Job Vacancies at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Act as programme coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture postgraduate programme offerings.
• Compile audit reports for management reporting.
• Compile academic study guides for each academic module.
• Compile academic scheduling and monitoring of academic progress.
• Overall academic and administrative coordination for PGDip, master’s and PhD students.
• Responsible for all postgraduate student communication.
• Organise and facilitate on-campus contact sessions, schedule academic activities and coordinate  students, administrative - and academic staff.
• Assist and provide guidance with development of new curriculum and module design, conduct appropriate literature searches and aid in preparation of documentation for the CHE and HEQC.
• Assist to manage third-stream income projects of the Department.
• Keep records and compile reports  of audits of third-stream income projects, write and submit project proposals to potential partners.
• Responsible for quality control and audits of academic programmes.
• Perform financial duties relating to department and third-stream projects (adhoc claims, travel and logistical arrangements, claims, etc).
• Coordinate the conceptual design, development, evaluation and improvements of new modules and degrees.
• Raise external bursary funds for post graduate students.
• Responsible for all electronic, printed, and social marketing of Sustainable Agriculture.
• Facilitate and manage an interactive alumni network.

Inherent requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree  on NQF Level 7.
• Minimum  two (2) years’ experience in: PhD administration and monitoring, and/or project and third-stream income project management, and/or proposal writing and reporting, and/or centre management on postgraduate level, and/or marketing and alumni management, and/or database management, and/or student bursary generation on postgraduate level.

Recommendations:

• Honours degree on NQF Level 8.
• Substantive knowledge on blackboard administration and quality control,
• Experience in curriculum design and development.
• Experience with postgraduate bursaries, proposal writing to prospective funders and managing postgraduate bursary funds.
• Experience with development and management of Short Learning Programmes.

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.

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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.

go to method of application »

Duties and responsibilities: 

• Provide formal teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Plant Breeding.
• Expand the current research niche area in Plant Breeding focussing mainly on wheat disease resistance molecular plant breeding.
• Initiate and conduct externally funded high-level research in abovementioned field.
• Ensure active involvement in research by publishing research outputs in accredited scientific national and international peer-reviewed journals.
• Supervise and provide consultation sessions for postgraduate students.
• Perform general administration duties as applicable at university level.
• Contribute to curriculum development within the faculty.

Inherent requirements:

• Lecturer
• A PhD in Plant Breeding or related discipline on NQF Level 10 (for a permanent appointment) 

Or

• Master’s degree in Plant Breeding or related discipline on NQF Level 9 (contract appointment: five years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Plant Breeding or related discipline 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.

Recommendations:

• A minimum of 2 years Plant Breeding lecturing experience.
• Experience in the supervision of master’s and doctoral students.
• Experience in disease resistance marker-assisted breeding in wheat.
• Experience in using horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as KASP SNPline instruments.
• Experience in managing a molecular plant breeding laboratory.

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.