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

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor:
Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies

Director:
Researcher Development (post level
5) (Contract appointment: five years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further term)

Job

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.

Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: - 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:

• 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  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:

• 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.

Inherent requirements:

• 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.

Recommendations:

• Experience in mentoring academics or managing academic mentoring programmes.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Experience in grant…