University of Johannesburg | View - Director: IPATC (Professor/Associate Professor ) (P5) (Faculty of Humanities) 5 year contract

Position Summary

Campus: Auckland Park Kingsway Campus

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Open to all

Level: Skilled

Introduction

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan university, anchored in Africa and driven by a powerful strategy focused on attaining global excellence and stature (GES). With an emphasis on independent thinking, sustainable development and strategic partnerships, UJ is an international university of choice. The University is guided by the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of “Positioning UJ in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the context of the changing social, political and economic fortunes of Africa”.

Job description

The University is seeking to appoint an exceptionally motivated and energetic person of high professional and academic standing to lead the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), one of the flagship institutes under the Global Excellence and Stature (GES) Catalytic Initiative linked to 4IR.

Pan-Africanism is broadly defined as the unity of Africa, including its Diaspora (defined by the African Union as people of African origin, living outside the Continent, willing to contribute to the development of the Continent), and is deeply rooted in a political, socio-economic, and cultural singularity. The IPATC, established in 2016, provides a platform for scholars, practitioners, and civil society actors to dialogue and contribute to the generation and dissemination of impactful Pan-African knowledge, research, and culture.

Among others, the IPATC has a global footprint in Pan-Africanism, African Foreign Policy, and African/European Migration, and is expected to actively contribute to these and other thematic areas through the production of research publications, policy briefs, and scholarly books. Through strategic leadership and renewal, the IPATC should advance Global Africa (including Agenda 2063 linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals) by directing and strengthening linkages with global economic clusters, driving towards the goal of inclusive and sustainable development. Furthermore, the Institute should bring about plurality of knowledge epistemologies that advances the Pan-African agenda.

The IPATC is also active in curriculum transformation and the dissemination of knowledge by offering postgraduate courses on pan-African thought, as well as on conflict resolution (through the Faculty of Humanities). The Institute for Global African Affairs (IGAA) operates as the sister institute to the IPATC, with strong alignment and synergy through their Pan-African and Diaspora foci. Through the IGAA, and in collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Faculty of Humanities, a joint Masters in Development Studies (Africa and the Caribbean) will be offered for the first time in 2022. In the current structure, the successful incumbent will direct the IPATC and the IGAA.

Responsibilities and expectations:

The Director will be responsible for strategic leadership, inter alia directing and shaping the future of the IPATC. To this end, the Director should be of the highest scholarly calibre, with a research, ideation, and/or innovation portfolio addressing areas of Pan-African significance. The Director must take a consultative approach with relevant university executives (deans, vice-deans, and others) towards building a strategy with relevant entities of the organisation. The Director should have a sound knowledge of Pan-Africanism in its broadest sense, be astute with respect to driving policy, and with a passion for teaching, postgraduate student training, and supervision. The Director should have a strong national and international network of collaborators, the ability to expand and foster new partnerships, and ensure the financial self-sustainability of the Institute.

The Director will be expected to:

Determine, articulate, implement and lead the IPATC’s Pan-African strategic initiatives to enhance the UJ’s national, regional, and international reputation and performance in accordance with its strategic objectives including Global Excellence and Stature in the context of decolonization, 4IR, African Union Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
Direct and manage IGAA, grow its stature and international footprint, and ensure the effective delivery of its academic programmes and offerings;
Contribute towards other UJ academic programmes, including curriculum development, supervision of postgraduate students, and hosting postdoctoral research fellows;
Contribute towards the generation of new knowledge and thought-leadership through an active research and media profile;
Ensure the financial self-sustainability of the IPATC and IGAA through networking and fundraising (in conjunction with the UJ’s Development Office);
Ensure effective and efficient management of the IPATC research cost centres, finances, and other resources; and
Effectively manage academic, administrative, and professional support staff, including staff and visiting academic recruitment, development, and retention.

Minimum requirements

The requirements will also be used to determine appointability at the level of Full or Associate Professor:

• A Doctoral qualification, with a substantive research portfolio or significant professional experience;

• Professional networking and fundraising experience, and an ability to work productively with partners;

• Ability to conduct and direct research, and communicate ideas to a range of stakeholders;

• A track record of successfully securing both national and international funding in thematic areas of Pan-African and global importance;

• A track record of successful postgraduate student and postdoctoral supervision;

• A track record of leadership, governance, organisational management, administration, and financial management.

Recommendations:

• Rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) or meets the criteria for NRF rating in the South African system (incumbent will be required to apply if not rated; see https://www.nrf.ac.za/rating).

* By default, this is a 5-year fixed-term position. Subject to financial sustainability and exceptional performance, the candidate may be renewed for another 5-years. The university will also consider exceptional and/or NRF-rated academics, for a fallback or tenured academic position. The evaluation will be subject to successful attraction of external funding.

ENQUIRIES:

Enquiries regarding job content: Prof Bettine van Vuuren (011) 559 4850

Enquiries regarding benefits: Ms Lungisa Zihlangu (HRBP) 011 559 2956

Your application, comprising of a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be uploaded before or on the closing date of the advertised post. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and if applying for an academic position, a list of accredited research output and/ or a portfolio of your creative output.

If you require technical support / assistance on the UJ e-recruitment website, please contact our service provider PNET on the following contact details: 0861 227337/010 140 3099 or email ujsupport@pnet.co.za.

Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.

In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. As necessitated by operational requirements the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 8 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that the University is obligated, in terms of recent amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (Act 13 of 2021), to assess all prospective employees (including applicants) against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). The outcome of such an assessment may have an impact upon possible employment with the University.

Position Summary

Introduction

Job description

Minimum requirements

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