Job Details

The Executive Director’s primary responsibility is to lead and advance the University of the Free State’s institutional advancement agenda. This will require a sharp focus on developing and expanding a sustainable philanthropic base through alumni engagement, corporate partnerships, foundation support, international development funding, and government relations. In support of these objectives, the role integrates strategic communication, marketing, and student recruitment efforts to strengthen the University’s visibility, attract investment, and build long-term stakeholder relationships. Through these initiatives, the Executive Director plays a central role in positioning UFS as a well-governed, innovative, and globally competitive institution committed to excellence in African higher education.

The following portfolios report to the Executive Director:
•    Institutional Advancement
•    Communication and Marketing
•    Student Recruitment

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Fundraising Development:
•    Expand the university’s international fundraising footprint, with a focus on high-impact relationships in different global regions. 
•    Build and steward relationships with multilateral agencies, embassies, and development aid organisations to unlock funding opportunities for key university projects. 
•    Build a culture of philanthropy within the UFS community and provide executive-level leadership on fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
•    Develop and manage comprehensive fundraising plans to secure philanthropic investments for strategic university priorities, including research, infrastructure, scholarships, and community engagement.
•    Cultivate and steward High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), foundations, corporate donors, and government funding agencies.
•    Support the establishment and growth of regular giving programmes.
•    Develop donor pipelines through prospect research and alumni engagement.
•    Lead the drafting of grant proposals, funding applications, and donor reports that communicate institutional impact and vision.
•    Ensure that communication, marketing, and recruitment initiatives align with and support fundraising and advancement goals.
•    Build strategic partnerships with corporate, governmental, and multilateral stakeholders to secure long-term investment and collaboration.
•    Represent the University at national and international forums to advocate for higher education funding and strategic alliances.

Alumni engagement and Global Network Building: 
•    Lead the University of the Free State’s alumni engagement strategy, strengthening relationships with alumni. 
•    Support the expansion of alumni chapters, providing networks that benefit both alumni and current students. 
•    Cultivate alumni as volunteers, mentors, and ambassadors for the university, ensuring they contribute time, talent, and treasure to the institution. 

Communication, Marketing and Branding:
•    Provide strategic oversight of the University’s marketing and communication functions to build brand awareness and promote UFS as a globally competitive institution.
•    Direct the development of impactful content across multiple platforms, including digital media, publications, and institutional campaigns.
•    Ensure consistent messaging that enhances the institution’s visibility and reputation among internal and external stakeholders, including donors and alumni.
•    Align communication strategies with student recruitment, advancement, and institutional objectives.

Student Recruitment:
•    Guide the strategic direction of student recruitment, ensuring that marketing and communication efforts support enrolment targets and transformation goals.
•    Integrate recruitment messaging into broader advancement efforts to attract diverse, high-performing students locally and internationally.
•    Monitor market trends and demographic shifts to refine recruitment strategies and promote the UFS brand in priority regions.

Operational and Financial Management:
•    Oversee budget planning and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with donor intent, grant agreements and ethical fundraising principles. 
•    Collaborate with finance, legal, and governance structures to ensure transparency and accountability in all advancement activities. 

​​Inherent Job Requirements

•    A postgraduate qualification in business, communications, marketing, international relations, or a related field.
•    Eight (8) years’ progressive leadership in major gifts, global fundraising, and resource mobilisation, preferably in higher education. 
•    Demonstrable success in leading major fundraising campaigns and securing high-level donor commitments.

Key Competencies:

•    Results-orientation:
-    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.
-    The ability to be resilient and work effectively under pressure.
-    The ability to display well-reasoned decision-making.
-    The ability to hold critical conversations as a means of achieving mutually desired goals.  
•    Strategic thinking:
-    The ability to develop strategy and operationalise strategy into plans and projects.
-    The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
-    The ability to be creative and open-minded.
•    Business acumen:
-    Exceptional strategic communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.
-    The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
•    Leadership:
-    The ability to mobilise and inspire others towards shared goals.
-    The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
-    The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 
•    Building coalitions:
-    The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and persuade others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.
-    The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll. 

***The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.***

Required Documents

To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements, as well as the following standard documentation:

•    A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
•    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 ID or passport for foreign nationals).

Assumption of duties
01 January 2026.

Closing date
13 June 2025.

Salary
The salary is available on request.

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

Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact the Acting Senior Director: Human Resources, Ms Ratsoane at 051 401 9383 or email ratsoanems@ufs.ac.za. In addition, kindly contact 051 401 9329 or vermaakm@ufs.ac.za for assistance.

General
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: EEA13_EE Plan UFS 1 March 2022 (003).pdf.

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.