The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a vibrant, diverse and dynamic university, rooted in the African continent with an increasing global reach. UWC actively responds in critical and creative ways to the development needs of the country, within an ever-changing and challenging global context.

The role of the Human Resources Department is to support the University’s People Framework which presents challenging people deliverables in relation to change and transformation projects and strategies. Transformational leadership is required from all at the University, and the role of HR is both to enable and facilitate processes for continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Director:  HR Service Excellence the successful candidate appointed as Specialist: Employee Wellness will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive and multidimensional employee wellness portfolio and program for the University of the Western Cape, with a balanced emphasis on both organizational and individual wellness. (e.g. nutritional and  physical health, mental/emotional health, financial wellbeing and lifestyle, relationship management and cultural wellness) that is accessible and meets the needs of our employees. The Specialist: Employee Wellness will cultivate health and wellbeing programs and initiatives that align with institutional priorities, health-related data, organizational culture and retention goals.  

Duties will include inter alia:

• Manage a comprehensive wellness programme;
• Management of wellness communication and related information and keep digital platforms relevant and updated;
• Assist in monitoring program budget;
• Engage and assist with intervention programmes including occupational, reasonable accommodation requests and incapacity related matters;
• Facilitate and engage outsourced counselling service and advisory services;
• Advise internal clients, HR Consultants and stakeholders of appropriate interventions and support programmes;
• Responsible for administration and general inquiries relating to staff wellness;
• Assist and drive the development of Wellness Strategy, annual strategic and operational plans and policies;
• Gather and analyse information to determine trends, programme utilisation for decision making purposes;
• Keep abreast of current national wellness initiatives and activities, develop a network of resources and contacts to further expand the Employee Wellness Program;
• Establish a network of professionals and stakeholders that can contribute towards the wellness offering;
• Submission and writing of reports;
• Facilitate workshops and information sessions;
• Actively participate to the activities of the University’s Integrated Talent Management Framework and Institutional Operating Plan.

For the portfolio of Specialist: Employee Wellness, you will be equipped with the following qualifications and attributes:

• An Honours Degree in Industrial Psychology, Social Science, Psychology, Human Resources or related qualification at NQF 8 level;
• 5 years or more experience in the human resources environment and staffing services;
• Registration with a Professional body (SABPP; HPSCA or related);
• Proven experience in development of wellness programmes, stakeholder engagement and facilitation of wellness and related programmes;
• Proven experience in facilitation of programmes/activities relevant to employee wellness; 
• Advanced Digitisation Skills and contribution towards activities in the AI and digital context.

The following would be advantageous:

• Experience in a Higher Education environment.

Competencies Required:

• Advanced communication and presentation Skills;
• Advanced computer and digitisation skills;
• Relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills;
• Sound report writing skills;
• Research and Networking skills.

For further information (but not applications) about this position, please contact Luzuko Masumpa via email at lmasumpa@uwc.ac.za