Academic Head of Division at University of the Witwatersrand

Brief Description        

The Division of Plastics and Restorative Surgery in the Department of Surgery, invites suitably qualified Joint staff, interested in being part of a dynamic, growing academic division, to apply for this Academic Headship. This position would be suitable for those with a commitment to academic excellence and educational leadership in a multi-disciplinary environment, exceptional interpersonal skills, capacity for innovative and original thinking, ability to exercise a high degree of personal initiative in organising his/her own responsibilities and a commitment to working to deadlines calmly and efficiently.

Qualifications:

• A medical qualification, registerable with the HPCSA,
• The candidate must be a specialist in Plastic Surgery and a full-time employee within the Wits Teaching platform (Current employees and Joint staff).
• At least 5 years' experience as a Plastic Surgeon,
• At least 5 years’ experience at mid-management level,
• Appropriate teaching and research experience are essential requirements for the position, whereas a PhD would be advantageous.
• The applicant must have demonstrated well-developed proven communication, organizational, problem solving, leadership and project management skills.
• Must have the ability to manage change in the division.
• Management experience, in particular academic activities of postgraduate and undergraduate students is a requirement,
• Be at least at the level of Adjunct or Associate Professor, or qualify to be awarded the academic title, although other Plastic Surgeons, meeting all the above criteria may apply as well.

Duties:

• Lead and manage the discipline across all training facilities,
• Formulate an academic vision and designs and execute both undergraduate and post graduate teaching in line with the vision,
• Strengthen research in the division,
• Provide tools and create an academic environment for optimal teaching and training for all categories of staff (academic and professional) and students, both under – and postgraduate,
• Set teaching, training and research goals in collaboration with other members of the academic and clinical service staff,   
• Formulates assessment tools for all academic programmes,
• Benchmark academic outputs against national performance and identify opportunities to approve,
• Collaborate with clinical heads in improving academic outputs,
• Establish and maintain academic excellence,
• Promote staff development and manage staff performance and assessment within the division,
• Mentor academic and professional staff for promotion in the university,
• Provide support to the divisions that are part of the department,
• Work with divisional heads to ensure sound financial and Human Resources management,
• Encourage collaboration between divisions working across the teaching platforms,
• Chairs academic meetings in the division,
• Attend divisional meetings at each of the academic training facilities,
• Attend division/departmental/faculty and University committee meetings,
• Participate in Faculty Board meetings,
• Contribute to the leadership of cluster A by participating in the management structures,