Vice-Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies (Contract Appointment: Five (5) Years) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Take co-responsibility with the Dean to ensure the achievement of the mission of all faculty-based programmes and initiatives.
• Take co-responsibility with the Dean to provide effective and appropriate research direction and to develop and implement the strategic mission of the faculty, within the broader University context, with a focus on postgraduate students and research. 
• Take responsibility in securing strategic collaboration and third-stream income relating to postgraduate bursaries and research, including the large equipment strategy of the faculty.
• Take co-responsibility with the Dean in investigating and driving new funding opportunities for postgraduate students and research in the faculty.
• Take co-responsibility with the Dean to over-see financial management and financial sustainability of research and postgraduate activities of the faculty. 
• Chair the Postgraduate and Research Committee of the Faculty.
• Participate in community service pertaining to the postgraduate students and research portfolio.
• Participate in committees both at Faculty and University level.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 within any of the disciplines of Law.
• Some experience on management level.
• Proven experience in forming networks and linkages.
• Proven experience with supervision of Master and PhD students.
• Proven evidence of publishing in peer reviewed journals.
• NRF rated/eligible to apply for NRF rating.
• Eligible for appointment  as an Associate or full Professor at the University of the Free State.
• Proven record of research grant applications, management, and experience in third-stream income generation.

Recommendations:

• The necessary experience in postgraduate supervision and research activities.
• Established leadership and team-building capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, collaborate, communicate and facilitate in complex environments.
• Proven academic stature and research record.
• Ability to source funding for research initiatives. 
• Knowledgeable about the functioning of the Executive committee of a faculty.
• Analytical problem-solving skills with impeccable attention to detail.
• Ability to set an overall strategy and drive process improvement.
• Evidence of inter-faculty and inter-department collaborations.
• Ability to build relationships with and between faculty and UFS staff.
• Established research leadership and research team-building capacity.

Key Competencies Required:

Results orientated:

• Ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
• Ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.
• Strategic thinking.
• Ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.
• Ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

Business acumen:

• Quality management of programme delivery.
• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.

Leading:

• Ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• Ability to be cooperative with others; display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building coalitions:

• Ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• Ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision.
• Established leadership and team-building capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, collaborate, communicate and facilitate in complex environments.