Registrar’s Responsibility Centre
Centre for Governance, Ethics and Compliance
Business Ethics Officer (Post Level 7)
(Stellenbosch Campus)
Ref. REG/101/0525
The Centre for Governance, Ethics and Compliance at Stellenbosch University (SU) consists of the Institutional Secretariat and Publications, SU Archives, Compliance Office and Office for Business Ethics. The Centre is also responsible for general governance of Statutory Bodies. The Centre reports to the Registrar.
Purpose of the Office for Business Ethics
The Business Ethics Officer will be responsible for the establishment and further development of the Office for Business Ethics Office. This Office is the first point of call in all ethics matters that are not research related. The Business Ethics Officer must provide advice and guidance to internal stakeholders. The main purpose of the Office is to expand the existing ethical culture and to enable internal stakeholders to place ethics at the top of their minds when decisions need to be made.
Duties:
- Establishing and further developing the Ethics Office.
- Developing SU’s ethics statement and ensuring that the Rectorate’s leadership commitment is published annually.
- Responsible for the establishment of the Operational Ethics Committee in consultation with the Deputy Registrar. The Business Ethics Officer will act as secretariat for this committee as well as for the Social and Business Ethics Committee.
- Conducting Ethics Risk Assessments across the institution as a whole.
- Developing an ethics strategy for the approval by the Rectorate, various committees and Council.
- Internally reviewing all ethics-related policies to ensure that they are aligned with the SU ethics strategy.
- Assisting with the review and implementation of the code of ethics (Code 2040).
- Developing and implementing ethical decision-making training, how to deal with ethical dilemmas, how to avoid and/or manage conflicts of interest, and enablingmanagers to train the team members reporting to them.
- Developing and maintaining confidential mechanisms for the handling and processing of complaints and allegations related to ethics or conflicts.
- Promptly investigating complaints and allegations of ethical wrongdoing or conflicts of interest. Preparing written investigative reports as necessary.
- Preparing quarterly reports for management, the Social and Business Ethics Committee, the Audit and Risk Committee (relating to ethics risks) and annual reports to Council.
- Other related responsibilities.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (or NQF 7 equivalent) in a related field.
- Certified Ethics Officer (with accreditation from The Ethics Institute).
- At least five years’ experience in the field of ethics.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build strategic relationships and partnerships.
- A high level of written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply an ethical lens to situations faced by the University.
- Must be an ethical person, with high ethical standards and integrity.
- Detail-orientated with excellent judgement, critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to effectively work in a high-pressured and fast-moving environment with a high premium on client-focused support.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with solid judgement and discretion.
- The ability to liaise pro-actively with internal and external clients and to add value.
- The ability to work independently within a team context in the interests of the greater institution.
- Experience in facilitating ethics workshops and/or training.
Recommendations / Aanbevelings:
- Experience in setting up a new business ethics function and to establish a new office.
- Higher education sector experience.
- Postgraduate qualification.
- Knowledge of King Codes.
- Exposure to ethics committees.
Commencement of duties:
01 August 2025
Closing date:
04 June 2025
Enquiries regarding this post: Ms S van der Bank, Deputy Registrar: Governance, Ethics and Compliance, on 021 808 4581, or at [email protected]
Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch) / 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at [email protected]
Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the EE Plan of the University.
Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.
APPLY ONLINE AT https://www.sun.ac.za/english/careers BY USING THE APPLY NOW LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SPECIFIC VACANCY PAGE.
The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as, but not limited to: noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to be subjected to medical screening, to determine their fitness to work in the said occupations.
Should no feedback be received from the University within four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.
