Job Vacancies at Rhodes University

Main Objectives

• All academics are responsible for disseminating knowledge (teaching and learning), creating knowledge (research), engaging in community engagement, and recognising differences in how these responsibilities are executed across the various Departments and Faculties. 
• Academics are also expected to assume administrative, management, and/or leadership duties at the departmental, Faculty, and/or University level and contribute to their profession.

For this role, the incumbent is expected to provide academic leadership within the teaching-research-community engagement nexus. There are three main objectives listed below.

The first is to work with Academics and Academic Departments to:

• Enhance the quality of institutional external engagement with communities and university partners through Community-Based Participatory Research.
• Accelerate the impact and quality of Engaged Research (ER) initiatives and projects run by academics and departments at Rhodes University.
• Build meaningful relationships with community partner organisations in Makhanda, assisting in brokering strategic partnerships between the community and the university
• Develop and establish an Engaged Research course for students, staff at Rhodes University and local community partner organisations.
• Support researchers and lecturers in developing innovative engagement strategies.
• Implement mechanisms to capture evidence of initiatives, impact, and quality of engaged research initiatives.
• Establish monitoring and evaluation (M&E) support strategies for ER and reporting on ER at RU.
• Management and promotion of the Knowledge for Change (K4C) initiative.
• The second main objective is to make critical and original contributions to CE scholarship at local, national and international levels by leading the RUCE Editorial Team of the African Journal of Higher Education Community engagement and generating community engagement knowledge by publishing articles for newspapers and pamphlets, writing scholarly papers for accredited/peer-reviewed academic journals, and presenting research at conferences.
• The third main objective is coordinating a CE programme, theorising and promoting a scholarly, asset-based approach to community engagement at Rhodes University. 
• Participate in the strategic management and oversight of the program's development, implementation, and M&E systems.

The Requirement

Lecturer

• Master's in a relevant discipline, preferably Humanities or Social Science (must be prepared to register for a PhD)
• Experience in Community Development (CD) and Community Engagement (CE) (partnership development, Service Learning, Volunteerism and Engaged Research)
• Tutoring, facilitation, or conference presentation experience required. No teaching experience is required.
• Experience in conducting Community-Based Participatory Research.  Ability to teach diverse groups in the University and the broader community  
• No research supervision is required.
• Some administrative experience, albeit in informal contexts (e.g., student or sports clubs), and work experience. 

Senior Lecturer

• At least a PhD in a relevant discipline, preferably Humanities or Social Science.
• Experience in CD and CE (partnership development, Service Learning, Volunteerism, and Engaged Research)
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is required.
• Experience in conducting Community-Based Participatory Research.
• Research supervision at the level of at least a Master's degree is required.
• Emerging national profile in the discipline
• Track record of administration, management, and/or leadership roles (leadership roles may be informal

Closing Date 23 October 2026

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Job Description

Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in the Drama Department

• The Drama Department invite suitably qualified candidates to join their team.

The Requirements

Lecturer

• A completed MA or PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies with an emphasis on Physical Theatre and Choreography.
• For candidates with an MA: Candidates will be expected to either complete or make reasonable progress in line with the targets and timeframes agreed with the HoD during their probation period, should they be appointed.
• Some teaching experience and/or teaching facilitation is required. The incumbent should be acquainted with online/blended teaching, testing, and marking, or be willing to acquire these skills immediately upon starting the job through workshop attendance or other developmental opportunities.
• A professional artist portfolio demonstrating a minimum of three years’ experience.
• An ability to teach in the following disciplinary areas: Physical Theatre, Choreography, Theatre making and Theory of Theatre and Performance Studies.
• An ability to supervise postgraduate students is required.
• Some evidence and experience in conducting research.
• Some record of administration, management and/or leadership roles (leadership roles may be informal).

Senior Lecturer

• A PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies, with an emphasis on Physical Theatre and Choreography.
• Candidates who hold an MA in Theatre and Performance Studies, with an emphasis on Physical Theatre and Choreography, and who are actively progressing towards completion of a PhD will also be considered. As a guide, candidates should be within 12 months of their intended PhD submission.
• Plus 7–10 years of teaching experience.
• Considerable teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is required. The incumbent should be acquainted with online/blended teaching, testing, and marking, or be willing to acquire these skills immediately upon starting the job through workshop attendance or other developmental opportunities.
• A professional artist portfolio demonstrating a minimum of five years’ experience.
• Experience in teaching in the following disciplinary areas: Physical Theatre, Choreography, Theatre making and Theory of Theatre and Performance Studies.
• Research supervision experience of at least a Master’s degree is required.
• Emerging national profile in the discipline and a credible record of accredited, peer-reviewed publications or a record of impactful productions.
• Track record of administration, management and/or leadership roles.

Closing Date 26 October 2026

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Job Description

Professor/Associate Professor (Permanent) & Dean (5-Year Term, Part-Time)

The Faculty of Law

• The Faculty of Law invites suitably qualified candidates to join their team. 

The Faculty - Description of the Faculty

• Rhodes University invites applications of eligible candidates at the level of Professor or Associate Professor on a permanent basis who are prepared and eligible to serve concurrently as the Dean of the Faculty of Law on a part-time basis. The term of the Dean is normally 5 years.
• The successful candidate will be appointed as a permanent academic staff member at the level of Professor or Associate Professor and as Dean on a part-time basis.  Once their term as Dean has been concluded (and if not re-elected as Dean) the successful candidate will be employed as an academic on a full-time basis.  
• The Protocol for the Election of an external Dean involves an election process by the members of the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Law based on the vision and motivation prepared by candidates, and a selection process conducted in accordance with the Recruitment and Selection Policy of the institution. 

The Requirements:

Professor

A PhD in Law with an LLB from a South African University. Where the LLB is not from a South African University, a demonstrable equivalence, coupled with 10 years of relevant experience, where such experience includes: -

• Extensive teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in a university context.
• Excellent professional track record.
• Excellent track record of training and mentoring of junior staff.
• Excellent record of supervision of junior staff.
• Track record of research productivity, including supervision of Master’s and PhD students to completion.
• National and established international profile in the discipline.
• Track record of research productivity.

Associate Professor

A PhD in Law with an LLB from a South African University. Where the LLB is not from a South African University, a demonstrable equivalence, or, in exceptional circumstances, at least an LLM, preferably with progress being made toward a PhD, coupled with 10 years of relevant experience, where such experience includes: -

• Considerable teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in a university context.
• Excellent track record of training and mentoring of junior staff.
• Strong record of supervision of junior staff.
• Track record of research productivity, including supervision of Master's. 
• National and emerging international profile in the discipline.

Closing Date 23 October 2026

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Job Description

Associate Professor (Grade AP)

Department of Management

• The Department of Management invites suitably qualified candidates to join their team. 

Main Objectives

• All academics are responsible for disseminating knowledge (teaching and learning), creating knowledge (research), and engaging in community engagement, recognising differences in executing these responsibilities within the various departments and faculties.
• Academics are also expected to assume administrative, management, and/or leadership duties at the departmental, faculty, and/or university levels and contribute to their profession. 
• In addition, professors and associate professors provide academic leadership in teaching and learning, research, and community engagement and contribute towards the institution's governance. This professor's leadership contribution should be evidenced at the departmental, faculty, and institutional levels. 

The Requirements:

Associate Professor

• PhD in Management or equivalent.
• Considerable teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels required, including Master's and PhD levels.
• Experience in teaching in the following disciplinary areas: Strategic Management, Financial Management and Research Methodology, Marketing Management or equivalent
• Evidence of M&D Supervision where Research supervision of Master’s is required, and PhD degrees to completion is preferred.
• Emerging National profile in the field of Management.
• Track record of administration, management and/or leadership roles (leadership roles may include being part of committees at the faculty and institutional level).
• Experience in mentoring and developing early career academics. 

Closing Date 23 October 2026

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Main Objectives

• The role of the Director of Community Engagement is to provide visionary and strategic leadership for the University's community engagement mission and to position community engagement as a core academic function at the nexus of teaching, learning, and research, while promoting social justice, sustainable development, and societal impact.
• The Director champions a university-wide culture of community engagement by developing institutional strategies to promote reciprocal, ethical, mutually beneficial and knowledge-driven partnerships with diverse communities.
• The Director maintains an active programme of research in the scholarship of community engagement, publishes in peer-reviewed journals, supervises postgraduate students, contributes to teaching in relevant academic programmes, and provides intellectual leadership that advances community engagement as a recognised field of scholarship and practice.

The Job Requirements

A Master's degree in the humanities or social sciences, or a closely related field.  A doctoral (PhD) would be an advantage.  In addition, the candidate should have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, where such experience includes: -

• Leading and formulating the strategic direction and advancement of community engagement/community development.
• At least 4 years of leadership and management experience at a senior level.
• Proven ability to implement community engagement strategy through community-university partnerships that drive equitable and inclusive development whilst also contributing to the holistic development of students.
• Fundraising experience, including the ability to write fundraising proposals and manage donors.
• An ability to teach/facilitate, write academically and a publication record.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of community development.
• Financial management, understanding and working with budgets.
• Knowledge of the Higher Education sector is an advantage.

Closing Date 28 October 2026

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Job Description

Senior Finance Administrator: Short-Term Risk and Investments (Grade 10)

Finance Division

• The Finance Division is inviting suitably qualified candidates to join their team. 

Main Objectives

• To provide a timeous, effective, and efficient accounting and administrative service to the University, with specific focus on the University’s insurance portfolio, investments, and the Board of Governors (formerly the Rhodes University Foundation).
• The role includes oversight of the University’s bank accounts, ensuring all exceptions and variances are promptly identified, investigated, and resolved. It also encompasses responsibility for the preparation, completion, and submission of VAT returns and related administrative functions.
• Additionally, the position provides comprehensive administrative and accounting support to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of communication, accuracy, and service delivery at all times.

The Requirements

Grade 12 (a National Diploma NQF Level 6 would be an advantage), preferably in accounting, plus approximately 6 years relevant experience, where such experience includes:

• Proven ability to work effectively under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Previous experience in a pressurised accounting administrative environment
• Demonstrated experience and competence in account reconciliations, including bank and control accounts.
• Strong computer literacy, with experience in computerised accounting systems.
• Insurance administration experience will be an advantage.
• Supervisory or team coordination experience would be advantageous.
• Experience using finance-related ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft) will be an advantage.

Closing Date 29 October 2026