Job Vacancies at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Coordinate the daily operations including administration of the Graduation Positioning System (GPS) contact centre.
• Assist with daily troubleshooting and verification of information with the relevant CTL Focus Area Heads.
• Coordinate daily operations of the GPS WhatsApp and email accounts.
• Develop and implement marketing of the services offered in the GPS contact centre to all registered students.
• Liaise with the relevant UFS student support services regarding relevant student information.
• Capture all engagements on the relevant Case Management Systems.
• Lead the weekly GPS contact centre team meetings.
• Compile weekly and monthly data informed reports of the contact centre (calls, emails and WhatsApp engagements).
• Conduct regular evaluation and monitoring of the contact centre.
• Provide administrative support towards various e-procurement/financial processes and procedures.
• Assist with the recruitment and appointment of all the GPS contact centre agents.
• Provide administrative support towards various human resource processes/procedures.
• Provide general administrative support within the focus area and maintain an effective electronic and other filing systems.
• Provide initial and continuous training, development, and support for the GPS team.
• Assist in preparation, implementation and evaluation of the assigned training workshops and events.
• Compile training materials in collaboration with the UFS Institutional Contact Centre and other student support stakeholders.
• Develop in close collaboration with Project Manager/Focus Area Head, GPS related evaluation and assessments reporting.
• Coordinate and track daily/weekly GPS operational reports and GPS project deliverables.
• Report on project deliverables (i.e. quarterly, per semester and annually).
• Contribute to GPS student support offering from registration through to completion.
• Provide generic academic advising and tutorial support.
• Connect students to student support stakeholders (on-campus professional staff academic and support).

Inherent Job Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree on NQF Level 7.
• Two (2) years working experience in project coordination/administration/management. 
• One (1) year experience in Teaching and Learning and student support (academic advising and/or tutoring and/or facilitation).

Recommendations:

• A postgraduate qualification on NQF level 8.
• Above average oral and written language competence in English.
• Ability to interact with staff and students in a way that will further collaboration in the development of the academic advising system.
• Results-orientated and able to work independently and in a team.
• A good understanding of academic advising and the South African higher education context.
• Ability to develop and implement student support initiatives.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative research in the following areas: Water footprint assessment of agri-food products; climate finance to incentivise water users to use water sustainably; virtual water trade to save water; setting of blue water footprint caps for river basins.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of ISI–accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books. The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report.
• Initiate projects and seek funding.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the Directorate of Research Development. 

Eligibility criteria

• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS in Bloemfontein for the duration of the fellowship.
• This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.
• Prior experience in presenting research papers at conferences and/or seminars.
• Authored/co-authored academic publications. 

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

The responsibilities for this position will include, but are not limited to:

• Develop, maintain, and implement recruitment strategies aligned with institutional objectives, contributing to the university’s Vision 130 as a member of the Directorate’s team.
• Visit identified schools' career exhibitions and engage with parents in the Gauteng Province (mostly), and North West province to deliver presentations and disseminate recruitment information with a focus on identifying and recruiting top achievers from the targeted groups.
• Explore and advise on possible markets for postgraduate initiatives.
• Attend selected recruitment activities outside official office hours as per the Recruitment Plan and on request of the Director: Student Recruitment Services.
• Engage with top achievers and their parents on and off campus to advise on career choices based on their academic achievement levels and career aspirations. 
• Foster relationships with internal stakeholders, schools, community organisations, and other stakeholders to increase the recruitment of prospective students from underrepresented groups.
• Provide advisory and reference services to prospective students.
• Gather data analytics to inform recruitment decisions for discussions during the Directorate’s strategic planning sessions.
• Identify, approve, and evaluate sponsorship opportunities, ensuring measurable return on investment.
• Responsible for the financial management of the entities under your control.
• Manage the use of the university assets allocated to you effectively. 

Inherent requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree or a B-Tech degree on NQF Level 7 in Marketing, Communication, Education or Psychology (Counselling or Educational Psychology). 
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant working experience in the higher education sector (in Student Recruitment) or Further Education and Training (FET) environment.
• A proven track record of working with schools in the Gauteng province in Quintile 5, Quintile 99, and private schools.
• A valid driver’s license.
• The candidate must be based in Gauteng.

Recommendations:

• Three (3) years of relevant experience in higher education, especially in student recruitment/school liaison.
• Honours degree on NQF Level 8 in Marketing, Communication, Education or  Psychology (Counselling or Educational Psychology).
• Knowledge of the higher education landscape and the school environment, focusing on Quintile 5, Quintile 99, and private schools in the Gauteng Province. 
• A clear understanding of how to communicate or engage with Gen Z.