UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS) VACANCIES

​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, COMMUNICATION AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT (POST LEVEL 3) (CONTRACT APPOINTMENT: FIVE YEARS, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF REAPPOINTMENT FOR A FURTHER TERM) (JOB ID: 6211)
Organizational Unit University of the Free State -> Vice- Chancellor and Principal -> Top Management
Contract Type Contract
Occupational Level Top Management
Location Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)
Closing Date 4/8/2025
 
Description
This position was previously advertised as Job ID: 6109. All applications received in response to the previous advertisement will automatically be considered again. Previous applicants, therefore, do not need to reapply.
The Executive Director’s primary responsibility is to lead and advance the University of the Free State’s institutional advancement agenda. This will require a sharp focus on developing and expanding a sustainable philanthropic base through alumni engagement, corporate partnerships, foundation support, international development funding, and government relations. In support of these objectives, the role integrates strategic communication, marketing, and student recruitment efforts to strengthen the University’s visibility, attract investment, and build long-term stakeholder relationships. Through these initiatives, the Executive Director plays a central role in positioning UFS as a well-governed, innovative, and globally competitive institution committed to excellence in African higher education.
 
The following portfolios report to the Executive Director:
•    Institutional Advancement
•    Communication and Marketing
•    Student Recruitment
 
Duties and responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Fundraising Development:
•    Expand the university’s international fundraising footprint, with a focus on high-impact relationships in different global regions. 
•    Build and steward relationships with multilateral agencies, embassies, and development aid organisations to unlock funding opportunities for key university projects. 
•    Build a culture of philanthropy within the UFS community and provide executive-level leadership on fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
•    Develop and manage comprehensive fundraising plans to secure philanthropic investments for strategic university priorities, including research, infrastructure, scholarships, and community engagement.
•    Cultivate and steward High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), foundations, corporate donors, and government funding agencies.
•    Support the establishment and growth of regular giving programmes.
•    Develop donor pipelines through prospect research and alumni engagement.
•    Lead the drafting of grant proposals, funding applications, and donor reports that communicate institutional impact and vision.
•    Ensure that communication, marketing, and recruitment initiatives align with and support fundraising and advancement goals.
•    Build strategic partnerships with corporate, governmental, and multilateral stakeholders to secure long-term investment and collaboration.
•    Represent the University at national and international forums to advocate for higher education funding and strategic alliances.
Alumni engagement and Global Network Building: 
•    Lead the University of the Free State’s alumni engagement strategy, strengthening relationships with alumni. 
•    Support the expansion of alumni chapters, providing networks that benefit both alumni and current students. 
•    Cultivate alumni as volunteers, mentors, and ambassadors for the university, ensuring they contribute time, talent, and treasure to the institution. 
Communication, Marketing and Branding:
•    Provide strategic oversight of the University’s marketing and communication functions to build brand awareness and promote UFS as a globally competitive institution.
•    Direct the development of impactful content across multiple platforms, including digital media, publications, and institutional campaigns.
•    Ensure consistent messaging that enhances the institution’s visibility and reputation among internal and external stakeholders, including donors and alumni.
•    Align communication strategies with student recruitment, advancement, and institutional objectives.
Student Recruitment:
•    Guide the strategic direction of student recruitment, ensuring that marketing and communication efforts support enrolment targets and transformation goals.
•    Integrate recruitment messaging into broader advancement efforts to attract diverse, high-performing students locally and internationally.
•    Monitor market trends and demographic shifts to refine recruitment strategies and promote the UFS brand in priority regions.
Operational and Financial Management:
•    Oversee budget planning and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with donor intent, grant agreements and ethical fundraising principles. 
•    Collaborate with finance, legal, and governance structures to ensure transparency and accountability in all advancement activities. 
 
Inherent requirements
•    A postgraduate qualification in higher education, public administration/relations, business, communications, marketing, international relations/development, or a related field.
•    A minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in major gifts, global fundraising, and resource mobilisation, preferably in the higher education sector (eight (8) years of experience is preferred). 
•    A minimum of five (5) years of experience in higher education (eight (8) years of experience is preferred).
•    Demonstrable success in leading major fundraising campaigns and securing high-level donor commitments.
 
Competencies
Required Competencies
•    Results-orientation:
-    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.
-    The ability to be resilient and work effectively under pressure.
-    The ability to display well-reasoned decision-making.
-    The ability to hold critical conversations as a means of achieving mutually desired goals.  
•    Strategic thinking:
-    The ability to develop strategy and operationalize strategy into plans and projects.
-    The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
-    The ability to be creative and open-minded.
•    Business acumen:
-    Exceptional strategic communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.
-    The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
•    Leadership:
-    The ability to mobilise and inspire others towards shared goals.
-    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 negotiate, sell, influence and persuade others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.
-    The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
 
 
Assumption of duties 1 January 2026.
 
Closing date 4 August 2025.
 
KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.
 
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).
 
Salary
The salary is available on request.
 
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 contact the Acting Senior Director: Human Resources, Ms Ratsoane at 051 401 9383 or email ratsoanems@ufs.ac.za. In addition, kindly contact 051 401 9329 or vermaakm@ufs.ac.za 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: EEA13_EE Plan UFS 1 March 2022 (003).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.
 

Additional Information
 Executive Director

PLEASE APPLY HERE

​ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: TECHNICAL SECURITY SERVICES (POST LEVEL 7) JOB ID: 6207
Organizational Unit University of the Free State -> Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People & Operations -> Protection Services
Contract Type Permanent
Occupational Level Junior Management
Location Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)
Closing Date 6/8/2025
 
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.
•    Cover letter motivating your application 
•    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:
•    Develop and ensure implementation of service standards for technical security services.
•    Monitor and evaluate multiple contractors' performance, enforce service levels, and address non-compliance.
•    Oversee contract renewals and cost-benefit analysis to ensure the sustainability of technical security infrastructure for all long-term contracts.
•    Align contract planning with institutional annual funding and strategic priorities.
•    Develop project briefs and technical scopes, including the approval of project planning before execution.
•    Lead and coordinate the development of business cases relating to technical security services.
•    Manage Technical Security projects through the full lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring & control, and closure.
•    Develop and manage security system design and installation projects from concept to commissioning.
•    Develop and draft technical specifications, drawings, and enforce technical specifications and compliance checklists for all security systems.
•    Establish requirements for security systems, viz, video surveillance, motion detection, facial recognition, CCTV cameras, etc., to ensure installation and operation.
•    Ensure the integration of security systems, technologies and the activation of Artificial Intelligence capability across the institution’s security infrastructure.
•    Manage server infrastructure, network, data archiving and monitor infrastructure systems health.
•    Develop and enforce access control policies aligned with university risk profiles and operational needs.
•    Conduct routine audits and maintain servers and workstations, ensuring uptime and data integrity and provide engineering solutions.
•    Approve card applications and manage access profile requests in accordance with departmental requirements and authorisation levels.
•    Provides inputs towards the budgeting process, assumptions and forecasts aligned with operational needs.
•    Manage staff in accordance with the UFS HR policies.
•    Manage procurement processes for the Technical Security Services section.
 
Inherent requirements:
•    Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 or a three (3) year National Diploma on NQF Level 6 in Electrical or Electronics Engineering.
•    Valid PSIRA Grade B registration (attach a copy) or undertaking to obtain the registration within six (6) months after appointment.
•    A valid code 8 driver’s licence (attach a copy).
•    Minimum of four (4) years’ relevant working experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.
 
Recommendations:
•    Higher education sector experience.
•    Avigilon and any other recognised CCTV cameras certification (attach proof).
•    Project Management certificate (attach proof).
•    Registration with a professional body such as Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) (attach proof).
•    Impro certification (IXP400 & Impro Portal)(attach proof).
•    Knowledge in conducting physical security assessments.
•    Knowledge of intruder and fire alarm systems.
•    Knowledge of electric fence installations and maintenance.
•    Knowledge of Access Control systems.
 
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 deal with several activities at a time.
-    The ability to plan work and to follow plans.
•    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 negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.
 

Assumption of duties: 01 October 2025
 
 Closing date:   6 August 2025
 
Salary: The salary is available on request.
 
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 051 401 2979 or email JardineS@ufs.ac.za  or Recruit@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 9810/ 9813/ 9814 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: EEA13-UFS EE Plan 1 March 2025_28 Feb 2026.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.

PLEASE APPLY HERE