DIVISION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE AND EXPERIENCE
VACANCY NO: IRC 3426
The University of Botswana (UB), a premier state-owned tertiary institution dedicated to shaping the future through excellence, research, innovation and meaningful societal impact, invites applications from accomplished and suitably qualified professionals for the position of Head: Student Engagement in the Department of Student Life & Experience.
The Head: Student Engagement is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of programmes and services that enhance overall student experience. This leadership role focuses on fostering student wellness, housing services, development and governance, and Sports Culture and Recreation. The incumbent will work collaboratively with various stakeholders to create a vibrant, supportive and inclusive campus environment.
Duties: The successful candidate will be expected to:
Strategies and Policies: (i) Contribute to the development of university and departmental strategies, policies, plans and procedures, and lead implementation at a sectional level. (ii) Develop and implement Student Engagement level plans in line with the University goals and objectives. (iii) Monitor and evaluate the performance of Student Housing and Engagement operations against established goals and objectives, identifying areas for improvement and recommending corrective action as needed. (iv) Oversee the development and management of ERP and student engagement records. (v) Stay updated with key trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
Housing Operations: (i) Oversee housing assignments, room allocations, and occupancy rates. (ii) Develop comprehensive guidelines for provision of on/off campus student accommodation. (iii) Develop and lead the implementation of the Living and Learning Communities Programmes. (iv) Ensure a healthy and safe living environment for students across all living facilities. (v) Provide guidance and support to students living in university housing, addressing their concerns and needs. (vi) Oversee the development of co-curriculum programs that address areas of welfare. (vii) Liaise with counseling services, health centers, and academic advisors to ensure holistic student support. (viii) Liaise with academic departments to integrate housing-related programmes with the overall student experience.
Sports, Culture and Recreation: (i) Oversee the development and implementation of cultural, sports, and recreational programmes. (ii) Promote and ensure diverse and inclusive culture, sports, and recreation activities. (iii) Ensure that sports and recreational facilities are well-maintained and accessible to all students. (iv) Drive university participation in national, regional and international participation in sporting, cultural and recreational activities.
Student Development and Governance: (i) Lead the development of and support student leadership programmes and governance structures. (ii) Foster student involvement in university governance. (iii) Oversee the development and enforcement of student conduct policies. (iv) Ensure fair and consistent handling of disciplinary matters, fostering a respectful and accountable campus community.
Student Wellness: (i) Oversee the development and implementation of wellness programmes that address various dimensions of well-being, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. (ii) Foster an environment that addresses the diverse needs of students across the university. (iii) Ensure adequate resources are allocated for wellness initiatives and programmes.
Customer and Stakeholder Experience: (i) Provide excellent customer service ensuring client and stakeholder satisfaction. (ii) Establish and maintain partnerships with relevant internal and external stakeholders to enable effective delivery of the departmental mandate, as necessary. (iii) Resolve customer enquiries and issues in a timely and efficient manner. (iv) Identify and address areas of improvement for customer and stakeholder experience.
People Management: (i) Participate in recruitment and ensure retention and development of a diverse team. (ii) Support sectional level professional development activities, including mentoring, training, and opportunities for advancement. (iii) Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to support continuous improvement to employees under supervision. (iv) Engage and discipline staff in accordance with defined human resource management policies and procedures and prevailing labour laws.
Financial Management: (i) Assist with the development of the departmental budget. (ii) Lead the development and management of the Student Engagement budget. (iii) Recommend expenditure in accordance with delegated limits.
Risk Management and Compliance: (i) Develop and manage sectional risk register with clear mitigation strategies. (ii) Coordinate and support internal and external sectional audits as per the University policy. (iii) Address audit findings and recommendations to improve processes and controls. (iv) Ensure sectional compliance with legislative and statutory requirements and (v) Undertake any other duties as directed by the supervisor in line with their role.
Qualifications Requirements: (i) A minimum of a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, Education or any other related field is required; (ii) A PhD will be an added advantage;.
Work Experience: (i) A minimum of eight (8) years' experience, three (3) of which should have been at managerial level (ii) Higher Education experience is required.
Other Requirements: (i) Strong leadership, strategic planning, and budget management skills; (ii) Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities; (iii) Coordinating, organizing and supervisory skills. (iv) Competencies in equity and diversity, transformation and change, emotional intelligence, adaptability, resilience, and flexibility, curriculum development, research methodologies; (iii) Be registered or eligible for registration with a recognized and relevant professional body
Remuneration: the University offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications.
How to apply: Applicants should address the stated qualification and provide any other information to assist the University to determine their suitability for the position. The applicant should quote the vacancy number of the post applied for, provide current CVs (including telephone, and email address), certified true copies of educational certificates, transcripts, and three work-related references.
The application material should be addressed to: The Manager: HR Business Partnering, University of Botswana, Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana, Telephone: (+267) 3552250/2167/2842. E-mail: UBHRrecruitment@ub.ac.bw
Hand-delivered applications should be submitted to the University of Botswana administration building, at the corner of Notwane and Mobuto Road, Block 108 - Office No. 205 (Second floor).
Applicants should inform their referees to:(i) quote the vacancy number; (ii) position applied for, and (iii) submit the references directly to the address stated above before the stipulated closing date:
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date: 14 October 2026