Senior Lecturer: Ecological Engineering (Job ID: 5682) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities: 

• Provide supervision to postgraduate students, namely Honours, Master’s, and PhD students.
• Lecture on ecological engineering and Nature-based Solutions for postgraduate and undergraduate students.
• Develop short courses in the field of ecological engineering.
• Provide capacity building in Ecological Engineering as recognised discipline within the UFS.
• Champion community and industry interaction and service delivery within the framework of ecology engineering and nature-based solutions.
• Develop and refine curriculum associated with ecological engineering at the master’s level.
• Collaborate with relevant staff members in the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry domain.
• Develop and lead ecological engineering and ecosystem services research projects and interdisciplinary projects with relevant departments in partnership with the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa.
• Conduct research in ecological engineering and deliver quality research outputs in line with the faculty’s research strategy.
• Lead and support processes that foster interactions with a variety of stakeholders in the ecological engineering and ecosystem services policy sectors, including researchers, practitioners, decision-makers from the private and public sectors, and community members.
• Champion external and internal service-rendering and demonstrating social impact within the framework of ecological engineering and nature-based solutions.
• Perform academic administration for undergraduate and postgraduate subjects. This may include typing, setting, and marking all question papers and memorandums, recording marks, moderation, and handling student complaints.
• Serve as a member of various academic committees and perform any other tasks the Dean allocates.

Inherent requirements:

Senior Lecturer

• PhD on NQF Level 10 in a relevant environmental discipline with a strong background in a quantitative and qualitative field of study in ecological engineering.
• Proven experience in presenting papers/posters at national and international scholarly conferences related to ecological engineering.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in ecological engineering.
• An NRF rating or demonstrated potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• Proven experience in supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
• A proven research record of relevant publication/s in national and international accredited scientific journals related to ecological engineering and nature-based solutions. 
• Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society, committee, or agency concerned with ecologically engineered and nature-based research at higher-education levels.
• Proven experience in delivering industry-based projects on ecological engineering, ecologically engineered wetlands, and in relationship with passive Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment.

Recommendations:

• Proven lecturing experience in Higher Education
• Postdoctoral experience in the ecological engineering of wetlands is advantageous.
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial and innovation towards developing practical ecological engineering solutions and approaches to challenges.
• Registration with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals and the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa.
• Proven experience interacting and collaborating with regulators, the mining and manufacturing industry, and influencing policy adoptions and recommendations regarding ecological engineering and ecologically engineered wetlands.
• Proven experience in ecological engineering solutions development and implementation.
• Proven experience in project management and successfully delivering ecological engineering-related projects to the mining industry.
• Proven experience in designing ecologically engineered wetlands and conducting pre-feasibility studies of ecologically engineered wetlands to treat AMD and mitigate the mining industry’s impacts.
• Proven experience in conducting source-pathway-receptor analysis of ecologically engineered wetlands receiving AMD or other sources of contamination.
• The development of study material and facilitating learning opportunities for students within the framework of ecological engineering.
• Involvement in curriculum development, revising and compiling module frameworks (including developing learning outcomes), and study guides within the framework of ecological engineering.

Please ensure that all relevant documentation is attached to your application. 

• A detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter. 
• Copies of qualifications (please provide the SAQA accreditation in the case of foreign qualifications).
• Copies of all academic records (applicable where inherently required).
• A copy of your identity document (ID or passport in the case of foreign nationals).
• Proof of registration with a Professional Body (if applicable).
• A copy of your driver’s license (if applicable).
• Confirmation of employment from current employer / last employer if unemployed (only applicable to external applicants).