Career Opportunities at University of the Free State

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).
• 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).

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide psychotherapy and counselling with regard to personal, social, emotional and career development.
• Identify, diagnose, and treat serious psychological problems and refer to other professionals when the need arises.
• Liaise with Student Counselling and Development, management, student affairs, faculties, academic departments, support services and student representatives.
• Conduct psychometric assessments & provide career counselling.
• Perform psychological screening and first-level interventions aimed at enhancing student functioning.
• Design and present developmental workshops for students.
• Market the service.
• Manage/ Oversee office management and administration.
• Participate in the Division of Student Affairs goals and objectives.

Inherent requirements:

• Master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in counselling/clinical psychology.
• Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in the category of Counselling/Clinical Psychology.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in working with students in Higher Education, or in working with young adults, and an involvement in student/ young adults’ life activities or initiatives.

Recommendations:

• Sesotho and/or Zulu speaking.

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Duties and responsibilities: 

Development and Management of the Academic Programmes in Africa Studies:

• The designing and redesigning of the curriculum by involving all relevant stakeholders.
• Develop new learning programmes in consultation with industry and other stakeholders.
• Frequent and continues development and management of the operational plan of the Programmes.
• Provide general leadership in the Centre and ensure academic coherence across all various modules of the programmes.
• Responsible for Financial Management (annual budgeting, financial planning, allocation of funds, and financial control), and deployment of the resources needed for maximum benefit to the delivery of the programmes.
• Motivate and lead employees in the Programmes to achieve transformation within the Programmes and the institution.
• Ensure that the activities of the Programmes are undertaken in accordance with the governance, policy and regulatory frameworks of the University.

Quality Management

• Provide top-quality, research-informed facilitation of learning to ensure practise-based learning and improvement.
• Assume responsibility for the academic quality of the programmes.
• Manage curriculation processes of the programmes.
• Manage academic administration.
• Monitor and manage quality assurance of technology and innovation activities in the Department.
• Implement applicable governance, policy and regulatory frameworks of the University.

Provide Academic and Registration Advice

• Scholarship of high quality and specialised expertise.
• Teaching, learning, and students.
• Conduct own research.
• Provide academic advice in terms of academic inquiries, amendments of year books, schedules, timetables, etc.
• Implement applicable governance, policy and regulatory frameworks of the University.

Marketing of the Programmes in Africa Studies

• Serves on the marketing committee of the faculty as necessary.
• Compilation of an annual marketing plan and budget, and planning of the implementation thereof in cooperation with the support services concerned.
• Advertising of the programmes in an appropriate manner.
• Compilation of marketing pamphlets or any suitable marketing material.
• Involved in the introduction of the programmes at road shows and open days.
• Where applicable, liaison with authorities from practice, the professions, the private sector, etc. for the purpose of needs assessment and correlation of subject content with professional precepts.

Inherent requirements:

• PhD degree on NQF Level 10 in Africa Studies or related field.
• Any full-time, permanent member of the academic staff in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Recommendations:

• Exposure to programme development and academic advisory services will be an advantage.
• Additional experience in leadership and management.

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Duties and responsibilities: 

• Strengthen the research agenda and skills set of the agrometeorology section and the Research Chair in Agriculture and Climate Change in the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences.
• Teach undergraduate and Honours modules in the field of climatology, agrometeorology and climate change, as well as the supervision of research activities conducted by MSc and PhD students.
• Function as an independent researcher who sets up and carries out research activities that lead to relevant scientific outputs and contribute to advancing our knowledge in the field of climatology, climate change and/or the impacts thereof on agriculture in South Africa and beyond.

Inherent requirements:

Lecturer

• A PhD on NQF Level 10 in Climatology, Agrometeorology or a closely related field (for a permanent appointment).

or

• Master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in Climatology, Agrometeorology or a closely related field (contract appointment: five years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Climatology, Agrometeorology or a closely related field MUST be obtained to be converted to a permanent position). 
• Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.
• Evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.
• A good academic record.

Senior Lecturer

• PhD on NQF Level 10 in Climatology, Agrometeorology or a closely related field.
• Proven experience in the presentation of papers/posters at national scholarly conferences.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in a specific area of scholarship.
• 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 publications in national and international accredited journals. 
• Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society or committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels.

Recommendations:

• Knowledge and skills in the field of climate dynamics, climate change and variability, climate modelling and statistics, and an interest in intersections between climate and the agricultural sector.
• Academic knowledge and skills underpinned by a credible track record of scientific publications in internationally recognised journals.
• Proven ability to attract research funding.
• Ability to connect with students and have experience with lecturing and the supervision of MSc and PhD students. Good verbal communication skills are important.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the discipline vis-a-vis competing international entities.
• Responsible for directing the academic debate in the department.
• Responsible for influencing the department's overall climate and culture.
• Responsible for energising everybody in the department and beyond.
• Responsible for shaping the future of the department.
• Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
• Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students and activities; mentoring and motivating staff.
• Create an atmosphere of consensus among staff.
• Create effective internal and external communication.
• Participate and be actively involved in faculty management structures, attend meetings, lead project teams, represent the department and faculty, and fulfil the roles of liaison officer and marketer, when necessary.
• Participate and be involved actively in applicable UFS management structures, e.g. Senate.
• Initiate, formulate and implement a visionary academic strategy for the department that is aligned with and supportive of the guiding strategic documents of the UFS and faculty.
• Ensure the provision of top-quality, research-informed facilitation of learning at all levels of teaching in the department.
• Ensure relevance of content, material and presentation in all modules.
• Ensure the enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates.
• Ensure that adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Adhere to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department.
• Ensure quality and timely feedback on student work.
• Ensure proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the department.
• Ensure the revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in the fraternity.
• Create and maintain a visionary research strategy for the department.
• Create and maintain an environment that encourages research, leading to strong and active research habits and a culture of inquiry.
• Ensure that every academic staff member is engaged in quality-driven and discipline-specific research.
• Ensure that postgraduate students are recruited to broaden the research base of the department.
• Guide and support senior academics towards acquiring NRF ratings.
• Ensure active engagement with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
• Plan and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department.
• Plan and implement a clear and reasonable career path for every staff member in the department, taking account of the strategic plans of the University, faculty and department.
• Implement appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed.
• Manage staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures.
• Responsible for recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours.
• Create and maintain a scholarship-friendly environment in the department.
• Plan and oversee effective and relevant staff development.
• Responsible for financial management culminating annual budgeting, financial planning, allocation of funds and financial control.
• Adhere to the UFS's financial policies and procedures.
• Encourage and actively support academic staff members to apply for external research and other grants.

Inherent Job requirements:

• PhD on NQF Level 10 in Biokinetics, Exercise Sciences or Sport and Recreation or a related field. 
• Any full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), with an appointment on Senior Lecturer level or higher.

Recommendation

• A minimum of three (3) years of lecturing/leadership experience at a tertiary institution.

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Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. 

• 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).

Duties and responsibilities: 

• Teach Public Financial Management, Supply Chain Management and Project Management modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Perform academic administration of undergraduate and postgraduate modules pertaining to learning, teaching, research and assessments.
• Contribute to curriculum development in the department and faculty.
• Provide supervision in postgraduate programmes to Honours, Master’s or PhD students.
• Conduct high-quality research, publish in accredited journals, and deliver quality research outputs in line with the faculty's research strategy.
• Provide leadership in pursuit of the department and faculty’s strategic plan with regard to research, learning and teaching, engaged scholarship, as well as leadership and administration.
• Participate in additional academic activities including, but not limited to, presentation of research papers at national and/or international conferences as well as involvement in departmental/faculty research projects.
• Serve as a member of various academic and research committees and perform any other tasks allocated by the Dean and Head of the department.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with relevant research, civil society, government, industry, and professional organisations.

Inherent requirements:

Lecturer

• A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 that is relevant to the field of Public Administration and
• Management/ Public Financial Management/Supply Chain Management (permanent appointment).

or

• A master’s degree on NQF Level 9 that is relevant to the field of Public Administration and Management/ Public Financial Management/Supply Chain Management (contract appointment: 5 years, during which a doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 that is relevant to the field of Public Administration and Management/Public Financial Management/Supply Chain Management must be obtained to be converted into a permanent appointment).
• Proven record of teaching public finance and or supply chain management related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.
• Proven experience in supervising to completion of honours students.
• Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.
• Evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.

Senior Lecturer

• A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 that is relevant to the field of Public Administration and Management/ Public Financial Management/Supply Chain Management.
• Proven experience in the presentation of papers/posters at national scholarly conferences.
• Proven record of teaching public finance and or supply chain management-related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in a specific area of scholarship.
• An NRF rating or demonstrated potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• Proven experience in supervising to completion of honours and master’s students.
• A proven research record of relevant publication/s in peer-reviewed national and international
• accredited scientific journals.
• Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society or committee or agency concerned with research at higher-education levels.

Associate Professor

• A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 that is relevant to the field of Public Administration and Management / Public Financial Management/Supply Chain Management.
• Experience as external examiner for postgraduate students.
• Proven record of teaching public finance and or supply chain management related modules at an
• undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.
• Proven experience in the presentation of research papers at national conferences, where there is evidence of peer review of papers.
• Acted as an editorial board member of high-quality national scholarly journals.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a specific scientific area of scholarship.
• An NRF rating of C3 or equivalent status.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals
• Proven experience in the supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
• Served as a member of a national scholarly society OR a national committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels OR showed evidence of service as an active member of an international equivalent.

Recommendations:

• Proven lecturing experience in the Higher Education environment.
• Proven experience in presenting Public Financial Management, Supply Chain Management and 
• Project Management modules.
• Sound knowledge of the South African Public Financial Management policy and legislative environment.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the field of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science.
• Responsible for directing the academic debate in the department.
• Responsible for influencing the department's overall climate and culture.
• Responsible for energising everybody in the department and beyond.
• Responsible for shaping the future of the department.
• Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
• Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students, and activities, mentoring, and motivating staff, structing, and exercising overall control.
• Create an atmosphere of collaboration among staff.
• Responsible for effective internal and external communication.
• The Academic Head is pivotal in linking the department’s staff and students with the University’s management and administration through communication, negotiation, and consultation.
• Active participation and involvement in faculty management structures, attending meetings, leading project teams, representing the department and faculty, and fulfilling the roles of liaison officer and marketer, when necessary.
• Active participation and involvement in applicable UFS management structures, e.g., Senate.
• Initiate, formulate, and implement a visionary academic strategy for the department that is aligned with and supportive of the guiding strategic documents of the UFS and faculty.
• Ensure the provision of top-quality, research-informed facilitation of learning at all levels of teaching in the department.
• Ensure relevance of content, material, and presentation in all modules.
• Ensure the enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates.
• Ensure that adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Adhere to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department.
• Ensure quality and timely feedback on student work.
• Ensure proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the department.
• Ensure the revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in the fraternity.
• Create and maintain a visionary research strategy for the department.
• Create and maintain an environment that encourages research, leading to strong and active research habits and a culture of inquiry.
• Ensure that every academic staff member is engaged in quality-driven and discipline-specific research.
• Ensure that postgraduate students are recruited to broaden the research base of the department and ethical requirements are met.
• Guide and support senior academics towards acquiring NRF ratings.
• Ensure active engagement with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
• Plan and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department.
• Plan and implement a clear and reasonable career path for every staff member in the department, taking account of the strategic plans of the University, faculty and department.
• Implement appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed.
• Manage staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures.
• Responsible for recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours.
• Create and maintain a scholarship-friendly environment in the department.
• Plan and oversee effective and relevant staff development.
• Responsible for financial management culminating annual budgeting, financial planning, allocation of funds and financial control.
• Adhere to the UFS's financial policies and procedures.
• Encourage and actively support academic staff members to apply for external research and other grants.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• PhD on NQF Level 10 in Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science.
• Full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of the Free State (UFS)