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UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS) VACANCIES - 22 MAY 2026
UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS)
SENIOR ASSISTANT OFFICER (POST LEVEL 12): FACULTY OF THE HUMANITIES (JOB ID: 6459)
Organizational Unit University of the Free State -> Faculty of Humanities -> Office of the Dean: Faculty of Humanities
Contract Type Permanent
Occupational Level Semi-Skilled
Location Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)
Closing Date 25/5/2026
Description
KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll - Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered.
The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!
To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements, as well as the following standard documentation:
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
• Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
• A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
• Confirmation of employment in the form of a letter, appointment contract, service certificate, or recent payslip from your current or most recent employer (applicable to external applicants only).
Duties and responsibilities:
Support to the Dean
• Provide a professional service to the Vice Deans by attending to telephonic, email and other enquiries.
• Provide support to the Vice Deans by dealing with or referring enquiries
• Coordinate all domestic and international travel arrangements for the Vice Deans.
• Assist Vice Deans with setting up meetings with relevant stakeholders or committees. Schedule, cancel, or change appointments when necessary to accommodate and prioritise important commitments.
• Draft letters and reports for the Vice Deans.
Faculty Operations
• Provide assistance to other staff in the Dean's office as and when required, to guide visitors, take messages and make phone calls.
• Manage and oversee the Faculty reception area and front desk operations.
• Organise and coordinate workshops, meetings, and Faculty events.
• Administer venue bookings (including venues FGG201 and FGG106).
• Assist with undergraduate and postgraduate student academic administration activities (faculty admissions, registration, graduations, etc.)
• Maintain information on electronic notice boards in the Dean's office and foyer of the building.
• Assist with the administration of postgraduate faculty and institutional bursaries.
• Assist with student registrations, deal with student enquiries, and refer students where necessary.
• Assist with planning and organising the academic year cycle, including the faculty rulebook, syllabus publications, calendar, and key activities in the Faculty on the University calendar.
• Manage the asset register of the Dean's office and ensure that assets are correctly recorded on the register and placed on tender or written off where necessary.
• Perform any reasonable ad hoc requests as requested by the Dean, Vice-Deans and Faculty Manager from
• time to time.
Office Administration
• Deal with general administration, including typing, dispatching mail, copying, emails, correspondence, reports, directives, schedules, references, and other documentation.
• Prepare and draft material, such as notices, circulars, correspondence, agenda, and minutes, as well as
• electronic presentations.
• Maintain distribution lists on MS Outlook for the Dean's office and manage general faculty-wide
• communications.
• Maintain the filing system and compile lists for documents to send to the scanning office.
Financial Administration
• Complete ad-hoc claims, reimbursements, requisitions, and service requests where necessary.
• Process journal transfers and related administrative documentation.
• Liaise with the Finance Department to transfer funds to the required allocation code.
• Reconciliation of all finance transactions actioned by the incumbent.
• Adhere to the UFS's financial policies and procedures.
Meeting Administration
• Assist with meetings and associated administration for allocated Faculty Committees by taking meeting minutes and managing meeting documentation (For example, Academic Advisory Boards).
• Timeous compilation (and selective printing) of meeting documentation.
Quality Assurance
• Ensure that all the activities within the Faculty are carried out to the highest possible standards, and ensure that the necessary evaluation and monitoring procedures are in place to ensure both compliance and improvement.
• Adhere to auditing, quality assurance and risk management procedures both internal and external.
Inherent Job Requirements:
• A Bachelor's degree or an advanced dimploma/B Tech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 in an office management or administration-related field.
• A minimum of one (1) year's administration experience related to the duties and responsibilities as set out above, preferably within a higher education environment.
Recommendations:
• A postgraduate qualification on NQF Level 8 in a management or administration-related field.
• Knowledge of UFS systems, policies, and procedures.
Competencies
Key Competencies Required:
• 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 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 make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision.
Assumption of duties: As soon as possible.
Closing date: 25 May 2026
Salary: The annual remuneration package, including benefits is R 403,692.54– R 506,869.63 per annum, depending on the budget available for the position, relevant work experience and qualifications.
Fringe benefits: (Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.
Enquiries: For enquiries, please feel free to contact me at 051 401 7659 or email at SejanamaneP@ufs.ac.za orRecruit@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 2979 / 9813 for assistance.
General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at:
ufs-employment-equity-plan_2025.pdf
The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.
The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (1-YEAR CONTRACT, RENEWABLE UP TO 3 YEARS): DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY (JOB ID 6463)
Organizational Unit University of the Free State -> Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences -> Department Chemistry
Contract Type Contract
Occupational Level Temporary
Location Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)
Closing Date 15/6/2026
Description
The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Chemistry. Candidates interested in pursuing research in synthetic organic chemistry, amino acid chemistry, peptide modification, and the development of functional molecules for biomedical and soft-materials applications are encouraged to apply.
The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience in research and innovation at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers.
The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential, as well as the relevance of prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance.
Duties and responsibilities:
• Conduct innovative research in the synthesis and characterization of non-canonical amino acids bearing donor, acceptor, fluorescent, redox-active, or metal-ligating substituents, and their application in peptide chemistry, biomedical research, and functional soft materials. The work will be conducted in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels, Belgium, with possible research exchange visits depending on project needs and available funding.
• Have or develop expertise in several of the following areas:
o synthetic organic chemistry and multistep synthesis, preferably including amino acid, peptide, and supramolecular chemistry;
o structural characterization using NMR, MS, and other relevant analytical techniques;
o basic analytical and physicochemical studies of functional molecules and peptide-based materials;
o basic computational chemistry skills would be advantageous;
o independent scientific writing, manuscript preparation, presentation of research results, and contribution to grant applications.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET– 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 postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS in Bloemfontein and participate in relevant activities of the Centre for Graduate Support and the Directorate of Research Development.
Eligibility requirements:
• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Applicants must have achieved a PhD degree in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or a cognate discipline within the past five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of their postdoctoral period at the UFS.
Value of the fellowship:
• R 270 000 annual fellowship
• R 30 000 additional research expenses fund
Competencies
Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation by 15 June 2026 to Prof. Vladimir Azov at azovv@ufs.ac.za:
• Motivation letter, including a 1-2-page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly outputs demonstrating relevant experience in the field of Conservation Genetics.
• Full transcripts of academic record and copy of doctoral degree certificate.
• Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
• Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.
Closing date: 15 June 2026.
Commencement of fellowship: 1 September 2026
For enquiries, please contact: Prof. Vladimir Azov: Email: wvo@sun.ac.za
General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at: UFS EEA13 1 March 2025_28 Feb 2026
The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.
The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.
How to apply to this job
Prof. Vladimir Azov at azovv@ufs.ac.za