Director: Student Life and Governance; post level 5; appointment pos

Director:
Student Life and Governance

The Director:
Student Life and Governance provides strategic, operational, and governance leadership to the integrated Student Life and Student Governance Portfolio, ensuring the holistic development, engagement, and success of students. The role strengthens institutional governance, student leadership development, co‑cultural 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 UFS Vision 130 goals by creating an enabling student environment, fostering ethical governance, and developing a cohesive, supportive, and transformative student experience.

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.

Governance and Compliance

• Oversee Student Governance, including SRC governance, student leadership structures, student constitutions, and electoral processes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, UFS Statute, governance protocols, and institutional policy frameworks.
• Strengthen governance systems to support ethical leadership, accountability, and transparent decision‑making.
• Partner with Legal Services to ensure adherence to rules, governance instruments, and disciplinary codes.

Operational Leadership of Student Life and Governance Units

• Oversee and provide strategic direction to units:
  Career Services, Student Leadership Development, Food Environment Programme, Kovsie
  
  ACT (Co‑curricular Student Development), Student Research & Development Office, Student Governance.
• Ensure integration, collaboration, and synergy among all units for a coherent student development and engagement model.

Student Leadership Development

• Lead comprehensive student leadership development programmes fostering ethical leadership, governance capability, and personal growth.
• Provide mentorship and advisory support to student structures.
• Coordinate leadership pipeline development for emerging student leaders.

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 Kovsie
  
  ACT offerings, experiential learning, and graduate attribute development.

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.

Institutional Advisory and Representation

• Serve as the primary advisor to the Executive Director on all student life and governance matters.
• Represent the division on relevant university committees, task teams, and governance structures.
• Provide regular reporting, analytics, and trend insights to inform executive decision‑making.

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.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in Higher Education, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Organisational Leadership, Law, or a related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant progressive management experience with 5 years at middle management level in…