Overview
Director: Student Life and Governance; post level 5; appointment possibility Jobs in Bloemfontein, South Africa at UFS, Bloemfontein
Position: Director: Student Life and Governance (post level 5) (Contract appointment: five years, with the possibility of
The Director:
Student Life and Governance provides strategic, operational, and governance leadership to the integrated Student Life and Student Governance Portfolio on all three campuses, ensuring the holistic development, engagement, and success of students. The role strengthens institutional governance, student leadership development, co-curricular programming, and campus culture, while assisting the Executive Director:
Student Affairs, Sport, Arts and Culture with the execution of strategic responsibilities across the portfolio.
This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the University of the Free State’s Vision 130 goals by creating an enabling student environment, fostering ethical governance, and developing a cohesive, supportive, and transformative student experience in line with Student Affairs, Sport, Arts and Culture, and University Strategies
Duties and responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
• Provide strategic direction for Student Life and Student Governance, ensuring strong alignment with Vision 130 and the integrated Student Affairs, Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio.
• Assist the Executive Director in conceptualising, implementing, and monitoring strategic initiatives across Student Affairs.
• Strengthen the student experience, campus life, and governance stability through strategic programmes, systems, and partnerships.
• Lead the development and implementation of student life and student governance frameworks, policies, and standards.
• Initiate a healthy stakeholder relationship internally and externally.
Operational Leadership of Student Life and Governance Units
• Oversee and provide strategic direction to the following units:
o Student Leadership Development
o KovsieACT (Co-curricular Student Development)
o Student Research & Development Office
o Student Governance
• Ensure integration, collaboration, and synergy among all units for a coherent student development and engagement model.
Student Engagement and Co-Curricular Development
• Drive high-impact co-curricular programmes, events, and activities to enhance the student engagement ecosystem.
• Strengthen partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to broaden student learning pathways.
• Oversee and ensure quality of KovsieACT offerings, experiential learning, and graduate attribute development.
• Identify emerging trends, opportunities, and student development needs to inform programme design and continuous improvement.
Risk, Crisis and Stability Management
• Provide leadership during student-related crises, unrest, or governance instability.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and relevant units to ensure early identification of emerging risks and effective mitigation.
• Contribute to policy and procedure refinement to ensure institution-wide stability and student well-being.
• Lead the identification, assessment, and mitigation of strategic and operational risks within Student Life and Governance.
People and Resource Management
• Lead, manage, and develop staff across the integrated portfolio.
• Ensure optimal resource allocation, performance management, and staff professional development.
• Oversee budgeting and financial management for Student Life and Governance.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement across Student Life and Governance.
• Allocate resources to support the achievement of strategic objectives.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
• Promote evidence-based programmes and decision-making across Student Life and Governance.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of strategic programmes and initiatives.
• Analyse and disseminate institutional and sector data to inform planning, policy development, and continuous improvement.
Inherent Job Requirements
Title: Director: Student Life and Governance; post level 5; appointment possibility
Company: UFS, Bloemfontein
Location: Bloemfontein, South Africa
Category: