Vacancies Available at University of Fort Hare

Minimum Requirements

• A Doctoral degree.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in higher education with at least 5 years of senior academic management and administration.
• Eligibility for appointment at Full Professor. However, appointment at Associate Professor will also be considered.
• Substantial academic stature and successful track record of excellence in research, postgraduate supervision and teaching commensurate with the academic rank level.
• Leadership experience in higher education with at least 5 years senior management experience, where Teaching & Learning activities are the core business.
• A clear understanding of the broader national and international context of higher education and an in-depth understanding of higher education policy and practice nationally and internationally.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large teaching and learning portfolio in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership of a diverse team, by engaging and inspiring staff in the achievement of the University’s core activities and a strong capacity to communicate clearly, with purpose and vision.
• A national profile as a leader, teacher and researcher in higher education with a proven track record of high-quality scholarly publications.
• A capacity to plan strategically and consultatively to ensure the University offers quality teaching and learning that enables outstanding student throughout rates.

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor regarding the academic project and matters pertaining to Teaching & Learning, this role is accountable to provide visionary strategic direction and leadership, which comprise the following key objectives: 

• Providing strategic direction through strategic planning, and seeking to ensure the democratic, effective, efficient, and sustainable pursuit of the University’s goals and its development as a centre for educational excellence.
• Leading the University in achieving research-led teaching and learning through the development of appropriate policies and collaborating with centralised support functions for Research & Innovation, Partnerships, Information provision services, and other support services in achieving academic goals.
• Collaborating locally & internationally with external institutional role players, alumni, funders and legislators to promote, influence and facilitate the institution’s image & strategic objectives.
• The advancing of transformation through the formulation of strategies to ensure that appropriate corrective measures are employed to redress past imbalances with the aim of producing outstanding internationally-accredited graduates who are innovative, creative, critical and reflexive thinkers, responsible, ethical, resilient life-long learners and to strive, through teaching, research and community service, to contribute to the advancement of international scholarship.
• Promoting a culture of cooperation and scholarly endeavour where students and staff are supported and engaged.
• Developing and implementing an embedded model of student support, in particular retention, success and progression strategies to meet the needs of a diverse community of students.
• Ensuring that the University’s educational spaces are aligned to the University’s strategic goal of implementing modern, twenty first century technologically advanced teaching and learning spaces.

Structurally, the role governs and directs the following functions in the institution:

• The academic functions of the six University of Fort Hare faculties namely: Management & Commerce, Law, Social Sciences & Humanities, Education, Health Sciences and Science & Agriculture.
• The Teaching & Learning Centre of the University, which supports academic development, new technologies (such as Technology Enhanced Learning) & Research skills development.
• The legislated Planning & Quality Assurance function, which is accountable for the quality assurance & accreditation of academic programmes, the Institutional Strategic Planning function & Goal setting, Legislated reporting (HEMIS) and, providing decision support data to the executive flowing from the data analytics process.

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Minimum Qualification(s)

• A Masters degree in Human Resources Management or Industrial Psychology.
• A Doctoral degree may be an added advantage.
• A Professional Registration or Licence with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and South African Board of People Practises (SABPP) is advantageous. 

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 12 years’ experience with 10 years proven record of people management, engagement and communication (HR, communication and stakeholder engagement) and 5 years’ experience at senior / general / executive management level.

Additional Skills and Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of people management, communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Management of cross-functional disciplines.
• Knowledge of resource management processes.
• Understanding and knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the function under management and HE sector.
• Must have previously demonstrated knowledge in management of GBV-related issues.

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Minimum Requirements: 

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in a related technical field e.g., Built Environment (either Civil or Structural Engineering), ICT, recognized Project Management Certification.
• A Doctoral degree may be an added advantage.
• At least one affiliation with a Professional body such as: Engineering Council of SA (ECSA), South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), Project Management Institute SA (PMI), Project Management Professional or other ICT related professional body.
• A minimum of 12 years’ experience with 10 years’ proven record in the Built Environment and/or Digital Technologies and 5 years’ experience at senior/general/executive management level.
• Project Management experience.

Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, you will:

• Possess sound knowledge of the following ICT strategies: 4IR technologies; ERP systems; Sustainability Management and Project Management principles.
• Provide senior strategic leadership and implementation of both physical and digital infrastructure, information and communication technologies.
• Ensure the governance of the built environment, grounds and boundaries, conservation areas and heritage sites linked to the governance of cost effective and efficient maintenance strategies for living and learning.
• Monitor the delivery of ICT value propositions on an ongoing basis and propose corrective actions for cost effective, efficient and sustainable alignment with institutional goals and strategies.
• Monitor overall fit-for-purpose ICT service provision for the institution. 

Key Performance Areas:

KPA 1: Govern & Direct the Infrastructure & Technology Executive Portfolio

• Play a key role in shaping the overall strategic direction of the institution.
• Govern the implementation of policies and strategies agreed by Council / Senate.
• Promote the institution’s reputational profile through networks and partnerships.
• Provide oversight, leadership and guidance to units under the area of responsibility.
• Play a key role in executive/governance committees.
• Direct leadership resources as per structure.
• Monitor the achievement of the unit’s strategic plan.

 KPA 2: Institutional ICT Strategic Planning             

• Formulate and review the ICT strategy in alignment with UFH’s strategic plan.
• Approve implementation of structures, resources and systems.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders in strategy design.
• Conduct regular strategic alignment reviews.
• Provide regular feedback to senior stakeholders on implementation of the plan.

 KPA 3: Strategic Financial Business Planning & Budgeting

• Conduct long-term financial projections & planning.
• Allocate & re-allocate funds and resources based on portfolio need and requirements.
• Approve financial strategies in conjunction with senior stakeholders.
• Obtain approval for annual budgets from governance committees.
• Exercise prudent budgetary control.
• Approve large payments, asset procurement and services.
• Monitor cash flow management.
• Report on financial and budgetary objectives/plans.

 KPA 4: Organisational Leadership Management

• Plan leadership talent, succession and development based on strategy.
• Direct preventative and mitigation strategies for anticipated talent risks.
• Recruit, select and appoint a leadership team based on the approved Resource Plan.
• Build and direct the leadership team in portfolio structure.
• Manage performance aligned with the Performance Management System.
• Direct talent competence, skills and performance levels aligned with the strategy.
• Submit the succession and development plan progress reports to senior leadership.

 KPA 5: Strategic Relationship Development

• Participate in key institutional policy and decision-making bodies.
• Engage with industry/government stakeholders aligned with business area.
• Participate in related industry forums.

 KPA 6: Institutional Properties and Services Governance

• Accountable for plans and strategies for the institution’s physical infrastructure.
• Accountable for the build environment (buildings, residences, grounds and boundaries) and related projects.
• Govern service levels of maintenance.
• Accountable for the institution’s regulatory and safety compliance to Occupational Health & Safety Act and related compliance requirements.
• Conceptualise physical infrastructure project roll-out through strong stakeholder and user engagement.
• Develop partnerships for generation of new infrastructure through external stakeholder engagement and resource mobilisation.
• Accountable for high value infrastructure project implementation.
• Monitor and track performance and compliance of infrastructure regulatory and policy requirements.
• Accountable for resources management and long-term institutional sustainability strategies i.e. financial & environmental.
• Present related reports to the Executive and Governance Committee of the institution for decision making.

KPA 7: Institutional ICT Governance

• Conceptualise and direct the ICT and digital transformation.
• Remain abreast of ICT related legislation, developments and best practices.
• Govern and approve ICT and digital transformation plans, resources and budgets.
• Be accountable for institutional ICT and digital transformation strategy and programme implementation.
• Be accountable for large scale ICT and digital transformation procurement requirements and processes.
• Govern strategic ICT and digital transformation stakeholder engagement management.
• Govern compliance to cyber security and regulatory requirements.
• Promote the adoption of emerging technologies to enhance operational efficiencies.
• Be accountable for implementation of ICT continuity & redundancy strategies.
• Monitor & evaluate the impact of ICT & digital transformation initiatives & programmes.
• Present related reports to the Executive & Governance Committee of the institution for decision making.

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Minimum Requirements: 

• Doctoral Degree and specialization in Higher Education or related area
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in higher education with at least 5 years of senior academic management and administration experience
• Eligibility for appointment as Associate Professor or Full Professor
• Substantial academic stature in higher education scholarship
• Experience in curriculum development, teaching development, learning support, technology-enhanced learning and learning management systems
• Experience in one of the core areas of Academic or Educational Development
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development in Higher Education Teaching and Learning

Reporting directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching & Learning, you will:

• Govern implementation of policies & strategies agreed by Council / Senate.
• Promote institution’s reputational profile through networks & partnerships.
• Provide oversight, leadership & guidance to units under area of responsibility.
• Oversight in managing budgets for teaching and learning and related grants.
• Conduct long-term financial projections & planning.
• Approve financial strategies in conjunction with senior stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of Teaching & Learning methodologies, technologies & innovation.
• Develop & foster partnerships with local & international academic institutions.
• Plans leadership talent, succession and development based on strategy.