STUDENTS AFFAIRS OFFICER

The Students Affairs Officer position at Owen Sithole College of Agriculture (OSCA) is a central administrative and student support role within a public agricultural college. Operating at a Level 08 salary grade, this post is responsible for managing the entire student journey, from initial recruitment and registration through to orientation, welfare, and ongoing development. The successful candidate will work within the college’s academic environment, ensuring that students receive the necessary guidance, residential care, health services, and support to succeed in their studies. Because this is a public service position, the role also requires a solid understanding of the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing both higher education and the public administration sector.

To be eligible, applicants must possess an NQF Level 06 qualification in Public Administration or Financial Management, together with a valid driver’s licence. A minimum of three years’ experience in an academic institution environment is required. The role demands a deep working knowledge of academic institution courses and rules, student academic requirements, the student funding formula, and institutional policies and procedures. In addition, candidates must be familiar with the RSA Constitution, the Public Service Act, the Public Administration Management Act, Public Service Regulations, the PFMA, EPMDS, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and project management principles. This broad legal and procedural knowledge is essential for advising students, contributing to policy development, and ensuring compliance across all student affairs functions.

The position calls for a versatile skill set, including strong interpersonal relations, computer literacy, organizational development, leadership, business management, time management, report writing, problem solving, communication, conflict management, and change management. The incumbent must be self-disciplined and able to work under pressure with minimum supervision, while also demonstrating project management, decision making, facilitation and presentation, negotiation, policy analysis, and financial management capabilities. These skills will be applied to a range of core duties: facilitating student recruitment, registration, and orientation processes; coordinating student welfare, residential, health, and support services; facilitating student development programmes; providing advice and guidance while contributing to policies and guidelines; and managing the staff and resources assigned to the component.

This is a demanding role suited to a proactive and organised individual who can balance administrative responsibilities with direct student engagement. As with all public service vacancies, there are important conditions attached. Shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise to determine suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements, and an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment. Applicants with foreign qualifications must have them evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Manual applications must be submitted on the prescribed Z83 form, which must be fully completed, signed, and initialled, and accompanied by a comprehensive CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide certified copies of qualifications and other supporting documents on or before the day of the interview. The closing date and detailed application instructions are set out in the full advertisement, and applicants who have not been contacted within three months of the closing date should assume that their application was unsuccessful.