SENIOR MANAGER: STUDENT HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE

University of Fort Hare; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Fort Hare seeks a Senior Manager: Student Housing and Residence Life to lead housing operations across UFH campuses. You will oversee admissions, allocations, occupancy, and wellbeing services, ensuring safety and compliance with DHET norms.

The role requires extensive experience in higher education, budgeting, and staff leadership, with a focus on data-driven governance and student development. A strong commitment to academic success is essential.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Business Administration or related field.
• Eight years of working experience minimum.
• Three years of managerial experience in higher education.
• Strong knowledge of ITS and budgeting.
• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide institution-wide leadership for student housing and residence life.
• Oversee admissions, allocations, occupancy, and waiting-list processes.
• Coordinate maintenance, safety, emergency and wellbeing services.
• Manage contracts with private providers and external suppliers.
• Establish data-driven governance and reporting for residence operations.

Skills

Budgeting

Student development theory

Strategic leadership

Data-driven governance

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Business Admin or related field

Master's degree in relevant field

Job description

SENIOR MANAGER: STUDENT HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE

27 Sep 2026 - 11 Oct 2026

Permanent

EC000835

Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape

Since its bold founding in 1916, the University of Fort Hare has embodied courage, resilience, and the pursuit of transformation. From its proud legacy as a cradle of African leadership and intellectual liberation to its continued determination to overcome contemporary challenges, the Univeristy of Fort Hare’s spirit of renewal endures. The University has been steadily advancing its transformative journey over the years — the Decade of Renewal, marked by accountability, innovation, and academic excellence.

Located in the heart of the Eastern Cape, the University of Fort Hare offers more than just a place to work; it offers a purpose. Here, you can help shape the future of one of South Africa’s most historic and culturally rich institutions, while enjoying the province’s natural beauty, sense of community, and space for professional growth.

Are you ready to be part of this journey and help reposition this iconic institution to the place it so richly deserves?

Applications are invited from visionary and committed professionals ready to make a lasting impact in the University’s ongoing renewal.

STUDENT AFFAIRS DIVISION

SENIOR MANAGER: STUDENT HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE

Permanent

UFH Advert Reference No.: DS 38

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Senior Manager: Student Housing and Residence Life reports to the Executive Director: Student Affairs and provides institution-wide leadership for student accommodation and residence life across UFH campuses. The incumbent will oversee fair admissions and allocations, occupancy, residence operations, student development and discipline, private accommodation accreditation and contract management, and the coordination of maintenance, safety, emergency and wellbeing services. The role must ensure compliance with University policies, the DHET Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing and other applicable requirements, while using reliable data and financial controls to provide safe, inclusive and academically supportive living-learning environments.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Compliance assurance for University-owned, leased and accredited private accommodation, including accessibility, health, hygiene, fire, building, security and occupational-safety requirements.


• Accreditation, contracting, monitoring and enforcement of service standards for private and off-campus accommodation providers.


• Maintenance and facilities coordination through defined emergency, urgent and routine response standards and service-level agreements.


• Fair, transparent and data-controlled admissions, allocations and waiting-list processes, including access for first-year, rural, low-income and disabled students.


• Risk registers, incident and occupancy dashboards, compliance audits and regular performance, financial and governance reporting.


• Student wellbeing, inclusion, emergency support and referral arrangements within residences.


• Living-learning, co-curricular and residence-development programmes that support academic success and graduate attributes.


• Structured engagement with students, residence governance bodies, faculties, service units, private providers, communities and external agencies.


• Strategic leadership, governance, policy implementation and performance management for Student Housing and Residence Life.


• Financial planning, separate residence management accounts, procurement, contract and lease management, and responsible use of housing resources.


• Leadership, staffing, supervision, performance development and training of residence personnel and student residence leaders.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Post Graduate qualification in Business Administration or any related field


• At least eight (8) years’ working experience


• Three years managerial experience in the higher education sector


• Full knowledge of ITS and Budgeting


• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in residential life

ADDED ADVANTAGES

• A relevant Master's degree at NQF Level 9 in Student Affairs, Higher Education Studies, Business or Public Administration, Facilities or Property Management, Human Settlement, or a closely related field.


• Demonstrated knowledge of the DHET Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing, relevant health and safety requirements, residence governance and private-accommodation accreditation.


• Demonstrated experience using housing, occupancy, financial, contract and incident data for operational control and governance reporting.


• At least eight years' relevant experience in student housing, residence life, accommodation operations or a comparable large residential-services environment, including substantial higher-education experience.


• At least four years' management experience with responsibility for staff, budgets, accommodation operations, contracts, facilities coordination, student services and risk.

COMPETENCIES (AS PER THE UNIVERSITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK)

• Business Acumen


• Change Leadership


• Critical Thinking


• Partnering


• Clear communication, negotiation and stakeholder management

REMUNERATION

A competitive remuneration package, commensurate with the seniority of the position, experience and qualifications, will be offered.

ENQUIRIES

Queries regarding job content can be directed to Ms Fungai Matumba on [e-mail] and 043 704 7190.

The University reserves the right to make an appointment or not to fill the post.

Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.

Should you not hear from us within eight weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

University of Fort Hare is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Pursuant to complying with the Employment Equity Act No.55 of 1998, when appointing preference will be given to applicants from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile.