Overview
Head of department: Faculty Natural and Agricultural Sciences (EKE326)
Bloemfontein
R900 000 – R1030 000 per annum
Plus annual allowance R54 000
(5 year term)
Educational:
PhD in Environmental Management/Science or a related discipline that will enhance the duties and responsibilities described above.
Demonstrable leadership experience.
Proven experience in post-graduate teaching, supervision and mentorship of postgraduate students.
Proven ability to build strategic partnerships and networks.
Organisational and administrative skills to manage the University’s processes for postgraduate teaching, research and student supervision.
An NRF rating or demonstrate potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals.
Proven experience in the supervision of graduated masters’ students and preferable doctoral students.
Experience as external examiner for masters and doctoral students.
Proven recognition as an invited peer-reviewer or member of the editorial board of accredited journals.
Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society or committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels
Consistent and prolong track-record of managing research programs and obtaining research funding from national and international sources
Proven experience in delivering keynote addresses at national scholarly conferences.
Duties and responsibilities:
Perform administrative/managerial responsibilities as Academic Head of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM).
Engage in research supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and Doctorate level.
Conduct and publish interdisciplinary research concerning current and relevant aspects of environmental management.
Generate external funding for research projects.
Contribute to postgraduate programmers through teaching and curriculum design.
Oversee the development of a new postgraduate qualification in environmental management or related discipline.
Engage in knowledge exchange and cooperation with academic institutions within the continent and internationally.
Actively promote engagement with stakeholders in the local community.
Assist in providing service to the faculty and the institution through committee work as and when it is required.
Additional duties applicable to the role of the Academic Head of Department:
Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the discipline vis-à-vis competing international entities.
The Academic Head of Department is directly responsible for:
Directing the academic debate in the department; Influencing the department’s overall climate and culture; Energising everybody in the department and beyond; and Shaping the future of the department.
Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students and activities, mentoring and motivating staff, structuring, and exercising overall control.
Create an atmosphere of consensus among staff.
Responsible for effective internal and external communication.
The Academic Head of Department is pivotal in linking the department’s staff and students with the University’s management and administration through communication, negotiation and consultation.
Active participation and involvement in faculty management structures, attending meetings, leading project teams, representing the department and faculty, and fulfilling the roles of liaison officer and marketer, when necessary.
Active participation and involvement in applicable management structures, e.g. Senate
Initiate, formulate and implement a visionary academic strategy for the department that is aligned with and supportive to the guiding strategic documents of the University and faculty.
Ensure –
The provision of top-quality, research-informed facilitation of learning at all levels of teaching in the department;
Relevance of content, material and presentation in all modules;
The enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates;
Adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
Adherence to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department.
Quality and timely feedback on student work;
Proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under-and-postgraduate students in the department; and
The revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in the fraternity.
Create and maintain a –
Visionary research strategy for the department; and
Environment that encourages research, leading to strong and active research habits and a culture of inquiry.
Ensure that –
Every academic staff member is engaged in quality driven and discipline specific research;
Postgraduate students are recruited to broaden the research base of the department; and
Ethical requirements are met.
Guide and support Senior Academics towards acquiring NRF ratings.
Engage actively with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
Build and effective team of scholars through:
Planning and implementing a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department;
Planning and implementing a clear and reasonable career path for every staff member in the department, taking account of the strategic plans of the University, faculty and department;
Appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed;
Managing staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures;
Recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours;
Creating and maintaining a scholarship-friendly environment in the department; and
Planning an overseeing effective and relevant staff development.
Responsible for the ultimate responsibility in terms of financial management which culminates:
Annual budgeting; Financial planning; Allocation of funds; and Financial control.
Adherence to financial policies and procedures.
Encourage and actively support academic staff members to apply for external research and other grants.
Please email CV to recruitment@kontak.co.za and Quote EKE326 in the subject line
Or apply online at https://goo.gl/RxU1zX
