Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

• Lead the strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Institutional Student Governance Office’s (ISGO) strategic goals in line with the vision, mission and values of the Division Student Affairs (DSA) and the UFS.
• Oversee the integrated reporting of ISGO on all three campuses.
• Lead engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) and the entire student body on all three campuses.
• Ensure participation of the Student Representative Council (SRC) in all relevant UFS forums.
• Lead the management of risks within Student Governance.
• Provide a strategic oversight of the programmes and activities of the ISRC.
• Create strategies for addressing the underlying issues that may be driving student protests.
• Participate in the development of DSA strategy as directed by the Executive Director.
• Engage Student Life to facilitate Leadership training and related capacitation programmes.  

Financial Management:

• Direct the overall budget and financial management of ISGO.
• Manage allocation of budgets to sub-units of the ISGO.
• Ensure intentional spending of all allocated funds in alignment with UFS goals and to advance DSA goals.

Project Management:

• Identify new opportunities in respect of student needs, conceptualize relevant programmes and direct the implementation in line with divisional goals.
• Lead the architecture of strategic projects within IGSO.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of strategic projects’ impact.
• Oversee the implementation and strengthening of systems that promote a culture of accountability and integrity at the UFS, with a special focus on Student Leaders.
• Ensure, in consultation with the Executive Director, the planning and smooth running of SRC elections.

Policy Development:

• Identify policy gaps for development within Student Governance and review existing policies for alignment.
• Lead and review the development, and ensure compliance with consultative processes and the submission to relevant approval structures.
• Ensure implementation of policies within the ISGO environment.
• Guide and provide strategic leadership within ISGO as a core part of the Student Affairs Senior Leadership Group.
• Represent ISGO in relevant Institutional committees.
• Represent the Executive Director in various institutional committees when delegated.
• Ensure ISRC constitution and related ISGO policies are reviewed when the policy term ends.

Personnel Management:

• Lead human resources processes, in collaboration with Human Resources, concerning personnel in ISGO.
• Provide strategic leadership to attract and retain sufficiently qualified and competent staff.
• Oversee the enhancement of teamwork and departmental coherence.
• Oversee the implementation of the staff Performance Management Programme.
• Oversee the efficient management of leave processes.
• Oversee efficient and effective administration of Student Affairs financial resources.
• Oversee the adherence of university procurement procedures within ISGO.
• Oversee the implementation of processes aligned to achieve employment equity targets in Student Affairs.
• Oversee continuous development of ISGO staff.

Protest Management and Resolution:

• Act as a liaison between the administration and student groups to reach a consensus and peaceful resolution.
• Work with campus security to maintain order and manage potential risks during the protests.
• Monitor social media and other communication channels to stay updated on the progress of protests, to respond to student concerns and advise the Executive Director: Student Affairs.
• Develop communication plans to inform students, faculty members, and the public about the protests and any related activities or news.
• Facilitate discussions and other forms of debate to promote conversation and dialogue rather than violence.
• Work with university leaders and faculty members to identify potential solutions to the challenges that students are protesting about.
• Advise, through the Executive Director, university executive management on potential protests and solutions thereof.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree on NQF Level 9.
• A minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in areas indicated in the duties and responsibilities, of which five (5) years must have been in a managerial and strategic leadership position.
• Experience in strategic and operational planning and execution.
• Experience in a university or similar environment.

Recommendations

• Experience in and sound knowledge of Student Governance.
• Ability to think strategically and engage strategic frameworks.
• Demonstrated administrative experience.
• A firm understanding of the challenges in the higher education sector in South Africa.
• Background in higher education and student Governance structures.