UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND

The University of Zululand subscribes to the principles embedded in the Employment Equity Act. 

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 

SECRETARY TO THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR 

REFERENCE NUMBER: 2026/08/VV50 

GRADE 9 

The University of Zululand seeks to appoint a highly organised, professional, and proactive Secretary to provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research and Innovation. The incumbent oversees the smooth running of the daily operations in the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ensuring efficiency in systems processes and functions. The role includes effective communication management, record keeping, stakeholder engagement, diary management and coordination of meetings. The incumbent coordinates administrative activities, facilitates communication with internal and external stakeholders, and supports governance committee processes. 

KEY ACTIVITIES 

The successful candidate will be responsible for: 

·       Providing administrative and secretarial support duties to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research and Innovation. 

·       Managing the DVC’s diary, appointments, meetings, travel arrangements, and correspondence 

·       Receiving and screening visitors, telephone calls, emails, and other communications 

·       Document Management 

·       Expenditure Administration 

·       Drafting routine correspondence, reports, presentations, memoranda, meeting documents. Liaising with academic departments, research centres, funding agencies government bodies, industry partners, and other key stakeholders. 

·       Managing sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion. 

·       Monitoring office budgets, procurement processes, and payment submissions in accordance with policies and procedures. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

·       Bachelor’s degree in Office Administration, Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field. 

·       A minimum of 2 to 5 years’ relevant experience providing secretarial or executive support services, preferably to senior management. 

·       Experience in building portfolio of evidence for performance management. 

·       Experience in monitoring office budgets, procurement processes, and payment submissions in accordance with policies and procedures 

PREFERENCES

·       An Honours Degree would be an advantage. 

·       Experience in a higher education institution would be advantageous. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

Knowledge

·       MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS) 

·       Basic Financial Principles 

·       Office administration principles 

Skills

·       Communication (verbal and written) 

·       Interpersonal

·       Administrative

·       English Proficiency 

·       Planning and Organising 

·       Time Management 

Behaviour / Attributes 

·       Task-oriented

·       Attention to Detail 

·       Organised

·       Work Under Pressure 

·       Independent

·       Confidential

·       Multi-tasking

·       Professional

·       Reliable

CLOSING DATE: 31 August 2026 

To apply, please log on to PNET (www.pnet.co.za) and submit your application. The University will not accept any applications directly or through any other means. No hand-delivered or postal applications will be accepted. 

By applying for this vacancy, you accept UNIZULU's recruitment and selection process. By applying for this position, you hereby give consent to the University of Zululand that your personal information, such as your name and surname, Identity number, banking details, address, resume, etc., may be used, distributed, handled, or processed and/or stored for purposes of the Recruitment and Selection process of the University. 

Please note that in terms of the University’s recruitment policy, preference will be given to South African citizens, particularly females and people with disabilities, in terms of the University’s employment equity policy. UNIZULU is committed to employment equity and equal opportunity. 

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be entered into with the shortlisted candidates only.