Job Description

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 formal teaching for undergraduate as well as post-graduate programmes.
• Act as a supervisor for postgraduate students.
• Ensure active involvement in research.
• Active involvement in curriculum development relating to Religion Studies
• Continuously plan and execute teaching and research strategies, general organising and coordinating of administrative duties, mentoring, and motivating staff, manage finances (e.g., annual budgeting, allocation of funds) of the Department as an Academic Head of Department (AHD).

Additional duties applicable to the Academic Head of Department:

• Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the Department as a leader in the faculty vis-xc3xa0-vis competing international entities.
• Direct the academic debate in the Department.
• Influence the Department's overall climate and culture.
• Energise everybody in the Department and beyond; and
• Shape the future of the Department.
• Contribute positively to the overall leadership in the faculty.
• Plan, organise and coordinate staff, students, and activities, mentor and motivate staff, structure and exercise overall control frequently.
• Create an atmosphere of consensus among staff.
• Communicate effectively internally and externally.
• Link staff in disciplines and students with the University's management and administration through communication, negotiation, and consultation.
• Actively participate and be 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.
• Initiate, formulate, and implement a visionary academic strategy for the department that is aligned to 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 disciplines.
- 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
- Revisit and develop fresh learning programmes that will help to position the Department well within the religious aspects of Theology and Religion Faculty.

• Create and maintain a(n):

- Visionary research strategy for the Department.
- 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, discipline-specific, and collaborative 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 grants.
• Actively engage with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development to ensure sustainable financial support for the Department's research initiatives.
• Build an effective team of scholars through:

- Planning and implementing 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 into account 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
- Planning and overseeing effective and relevant staff development.

• The ultimate responsibility in terms of financial management culminates in:

- Annual budgeting.
- Financial planning.
- Allocation of funds.
- 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:Senior Lecturer

• A relevant Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 with specialisation in Religion Studies.
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience of teaching higher education modules at university level.
• Proven experience in the presentation of papers at national scholarly conferences.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in a specific area of scholarship.
• An NRF rating or demonstrate potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• Proven experience in supervision of graduated master's 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.

Associate Professor

• A relevant Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 with specialisation in Religion Studies
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience of teaching higher education modules at university level.
• Proven experience in research management and capacity building.
• Experience as external examiner for postgraduate students.
• Proven experience in the presentation of research papers at national and international conferences, where there is evidence of peer review of papers.
• Act as an editorial board member and/or reviewer 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.
• Proven experience in the supervision of graduated master's and doctoral students.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in accredited national and international journals.
• Serve as a member of a national scholarly society, OR a national committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels, OR show evidence of service as an active member of an international equivalent.

Recommendations:

• A research focus on either Traditional African Religions or Islamic studies.
• Experience in community engagement.
• Experience in grant writing and/or preparing research funding applications.

CompetenciesKey Competencies Required:

• 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 maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
- The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

• Building coalitions

- The ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
- The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.Required DocumentsPlease 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).
• 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).

Assumption of duties:
1 July 2024 or as soon as possible thereafterClosing date:
14 April 2024Salary:
The salary is available on request.Fringe benefits:
(Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.Enquiries:
For enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 9813 or email PhokaR@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 9810 / 9814 / 2979 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 :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