language development activities.
• Evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.

Recommendations:

• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in a Higher Education or Government institution that specialises in African Languages promotion.
• Hold an Honours degree on NQF Level 8 in the field of African Languages studies or a related field.
• Knowledge of Sesotho Language, terminology development, and lexicography.

Competencies

Required competencies: 

Results Orientated:

• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
• The ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 
• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• The ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision. 

Assumption of duties:

• 1 November 2026.

Closing date:

• 23 September 2026