Director: Researcher Development (post level 5) (Contract appointment: five years, with the possibil

Director:
Researcher Development (post level
5) (Contract appointment: five years, with the possibil

This strategic leadership role is responsible for managing and expanding institutional mentoring and researcher development initiatives that support the advancement of early- and mid-career academics. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in strengthening research capacity, promoting academic transformation, and contributing to the University's Vision 130 objectives.

• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the University's academic mentoring programmes.
• Manage the Future Professoriate and Women's Mentoring Programme.
• Supervise the coordinators of the Emerging Scholar Academic Programme and Staff Doctoral Programmes and coordinate the delivery of the programmes in collaboration with programme coordinators.
• Design and develop individual support strategies to assist early- and mid-career researchers in achieving career milestones such as promotion, research funding success and NRF rating.
• Build and maintain mentoring relationships with programme participants and coordinate mentor appointments and mentoring activities.
• Coordinate programme budgets, financial administration and grant expenditure in accordance with institutional policies.
• Identify funding opportunities and prepare grant proposals and funding applications.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation systems to measure programme effectiveness and institutional impact.
• Analyse programme data and prepare reports for university leadership, governance structures and external funders.
• Collaborate with faculties, deans, heads of department and support divisions to identify researcher development needs and development strategies.
• Promote the programme through presentations, stakeholder engagement, marketing initiatives and management of programme communication platforms.
• Ensure effective governance, compliance and continuous quality improvement across all programme activities.
• Undertake tasks and responsibilities pertinent to the portfolio determined by the DVC:
  Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies.

• A PhD or equivalent Doctoral on NQF Level 10 in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Management, Higher Education or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in managing capacity development, academic development or researcher development programmes.
• Proven project management experience, including budgeting, planning and monitoring of multiple initiatives.
• Experience working within a higher education or research environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis and report writing.
• Computer literacy, including experience with learning management systems and digital collaboration platforms.

• Experience in mentoring academics or managing academic mentoring programmes.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Experience in grant writing and securing external funding.
• Strategic leadership of international academic networks
• Knowledge of UFS institutional transformation, academic staff development and research capacity development.
• Experience supervising professional staff and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills
• Leadership and people management
• Financial management and budgeting
• Analytical and problem-solving ability
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills
• Initiative, innovation and continuous improvement
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities
• Commitment to academic excellence, transformation and researcher development

As soon as possible.

28 August 2026

The salary is available on request.

• (Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.

For enquiries, please contact or ema
il Vermaak

M.za / or email TeateaPR.za .

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-.pdf

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