Head: Graduate Support Hub - Department of Research and Innovation at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

Job Purpose
To contribute towards the achievement of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) strategic goals. In addition, the position manages the provision of academic and administrative support to postgraduate students to “enhance access and successful student learning”, which is one of UP’s strategic goals.

Responsibilities
The successful candidate's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Academic support to postgraduate students:

• Developing and implementing postgraduate academic support strategic plans that cater for all faculties at UP, in line with the overarching UP strategic plan;
• Facilitating the completion of postgraduate degree programmes within the stipulated minimum periods for the specific degree programmes;
• Managing a postgraduate help desk that provides a one-stop-shop for postgraduate information and support. The help desk facilitates the provision of academic support that addresses challenges that may not be addressed by formal academic curricula;

Graduate one-stop-shop/centre:

• Partnering with, and supporting professional service departments leading postgraduate recruitment for the University in line with the overarching UP strategic plan, the University’s five year plans and annual academic plans;
• Spearheading the development and maintenance of a web-based one-stop information portal for prospective and current students;
• Spearheading consultations with faculties and departments through relevant stakeholders responsible for research;

Postgraduate bursaries and scholarship:

• Overseeing the management and administration of a portfolio of bursaries and scholarships aimed at enhancing access to quality higher education at UP;
• Implementing an effective and transparent application, selection, and awarding process;

Postdoctoral fellowship programmes:

• Overseeing and supervising the administration of postdoctoral fellowships that account for millions of rand per year;
• Spearheading quality assurance and quality control of the entire portfolio implementation, from efficient application and review processes to comprehensive reporting systems and impact analysis;
• Compiling reports covering the different postdoctoral fellowships;

External funds for postgraduate scholarships an research:

• Facilitating grant applications for external funds to enhance access to education at UP and capacity development;
• Providing support to faculties and departments directly or through the applicable stakeholders e.g. UP Department of Institutional Advancement;

Human Resources management:

• Confirming and formalizing the approved delegated responsibilities through job descriptions and procedure manuals;
• Managing and maintaining an effective performance management system to develop and enhance the performance of individuals, teams and the division;
• Attending to grievances according to prescribed Grievance Procedure guidelines;
• Managing the complete process of recruitment, selection and placement of staff;
• Managing the work allocation model for all staff within the section;

Financial and administration management:

• Managing budgets for operational activities (telephone, courier, stationery, travel etc.);
• Approving divisional procurements.

Minimum Requirements

• A PhD degree in a relevant field; with
• A total of eight years’ experience, of which three year in management, in:

1. Teaching at university level;
2. Conducting research (qualitative and qualitative);
3. Supervising postgraduate students;
4. Managing research projects;
5. Capacity building of researchers.

Required Competencies (skills, Knowledge And Behavioural Attributes)

Knowledge:

• Research methodologies;
• Higher education landscape;
• Research funding and grant applications;
• Plagiarism, copyright and intellectual property rights;
• Research and development;
• Research ethics;

Technical:

• Qualitative research;
• Qualitative research;
• Use of statistical software (e.g. STATISTICA, SPSS);
• Used of qualitative data analysis software (Nvivo, Atlas.ti);
• Use of reference management software (e.g. Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero);
• Use of plagiarism software (e.g. Turnitin, Grammarly);
• Written and verbal communication skills;

Behavioural competencies:

• Interpersonal skills;
• Leadership skills;
• Team building;
• Capacity building;
• Motivational skills;
• Stress tolerance;
• Decision making;
• Critical thinking.

Added Advantages And Preferences

• Postgraduate qualifications in Higher Education [e.g. Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education PGDip(HE)];
• A total of two years’ experience in:

1. Publishing in peer-reviewed journals;
2. Publishing a book on research methodology;
3. Conducting research with patentable inventions;

• A valid driver’s license (Essential).

Closing Date: 17th, July 2022