Open Vacancies at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

Database Management (IA and Alumni) 

• Liaise with UFS ICTS for Data and IT protocol and adherence to governance and database structures.
• Set up and test new modules in CRM system.
• Update records on the current CRM system.
• Monitor database efficiency.
• Develop protocols for data processing with UFS ICTS.
• Project manage data clean-up projects, Budget, and Procurement of suppliers.

Data and Operational Analytics 

• Generate Analytical reports for management.
• Create query definitions that allow data to be extracted.
• Refine operating procedures and data input measures of CRM/Database.
• Support IA Financial office with data/operational structure.
• Work closely with the Prospect Researcher in providing information (from IA database and other digital channels) on our alumni and supporters to better inform our fundraising and alumni engagement activities.

Digital/CRM/Media management 

• Maintain content of IA and Alumni web page, coordinating and collaborating with colleagues within and beyond the department (e.g., Communication and Brand Management).
• Set-up of communications via the DEVMAN CRM communication system.
• Manage content on SharePoint for collaboration and central reference point of important departmental documents.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/ BTech degree/ postgraduate certificate on NQF level 7 or a three-year National Diploma in Information Technology on NQF level 6.
• A minimum of two (2) years relevant work experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Database management experience.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide writing support through focused specialist corporate writing, e.g., opinion articles and thought-leadership articles aligned with institutional themes and objectives.
• Gather information, expert input, and other material to write content for various channels. 
• Research, analyse and write articles for targeted communication platforms and campaigns. 
• Provide support for digital communication through focused specialist corporate writing for the UFS website and social media.
• Provide writing support for corporate brand identity activities through focused specialist public relations content.
• Participate in the Department of Communication and Marketing’s Content Hub and curate content for the communication platforms. 
• Ensure that all content is presented timeously and in a multimedia format to optimise its use on the various communication platforms.

Inherent requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 in Journalism/ Media Studies/ Communication or a related field.  
• A minimum of two (2) years relevant working experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Valid driver’s licence.
• Proof of extensive research, writing and media production experience at a senior level.
• Demonstrative experience in a media/corporate communication environment.
• Proof of writing about a diverse range of topics.
• Proof of experience as a speech writer.
• Proof of multimedia production experience.
• Experience in a Public Relations environment.
• Work experience in the higher education environment.
• Proven proficiency in business writing and experience in writing relevant content for digital and print channels/publications.
• Knowledge of industry best practices.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Word and PowerPoint.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Assist with preparations for Community Engagement/ Service-Learning projects.
•  Facilitate, coordinate and perform other duly delegated and reasonable instructions by Attorney/Supervisor.
•  Conduct research.
• Train and supervise students.

Consultations with clients. 

• Concise, and clear consultation.
• Record and report on consultations with clients of the Law Clinic.

Manage files and time. 

• Manage files according to internal and external professional standards.
• Keep records in line with court rules and procedures.
• Adhere to office filing system.
• Adhere to time management system, diarise and attend to appointments internally and externally.

Attendance at courts and other stakeholders’ offices. 

• Attend court and appearances, file and serve court documents.
• Attend meetings, conferences and training sessions.
• Supervise students at courts.

Prepare research on files. 

• Conduct research on and relating to files (type of case, etc.).
• Conduct research relating to human rights.
• Keep record of research. 

Attendance of meetings and community outreaches with all stakeholders. 

• Punctual and professional attendance of meetings with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Clear and concise recording of all such meetings.

Draft legal documents. 

• Draft all court, contractual and legal brief documents relating to Law Clinic work.
• Keep record of all such work.

Inherent requirements:

• LLB Degree on NQF Level 8. 
• Completed Practical Vocational Training (PVT) (attach a copy of the Certificate/Register of Completion).  
• Passed Parts I to IV of the Competency-Based Examinations (attach a copy of the Certificate).
•  2 Fit and Proper Letters (attach copies).

Recommendations:

• One (1) year relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.
• A command of additional official South African languages will be a strong recommendation. 
• Knowledge of practical legal training and access to justice.
• Enrolled or graduated in postgraduate studies in human rights.
   

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Duties and responsibilities: 

Academic Head of Department

•  Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the discipline vis-a-vis competing international entities.
• Responsible for directing the academic debate in the department.
• Responsible for influencing the department's overall climate and culture.
• Responsible for energising everybody in the department and beyond.
• Responsible for shaping the future of the department.
• Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
• Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students and activities; mentoring and motivating staff.
• Create an atmosphere of consensus among staff.
• Create effective internal and external communication.
• Participate and be involved actively in faculty management structures, attend meetings, lead project teams, represent the department and faculty, and fulfil the roles of liaison officer and marketer, when necessary.
• Participate and be involved actively in applicable UFS management structures, e.g. Senate.
• Initiate, formulate and implement a visionary academic strategy for the department that is aligned with and supportive of the guiding strategic documents of the UFS and faculty.
• Ensure the provision of top-quality, research-informed facilitation of learning at all levels of teaching in the department.
• Ensure relevance of content, material and presentation in all modules.
• Ensure the enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates.
• Ensure that adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Adhere to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department.
• Ensure quality and timely feedback on student work.
• Ensure proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the department.
• Ensure the revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in the fraternity.
• Create and maintain a visionary research strategy for the department.
• Create and maintain an environment that encourages research, leading to strong and active research habits and a culture of inquiry.
• Ensure that every academic staff member is engaged in quality-driven and discipline-specific research.
• Ensure that postgraduate students are recruited to broaden the research base of the department and ethical requirements are met.
• Guide and support senior academics towards acquiring NRF ratings.
• Ensure active engagement with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
• Plan and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department.
• Plan and implement a clear and reasonable career path for every staff member in the department, taking account of the strategic plans of the University, faculty and department.
• Implement appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed.
• Manage staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures.
• Responsible for recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours.
• Create and maintain a scholarship-friendly environment in the department.
• Plan and oversee effective and relevant staff development.
• Responsible for financial management culminating annual budgeting, financial planning, allocation of funds and financial control.
• Adhere to the UFS's financial policies and procedures.
• Encourage and actively support academic staff members to apply for external research and other grants.

Professor

• Provide leadership in pursuit of the department and faculty strategic plan with regard to research, teaching, engaged scholarship and leadership and administration.
• Provide supervision to postgraduate students, namely Honours, Master's and PhD students.
• Lecture Business Management, Venture Creation, Entrepreneurship, and Analytical Decision-Making at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Conduct high-quality research and publish in accredited international and national journals and deliver quality research outputs in line with the research strategy of the faculty.
• Maintain a research output pipeline to meet the yearly required supervision and publication of research output units.
• Apply for funding in (multidisciplinary) research projects.
• Act as a mentor to colleagues within the department and faculty at large.
• Attend and speak at national and international conferences, research colloquia, workshops and seminars in order to enhance research and disciplinary knowledge.
• Identify opportunities and apply for external research funding, whether as an individual or in collaboration with colleagues 
• Assist in disseminating the work associated with research projects in the media and through the newsletter and website.
• Participate in community activities such as mentorship and provide training and short courses in the areas of specialisation.
• Perform academic administration pertaining to undergraduate and postgraduate subjects – this may include typing, setting and marking of all question papers and memorandums, recording of marks and handling of student complaints.
• Serve as a member of various academic committees and perform any other tasks allocated by the Dean and head of the department.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with relevant research, civil society, government, industry and professional organisations, nationally and internationally.

Associate Professor

• Provide leadership in pursuit of the department and faculty strategic plan with regard to research, teaching, engaged scholarship and leadership and administration.
• Provide supervision to postgraduate students, namely Honours, Master's and PhD students.
• Lecture Business Management, Venture Creation, Entrepreneurship, and Analytical Decision-Making at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Conduct high-quality research and publish in accredited journals and deliver quality research outputs in line with the research strategy of the faculty.
• Attend and speak at conferences, research colloquia, workshops and seminars in order to enhance research and disciplinary knowledge.
• Identify opportunities and apply for external research funding, whether as an individual or in collaboration with colleagues 
• Assist in disseminating the work associated with research projects in the media and through the newsletter and website.
• Participate in community activities such as mentorship and provide training and short courses in the areas of specialisation.
• Perform academic administration pertaining to undergraduate and postgraduate subjects – this may include typing, setting and marking of all question papers and memorandums, recording of marks and handling of student complaints.
• Serve as a member of various academic committees and perform any other tasks allocated by the Dean and head of the department.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with relevant research, civil society, government, industry and professional organisations.

Inherent requirements:

Associate Professor

• PhD on NQF Level 10 with specialisation in Business Management.
• Proven experience in presenting Business Management, Venture Creation, Entrepreneurship, and Analytical Decision-Making at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Proven skills in data analysis using IBM SPSS, AMOS, PLS.
• Experience as external examiner for postgraduate students.
• Proven experience in the presentation of research papers at national conferences, where there is evidence of peer review of papers.
• Acted as an editorial board member of high-quality national scholarly journals.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a specific scientific area of scholarship.
• An NRF rating of C3 or equivalent status.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals
• Proven experience in the supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals. 
• Served as a member of a national scholarly society OR a national committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels OR showed evidence of service as an active member of an international equivalent.

Professor

• PhD on NQF Level 10 with specialisation in Business Management.
• Proven experience in presenting Business Management, Venture Creation, Entrepreneurship, and Analytical Decision-Making at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Proven skills in data analysis using IBM SPSS, AMOS, PLS.
• Experience as external examiner for master’s-degree and doctoral students.
• Acted as editorial board member of high-quality international/ISI/IBSS journals.
• Proven international recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a particular area of academic scholarship (for example, regularly serves as a reviewer for international/ISI/IBSS journals).
• An NRF rating of C1 or C2 or equivalent status.
• Demonstrated successful supervision of graduated master’s-degree and preferably graduated doctoral students.
• Proven experience in delivering keynote addresses at national scholarly conferences.
• Served as a member of an international scholarly society OR an international committee or agency concerned with research at higher-education levels.

Recommendations:

• Proven lecturing experience in the Higher Education environment.
• Proven experience in a leadership role within a department, research centre, and/or institute.
• Proficiency in computer skills, eg, MS word, excel, PowerPoint.
• Proven skills in data analysis using IBM SPSS, AMOS, PLS.
• Good command of the English language.
• Member of a or registration at a professional body 
• Experience as a departmental leader/ manager in a higher education environment.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Build relationships with key national and international research funding stakeholders.
• Identify grant funding opportunities.
• Compile, and update, supporting documents to furnish to prospective funders.
• Write grant proposals in collaboration with research teams.
• Submit grant proposals to funding bodies.
• Monitor outcome of grant applications.
• Compile feedback and reports for funders, internal stakeholders.
• Keep records of funding requests, allocations, and expenditure.
• Present grant writing workshops.
• Inherent requirements: *Important Notice - Applicants must assess the inherent requirements and ensure that all the required documents/proof are included in the application
• An Honors degree or a Postgraduate Diploma on NQF level eight (8) in the field of English, Communication Science, Marketing, Business Management, Project management or related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.
• A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience in grant writing proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and secure research funding.
• A minimum of two (2) years' proven, relevant work experience in a research funding capacity.

Recommendations:

• Experience within the higher education environment.
• Knowledge of university systems, policies, procedures.
• Member of a or registration at a professional body. 
• Portfolio of successful grant applications.
• Master’s degree on NQF level eight (9) in the field of English, Communication Science, Marketing, Business Management, Linguistics, Project Management or related field.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages.
• Persuasive and succinct writing skills and spoken communication skills in English.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, meticulous attention to detail, a strong work ethic, the ability to work calmly under pressure, and the ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong IT skills.
• Good numeracy skills.