Director (Associate Professor / Professor) at Vaal University of Technology

Introduction:

• The Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the Vaal University of Technology is seeking to appoint a highly qualified and experienced academic in the field of renewable and alternative energy. We are looking for a committed scholar and innovative thinker who will bring academic excellence, industry relevance, and research leadership to this critical area.
• The ideal candidate will possess a strong track record in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, coupled with an active research portfolio in areas such as solar, wind, bioenergy, hydrogen, or energy systems integration.
• This position presents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of sustainable energy solutions while preparing the next generation of engineers to tackle global energy challenges. The position will focus on linking our research contribution and engineering solutions to tackle community challenges and environmental issues.

Key performance areas include but are not limited to:

• Research and Innovation: Provide research leadership with proven expertise in a specialised area aligned with the research centre’s focus on Alternative Energy; develop research capacity to enhance research outputs within the Electrical Engineering Department and within the Faculty; develop and promote postgraduate study and supervise postgraduate research projects; supervise Master's/Doctoral students.
• Post Graduate Students Assistance: Provide academic leadership in post graduate students in proposal writing; Manage and monitor student learning activities to ensure successful completion of qualifications; Manage, monitor and assess practical/workshop research activities; Initiate collaboration with national and international academics for joint teaching and research projects;
• Contribute to the department’s postgraduate research programmes; Guide to post graduate staff and students in obtaining vertical qualifications.
• Teaching and Learning: Be responsible for teaching and learning in courses across all programs within the Faculty. Participate in the continuous development of electrical engineering curricula at all NQF levels
• Industry Relationship Building: Liaise with industry, professional bodies, and education institutions nationally and internationally regarding postgraduate issues.
• Research Workshops: In collaboration with the Research Directorate, coordinate research workshops for staff and students. Organise and arrange Faculty research colloquiums and supervisor training.
• Community Engagement / Niche Research Focus Area: Build and strengthen community engagement initiatives in the department by creating research focus areas linked with community engagement; Provide leadership in the development of the Faculty’s research niche areas (especially in renewable energy and green technologies);
• Enhance the participation of the different centres in the Faculty towards community-based projects. Coordinating the involvement of students and researchers in realising engineering projects and engineering solutions towards community development, the Institute's community engagement initiatives in collaboration with F’SASEC aim to enhance participants’ employability and address community needs.
• Administration and Leadership: Provide leadership for the Centre of Alternative Energy (CAE),
• Attend SENATE and related academic and research committee meetings; Participate in the development of R&D and T&L strategies for the Faculty and CAE including operational plans and monitor implementation thereof; Manage administrative tasks including but not limited to post graduate student registration, enrolment and research monitoring; Service on institutional research committees; Maintain the Faculty knowledge management system to support research and development.
• Research Funding and Third-Stream Income: Target and source research funding opportunities institutionally, regionally and internationally- includes core funding, agency funding and competitive funding including contract funding and third-stream income (for example short learning programmes, promote consultation, etc.); Plan and manage the research budget of CAE; Facilitate the commercialisation of research outputs, in line with the VUT and national imperatives
• Professional Development: Maintain a solid record of research output and scholarship. Produce relevant, accredited research outputs annually. Present papers at targeted national and internal conferences.

APPLICATION CRITERIA :

Minimum requirements ;

Qualifications and Experience:

• First degree, Master's and Doctoral in Electrical Engineering Power, Electronics Engineering,
• Mechatronics with highly demonstrated expertise in renewable energy and green technology.
• Registration in the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) at Professional Engineering Level.
• NRF rating is an advantage
• Minimum 3 years of experience in managing a research entity.
• Minimum 10 years of academic experience;
• Satisfying VUT’s requirements for either associate professorship or full professorship levels;
• Evidence of a high level of discipline expertise (renewable energy and green technology);
• Proven record of attracting external funding in renewable energy and green technology;
• Proven record of student supervision (Master's and PhD levels) in renewable energy;
• Proven record of high-impact research outputs in renewable energy and green technology;
• Proven record of peer mentorship and staff development;
• Proven research output and publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Experience in curriculum design and development; and
• Proven record of research culture improvement.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; Excellent teaching and research skills; Excellent managerial, organising and administrative skills; Competence in project management and resource management; Conceptual skills; Analytical ability / Statistical literacy;
• Interpersonal skills, conflict management, negotiating and networking; Problem solving skills; Knowledge of national, international and institutional research bodies and policies; Knowledge of Higher Education quality assurance and assessment systems; Specialised knowledge of relevant faculty disciplines; general academic policies and procedures, specifically as it relates to research

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 07 August 2026