Job Description

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY FULL-TIME PERMANENT ACADEMIC PERSONNEL FROM THE DEPARTMENT HISTORICAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE THEOLOGY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll - Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the field of Systematic Theology, Ethics, Historical Theology and Church History.
• Direct the academic debate in the department.
• Influence the department's overall climate and culture.
• Energise everybody in the department and beyond.
• Shape the future of the department.
• Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
• Be responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students and activities, mentoring and motivating staff, structuring, and exercising overall control.
• Create an atmosphere of collaboration among staff.
• Be responsible for effective internal and external communication.
• Link the department's staff and students with the University's management and administration through communication, negotiation and consultation.
• Actively participate 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.
• Actively participate 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;
- Relevance of content, material and presentation in all modules;
- The enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates;
- That adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
- Adherence to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department;
- Quality and timely feedback on student work;
- Proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the department; and
- The revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in its field.

• Create and maintain a(n) -

- Visionary research strategy for the department; and
- 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;
- 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.
• Engage actively with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
• Build an effective team of scholars through:

- Planning and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department;
- Planning and implementing 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;
- Appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever needed;
- Managing staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures;
- Recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours;
- Creating and maintaining a scholarship-friendly environment in the department; and
- Planning and overseeing effective and relevant staff development.

• Be responsible for the ultimate responsibility in terms of financial management which culminates in:

- Annual budgeting;
- Financial planning;
- Allocation of funds; and
- Financial control.
- Adherence 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 in Systematic Theology or Church History or related discipline on NQF Level 10.
• Any full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Department Historical and Constructive Theology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Competencies

Key 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 focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner.
- The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

• 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.
- The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

• Building coalitions:

- The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
- The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Required Documents

Please ensure that all relevant documentation is attached to your application. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS 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).
• 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).

Assumption of duties:
01 February 2024

Closing date:
27 September 2023

Allowance:
An Academic Head of Department allowance is payable, which is calculated according to a transparent formula approved by the relevant decision-making structures of the UFS. The value of the allowance is available on request.

Enquiries:
For enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 9813 or email PhokaR@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 2979 / 9810 / 9814 for assistance

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at : https://ufsacza.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/sites/supportservices/hr/Employment Equity/EEA13_EE Plan UFS 1 March 2022 (003).pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=TjtoXH

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.

University of the Free State