Head: Student Experience (post level 8) (Job ID: 6468)

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:

Project Management 

•    Provide strategic leadership for the communication and marketing of major Student Experience initiatives, awards programmes, and cross-campus activations.

•    Lead the end-to-end project management of strategic departmental projects, developing project plans, timelines, and coordination frameworks.

Financial and Operational Governance 

•    Oversee the operational governance, policy compliance, and administrative functioning of the KovsieX (Student Experience) digital student media platforms, ensuring strategic alignment with institutional goals.

•    Manage divisional budgets, procurement processes via university systems, financial compliance, and facility maintenance for the student experience portfolio.

Change Management

•    Drive the transition of legacy operating models from silo-based environments to collaborative, group-based structures (e.g., implementing the KovsieX Squad model). Oversee the human-centric change management process, ensuring staff and student volunteers successfully adapt to new peer-accountability frameworks, rotational roles, and shared resource protocols.

•    Foster a healthy organisational climate among staff and student volunteers through effective human resource practices, conflict resolution, and structured performance frameworks.

Student Experience and event execution 

•    Manage the logistics, risk management, and execution of physical student experience initiatives, bridging academic and co-curricular spaces.

Stakeholder and client relationship management 

•    Coordinate internal and external stakeholders, service providers, and divisional committees.

•    Serve as the primary liaison coordinating complex logistics between internal university departments, external stakeholders, and student leadership structures.

Inherent requirements:

•    Bachelor’s degree or an Advanced Diploma/B.Tech degree/Postgraduate Certificate on NQF Level 7 in Project Management, Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Management, Social Sciences or a related field. 

•    Minimum of three (3) years’ relevant working experience in complex project management, operational administration, stakeholder coordination or student development/student affairs environment.

Recommendations:

•    Honours degree/Postgraduate Diploma on NQF Level 8 in one of the related fields.

•    Experience in student media, journalism, communications, or a related media environment will be an added advantage.

•    Management experience in student activities.

•    Ability to exercise group leadership skills, with emphasis on collaboration, consensus building, conflict resolution, and problem solving in an environment of shared governance.

•    Experience within the higher education environment.

•    Knowledge of university systems, policies and procedures.

 

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 be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

•    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 interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

-    The ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision. 

Assumption of duties:

As soon as possible.

Closing date:

6 July 2026

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 Apply Now or email Apply Now  or Apply Now. Additionally, kindly contact Apply Now / 7659 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.