EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: STUDENT SERVICES

University of KwaZulu-Natal; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) invites applications for the Executive Director: Student Services. The role oversees the full student life cycle, including pastoral care, residential life, and student wellbeing, and leads the SSD operations within UKZN’s senior leadership team.

The incumbent will drive student development, employability, and engagement across colleges, campuses and governance bodies, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Closing date 30 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a discipline recognised by UKZN.
• Fifteen years relevant experience, eight at senior management level.
• Knowledge of student funding, financial aid, student discipline, student accommodation and student wellness programmes.
• Experience interacting with student governance in higher education and understanding student culture in a transforming institution.
• Leadership and interpersonal capabilities for institutional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full student life cycle across the University.
• Lead on the student pastoral journey including residential life, extracurricular engagement and student innovations.
• Drive student engagement, including housing, wellness, and student activities.
• Manage the Directorate of Students Services administration and reporting.
• Advocate for students and communicate with stakeholders to promote student success.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Team leadership

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Decision making

Inclusive leadership

Stakeholder relations

Public relations

Education

Master's degree

Job description

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to Employment Equity

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT VACANCY

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is situated in the subtropical seaside city of Durban and in the Midlands city of Pietermaritzburg, capital of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The University is one of the largest residential universities in sub-Saharan Africa and is located on five campuses - Edgewood, Pietermaritzburg, Howard College, Westville, and the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.

UKZN was formed out of a merger between the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal on 1 January 2004 and is one of the leading research-intensive and teaching universities in South Africa and on the continent. As one of South Africa’s pre-eminent research institutions, the University provides a dynamic environment for all facets of research and innovation, covering the spectrum of the natural, biomedical, and social sciences as well as the humanities.

The University is structured on a College model with four Colleges, namely:

• Agriculture, Engineering, and Science;
• Health Sciences;
• Humanities, as well as
• Law and Management Studies.

Noting that all Colleges have a presence on at least three of the University’s five campuses. UKZN offers approximately 2000 academic programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with some 45 000 students and approximately 4000 staff members.

For more information regarding the University profile, please visits our website and feel free to interact with us: http://www.ukzn.ac.za

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: STUDENT SERVICES

FIVE (5) YEAR FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT

RE-ADVERTISMENT

The current context of Higher Education in the South Africa is seeing an increasing focus on the student voice, with funding pressures and competition at a new level. Showing the value of a particular university’s degree and overall offering is more and more critical. In response to this, the University has developed a strategic approach to handling the entire student life cycle that is building on its strengths and positioning it as a leader in the sector. The role of Executive Director (Student Services) will be to oversee the full student life cycle at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, leading on relevant areas including the whole of the student pastoral journey, including student residential life, extracurricular engagement, and student innovations

The Executive Director (Student Services):

• manages the administration of the Directorate of Students Services (SSD) for the University of KwaZulu-Natal,
• serves as an advocate for students, and
• shares information with students, colleagues, and other interested parties that promote student success, and wellbeing.

The incumbent is a full member of the senior leadership team, serves on the Executive Management Committee, and reports to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal. With other members of the Executive Management Committee, the Executive Director- Student Services will lead the creation of a culture of learning and engagement for UKZN students by applying student development theories and learning outcomes that promote students' academic and personal success, thereby increasing UKZN student employability.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A Masters Degree that is in a Discipline that is recognised by the University of
• KwaZulu-Natal.
• Fifteen (15) year of relevant and appropriate experience of which eight (8) need to have been at a Senior management level.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of student funding, financial aid, student discipline, student accommodation and student wellness programmes.
• Experience of interaction with student governance in higher education and an understanding of student culture in a transforming institution.

PERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

The incumbent must be an individual with strong interpersonal capabilities, who is an

institutional leader, able to foster interpersonal relationships within the Colleges and

Professional Services Sector involving staff across the institution and with stakeholders.

In addition, s/he would be expected to have:

• the ability to inspire and motivate;
• proven capabilities as a team leader;
• good negotiating skills, flexibility and open-mindedness;
• outstanding written and oral communication skills for written work, public relations, networking and team building;
• the ability to make considered, well-balanced and reasoned decisions;
• an inclusive and collegial management style;
• the ability to represent the University at formal events and meetings with outside bodies and to establish relationships with stakeholders;
• the ability to understand developments in the Higher Education arena, both nationally and internationally and a high regard for learning and teaching practices, scholarship and research.
• The Ability to communicate in IsiZulu would be advantageous.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Applicants are required to provide:

• a detailed motivation highlighting experience in each of the requirements listed above
• a detailedCV and/ UKZN application form including full record of research, publications and teaching, if applicable
• http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/General_Documents/Application_form_-

_Support.sflb.ashx

• the name, telephone numbers and e-mail address of three (3) referees who are able to confirm the experience listed in the motivation or CV.
• Enquiries regarding the post of Executive Director: Student Services, should be sent for the attention of Ms Sphindile Mvuyana, HR Operations and Services Manager on e-mail: [e-mail]

Please note that

• A job profile is available upon request
• The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 November 2026
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
• The University reserves the right not to make an appointment.