Programme Director-Department Agricultural Economics (Contract Appointment: 5 Years) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• In consultation with the Academic Head of Department (AHD); undertake the following:
• Co-ordinate activities of the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management to ensure they are undertaken in accordance with the policy and regulatory frameworks of the University.
• Assume responsibility for the academic quality of the Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management and co-ordinate changes in the rulebook, prospectuses, and other approved material.
• Provide general academic leadership in the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management and co-ordinate alignment and academic coherence across all various modules of the Learning programmes for Animal Science.
• Manage the curriculum processes of the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management.
• Develop new curricular and/or revise existing curricular for Learning Programmes, when required, in consultation with stakeholders inside and outside the Department.
• Benchmark, develop and manage Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management on a regular and continuous basis.
• Manage the obtaining and maintenance of professional programme accreditation of Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management including co-ordination of site visits of accrediting bodies, external examiners and external reviewers as well as the compilation of related documentation, reports and plans thereof.
• Co-ordinate the development and monitoring of operational and quality enhancement implementation plans of the Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management.
• Motivate and lead staff in the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management to achieve transformation in Teaching and Learning matters within the Programmes.
• Manage regular review and evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management for improvement via means such as user surveys, reviews and impact studies.
• Co-ordinate the use of technology and innovative platforms in the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management (such as Blackboard).
• Manage matters relating to the administration of teaching, learning and students in the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management effectively (such as co-ordination of class, contact session, test and exam timetables, contact sessions for compact learning, student orientation and department days related activities).
• Monitor progress and data on student retention and through put rates in the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management.
• Provide academic advice in terms of academic inquiries, amendments of yearbooks, schedules, timetables, applications, selection, admission, registration etc. related to the Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management.
• Evaluation of applications and conditional acceptance of post-graduate students admitted to the Learning Programmes for Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management and Mixed Farming Management.

Inherent requirements:

• Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Agricultural Economics or Agricultural Management.
• A full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Department: Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State.

Required competencies: 

Results oriented;

• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
• The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

Strategic thinking;

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to plan work and to follow plans.

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading;.

• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 

Building coalitions:

• The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.