Job Opportunities at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

•     Develop and support Business Intelligence (BI) reports as required by business partners.
•     Manage and support the rollout of BI within the Institution.
•     Support of Business Analysts in daytoday functions e.g. investigations, testing, etc.
•     Manage Institutional information dashboards and visualisations.
•     Promote a continuous improvement culture within the team.
•     Design, research, develop, analyse and suggest new concepts as well as strategies.
•     Lead and direct different crossfunctional programs and projects of varied sizes and types.
•     Exercise decisionmaking and independent judgment while being aligned with customers and management.
•     Promote innovations to support business requirements through activities that test, pilot and implement innovative concepts for optimal customer experience.
•     Manage ideas from the design stage through to implementation and documentation.
•     Manage, develop and implement innovative dashboards for business users.
•     Roll out and analyse the effectiveness of initiatives that leverage multiplatform technologies.
•     Initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, with internal and external stakeholders.
•     Willing to learn new technologies, teach and share knowledge with other team members.

Inherent Job Requirements:

•     Honours degree on NQF level 8 in Information Technology.
•     Minimum five (5) years’ relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.
•     Minimum three (3) years’ experience with Business Intelligence Development.

Recommendations:

•     Master's degree on NQF level 9 in Information Technology.
•     A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in an IT/ higher education information system.
•     Experience in Data visualisation.
•     Experience using SQL server.
•     Experience in managing and setup up specifications in Business Intelligence.
•     Experience with data modelling and databases such as SQL, Oracle.
•     Experience with software development methodologies and practices.

Competencies
Key Competencies:

    Results Orientated: 

•     The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
•     The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

    Strategic Thinking: 

•     The ability to focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner.
•     The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

    Business Acumen:

•     Proficient in using MS Office.
•     Knowledge of development of cubes and latest software like PowerHeda, PowerBI, and Tableau.
•     Demonstrated ability to foster an environment for ideation, prototyping, and production.
•     Demonstrated business acumen to take from design to implementation and preferably experience scaling a concept.
•     Must have IT Development and Systems Knowledge.
•     Project management skills.

    Leading: 

•     The ability to be cooperative with others, display a goodnatured attitude, and encourage people to work together.

    Building Coalitions:

•     The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.
•     The ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration, and working with close supervision.

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Duties and responsibilities:
    Evaluation of Applications:

•     Ensure all documentation are filed according to the list of required documents for accreditation.
•     Ensure all incomplete applications are highlighted /outlined for every student address or application.
•     Contact all service providers with incomplete applications and notify them of the outstanding documentation.
•     Update the list of all applicants and create a database for those with provisional and full accreditation status.
•     Contact the relevant offices at the municipality to confirm ownership and the correctness of supplied documentation.
•     Verify the correctness of submitted documentation.
•     File and keep record of all correspondence with service providers/ students/ SAPS/ Mangaung Metro and all other parties.
•     Follow up on updated reports from the police/neighbourhood watch for the specific area.
•     Follow up regarding the withdrawal of accreditation by applicants and provide them with the correct information on the reapplication for accreditation.
• Communication:
•     Respond and send emails to all accredited addresses managed by Off-Campus Accommodation Service Providers.
•     Answer the phone; deal with enquiries relating to accredited Off-Campus Accommodation addresses and take massages.
•     Liaise with potential Off-Campus Accommodation Service Providers.
•     Deliver (via email)    correspondence and documentation    to potential    Off-Campus Accommodation Service Providers for accreditation.
•     Set up meetings with all Service Providers of accredited addresses and the Mangaung Metro.
•     Contact service providers with incomplete application forms and supporting documentation.
•     Inspection:
•     Conduct inspections for off-campus accommodation properties to ensure compliance with the report on the Ministerial Committee for the review of the provision of Student Housing at South African Universities (September 2011), Municipal Laws and Bi-Laws.
•     Ensure that all inspections are conducted as per the inspection checklist provided by the Officer for off-campus accommodation.
•     Compile a report for each inspection conducted and its findings.
•     Compile monthly summary report on the outcome of the inspections conducted.

Inherent requirements:

•     Grade twelve (12) or Vocational Certificate on NQF level 4. 

Recommendations:

•     One (1) year’s relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.
•     B-Tech degree on NQF level 7 or a 3-year National Diploma on NQF level 6.
•     Experience in building inspections.
•     Experience in construction projects.
•     Experience interpreting building plans
•     Basic knowledge of relevant building legislation
•     Basic knowledge of rezoning / consent use protocols

Competencies
Required competencies: 
    Results orientated:

•     The ability to set high standards, establish tough goals, and to work to achieve success.
•     The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.

    Strategic thinking:

•     The ability to plan work and to follow plans.

    Business acumen:

•     The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
•     Proficient in using MS Office.

    Leading:

•     The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
•     The ability to be cooperative with others, display good-natured attitude, and encourage people to work together.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Maintain comprehensive UFS Institutional Repositories aimed at increasing the visibility, accessibility, and discoverability of its research/scholarly output.
• Collect research/scholarly output to be shared and preserved (Theses, dissertations, inaugural lectures, public and memorial lectures, etc.).
• Advocate for and create awareness about Open Scholarship (open access publishing, accredited journals, predatory journals, copyright).
• Provide technical support for scholarly communications (Open Access - DSpace, Online Journal System - OJS, ORCID researcher ID system, data repository - Figshare).
• Responsible for maintenance and administration of Open Access scholarly communications publication platforms (Open Journal Systems. Open Monograph Press, Open Conference Systems).
• Support and train Postgraduate Students and Supervisors.
• Support researchers in all stages of the research data cycle (Planning, collection, analysis, sharing and archiving).
• Increase the visibility of the UFS LIS in the academic programme of the University through the planning and celebration of Open Access Week as the Library’s flagship project.
• Build strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Benchmark with colleagues in the open science movement and enhance operations on this trend.
• Contribute towards the enhancement of LibGuides on open science services.
• Present a quarterly report at the end of each term by extracting data from all these

platforms to demonstrate the impact of the UFS research output globally.

• Responsible for the overall management of the university’s research output by uploading the UFS research output on KovsieScholar to increase the visibility and access to the research output.
• Keep track of the latest research publication as funded by the LIS.
• Keep abreast with the latest Dspace developments to be in line with the best practice.
• Collaborate with library research support teams.
• Responsible for the management of the stakeholders in the research cycle.
• Manage the library workflow for uploading of the research data on Figshare (Data Repository).
• Assist the university community with Research Data Management Plan (RDMP).
• Contribute to continuous development and review of Research Data Management Policy in line with international best practices.
• Contribute data in the review of Masters and Doctoral programmes.
• Equip postgraduate students and researchers with information and research skills required for scholarly publication.
• Support and equip researchers with knowledge and skills for data curation.
• Support researchers with skills and knowledge about intellectual property rights e.g., Copyright and licensing.
• Support researchers on compliance with the University’s and funding agency's (such as NRF) expectations, policies, and legal requirements.
• Train researchers on research data management plans and tools.
• Guide researchers on how to find and reuse existing data collected by other researchers.
• Create relevant metadata in line with the approved metadata schema on different repositories.
• Conduct quality control of metadata in cases of self-submission by patrons.

Inherent requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science: B.Bibl on NQF level 7or Equivalent (Any degree plus a Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies).
• Three (3) to four (4) years’ relevant experience.
• 2023 LIASA membership certificate.     

Recommendations:

• A qualification in ICT would be an added advantage.
• Working knowledge of DSpace.
• Knowledge of Library and Information Science as a profession.
• Knowledge of the academic world.
• Knowledge of Information Communication and Technology.
• Management of human resources management.
• Benchmarking knowledge and skills.
• Conducting users’ needs surveys.
• Knowledge of Open Access movement and publishing.
• Knowledge of Online Journal Publishing.
• Knowledge of library management systems (Sierra).
• Knowledge of Copyright Legislation.
• Knowledge of data curation and management.
• Advanced computer literacy.
• Training and presentation skills.
• Report, proposals and articles writing skills.
• Quality control and assessment of services.
• Honours degree/Postgraduate Diploma on NQF level 8.
• experience within the higher education environment.
• knowledge of university systems, policies, procedures.
• Member of a or registration at a professional body.

Competencies
Required competencies:

Results Orientated:

• The ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

Strategic Thinking:

• The ability to focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner.
• The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading:

• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude, and encourage people to work together.
• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others.

Building Coalitions:

• The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

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Duties and responsibilities:

•    Resolve and/or report on patients' needs or issues.
•    Monitor and record data accurately regarding patients' conditions; document all provided care services.
•    Function well during stressful situations to palliative care needs of patients and their families based palliative care principles.
•    Delegate and administer workloads as needed by the team.
•    Follow all care regulations and standards.
•    Work within and cooperate with a multidisciplinary team to achieve the best patient care possible.
•    Guide the teams at the down referral hubs on the social worker component of care and report to the core team (Pl's, project manager and M&E officer of the grant on the processes).
•    Teach and train students and community care workers in palliative care.

Inherent Job Requirements:

•    Bachelor's degree on NQF level 7 in Social Work.
•    Current Registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
•    Significant experience working as a social worker in the professional setting (more than 5 years).
•    Experience in the management of patients in the palliative care setting (more than 2 years).
•    Evidence of continued learning to maintain proficiency of professional and technical emerging knowledge specific in palliative care.

Recommendations:

•    Qualifications in teaching and training.
•    Experience in teaching and training.
•    Exceptional problem solving, prioritising, and multitasking skills.

Competencies
Key Competencies Required:

   Results orientated:

•          The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
•          The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

   Strategic thinking:

•          The ability to focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner. 
•          The ability to plan work and to follow plans.

   Business acumen:

•          The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
•          Proficient in using MS Office.
•          Palliative Care principles and policies 
•          Teaching

   Leading:

•          The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others.
•          The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

   Building coalitions:

•          The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.
•          The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people. 

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Duties and responsibilities:

Academic development and project support

• ​​​​    Provide assistance regarding the preparation of all multimedia content development and production activities (e.g. studio set up and preparation).
•     Maintain a working relationship with internal and external stakeholders pertaining to multimedia content development and production.
•     Responsible for the support and training of academic and support staff (both internal and external to UFS) in the use of multimedia technology.

Operate and maintain multimedia equipment. 

•     Operate studio cameras, sound equipment and cables, microphones, lighting equipment, other studio equipment and recording/web streaming equipment for live broadcasts, pre-recorded broadcasts and other media projects.
•     Provide technical support on location and in studio in the multimedia production.
•     Responsible for the editing of all audio and video material for distribution to clients via various methods.
•     Responsible to maintain industry best practices for programming, delivery of content, facility use and multimedia production. 
•     Keep a clear record of all multimedia and audio-visual equipment (asset management).
•     Responsible for all routine/basic maintenance of all multimedia equipment.

Administration

•     Update time and production sheet (e.g. time management).
•     Book out the production equipment.
•     Responsible for report writing and written feedback regarding the production and post-production.
•     Research and keep up with industry trends and practices.

Self-development 

•     Research on industry best practices for multimedia content development and production.
•     Play an active role in self-development and training. 

Inherent Job Requirements:

•     A 3-year National Diploma on NQF level 6 in Information Technology or Multimedia.
•     Two (2) years’ relevant work experience in multimedia content development and production and handling and maintaining audio visual equipment. 
•     Valid driver’s license (to drive to different off-campus production locations). 

Recommendations:

•     Experience in a higher education environment will be advantageous.

Competencies
Key Competencies Required:

    Results orientated:

•     The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
•     The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

    Strategic thinking:

•     The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
•     The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

    Business acumen:

•     Ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
•     Proficient in using MS Office.
•     Good computer skills including, but not limited to, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
•     Good communication skills (verbal and written)

    Leading:

•     The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
•     Ability to be cooperative with others, display good-natured attitude, and encourage people to work together.

    Building coalitions:

•     The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
•     The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

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Duties and responsibilities:

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO:

•     Conduct innovative research in the following areas: on the theory and practice of Internationalisation of Higher Education and Comparative and International Education;
•     Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET-accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books. The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report;
•     Initiate projects and seek funding for them; and
•     Register and reside as postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Centre for Graduate Support and the Directorate of Research Development.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

•     Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State. 
•     Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
•     Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
•     Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the Bloemfontein for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.

Terms of fellowship: 

• The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report. 
• Register as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities in the Office for International Affairs.

Value of the fellowship:

•     R 240 000 annual fellowship 
•     R 30 000 additional research expenses fund 

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Responsible for the digitisation of the short loan collection.
• Responsible for digitisation of the reserved shelve collection.
• Responsible for the digitisation of articles from hard cover journals for ease of use by the university community.
• Upload journal articles on the hosting platform for future use by library users.
• Upload the digitised chapters on the E-course reserve platform applying the fair use and copyright legislations.
• Ensure that only 10% of the book is uploaded on the platform for a specified period in line with DALRO requirements
• Update the departmental reserve in collaboration with the academics and relevant faculty/information librarian.
• Market the E-course reserve user guide to the library users.
•  Keep statistics of referrals to the E-course reserve platform.
• Inform academics of the uploaded chapters in collaboration with the relevant faculty/information librarians.
• Ensure, in collaboration with the Virtual librarian, that the E-course reserve platform is available to the authorised university users 24 hours and in line with the request by the academic.
• Ensure that there are usage guidelines on platform for information for the end user.
• Process barcodes and 3M RFID tags using the staff workstation model 946 and verify the presence of a sensitized 3M Tattle-Tape Security Strip.
• Program and tag books using frequency-based technology and microchip technology to keep track of the circulation status of the library items.
• Use Bibliotheca staffConnect conversion software to check whether the item(s) is RFID enabled and blank and reprogram tags if they are not working correctly.
• Use the Digital library Assistant to ensure screening and complete book collection on the shelves for inventory control, search for books that have been mis shelved, and search for individual books that have been requested.
• Train new colleagues at circulation on the use digitisation system.
• Present during the innovative Wednesday the experience of using digitizing e-course reserves.
• Create various multimedia to be share on different LibGuides on how the process of digitisation of specific information resources including e-course reserves is conducted.
• Create awareness during library orientation of the role that e-course reserves play within the teaching and learning ecosystem.
• Download and present the statistics on usage in a quarterly report.
• Market the Library App to users.
• Demonstrate to the users with downloading the mobile App on their devices.
• Utilise the QR code on the library banner to assist the users to access the mobile App.
•  Demonstrate the circulations features to the users.
• Keep record of users assisted with the mobile App daily.
• Collaborate with faculty librarians, the quality control officer to develop the evaluation tool for the App.
• Report bugs or issues encountered on the App to the LIS IT manager.
• Demonstrate to the users in accessing books on the shelves using the App.
• Assist users with reserving book using the App.
• Create awareness amongst the library patrons about the library app.
• Offer on the spot assistance with library PIN.
• Guide library patrons with expired credentials.
• Train library patrons with simplified access issues.
• Demonstrate to students and staff how to check out and check in items using the Bibliotheca 1000 self-check machine.
• Ensure that the self-checkout receipt printer is functioning on daily basis and correct fields are displayed on a patron’s receipt.
• Add library marketing materials on the self-check machine to display on the screen.
• Assist with the development of self-help videos on how to utilise the self-checkout machines.
• Ensure that the machines are operational on daily basis and report if not functioning well.
• Collect books 3 times from the RFID beacon-enabled book drop boxes per day.
• Pack the books on trolleys for shelve readiness.
• Keep inventory of RFID staff workstations up to date.
• Train new library patrons on how to individually operate the system.
• Present during the library orientation to the new students the role that is played by the self-checkout system.
• Create ongoing awareness to all library patrons about how to execute various activities.
• Report about the malfunctioning of the self-checkout system.
• Present statistics on the number of library patrons assisted during a specific quarter.
• Provide first-line support for ICT-related queries to library staff via telephone, email, or face-to-face.
• Establish a good working relationship with staff, students, professionals, and stakeholders.
• Resolve computer-related issues and provide excellent customer service to both staff, students, and researchers (uploading/downloading files, navigating web pages, signing up for email, scanning documents or photos, etc. – in a proactive manner).
• Work continuously on allocated operational tasks until completion.
• Test and evaluate new technology in the library.
• Create and maintain user and administrative guides.
• Transfer digital tools and library systems knowledge to the staff and students through virtual training, videos, and webinars.
• Troubleshoot basic issues with Makerspace equipment.
• Assist patrons on some Makerspace equipment and projects.
• Refer customers to senior staff or Library ICT for more complex questions.
• Keep supplies (i.e., button drawers, vinyl, glue etc) well-stocked.
• Keep record of all IT equipment present in the client computing environment.
• Provide leadership and oversight to our growing Makerspace program.
• Ensure processes are maintained to safeguard against data loss and to provide business confidence and assurance in data integrity.
• Participate in a range of activities and projects in for Library ICT, Digital Scholarship Center and Makerspace.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• National Diploma on NQF level 6 in ICT or a B-Tech degree on NQF level 7.
• One (1) year relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• IT experience of operating systems, programming languages, as well as web technologies.
• Knowledge of HTML.
• High level computer proficiency with regard to general and library applications.
• Knowledge of information technology applications and software.

Competencies
Key Competencies Required:

    Results Orientated: 

•    The ability to set high standards, establish tough goals, and to work to achieve success. 

    Strategic Thinking:

•     The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.

    Business Acumen:

•    Proficient in using MS Office.

    Leading: 

•   The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude, and encourage people         to work together.