Senior Director: Postgraduate School (PGS) (P4) (5-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWABLE SUBJECT TO PERFORMANCE)
Position Summary
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) for societal impact in the context of the changing social, political and economic fortunes of Africa”.
Job description
Job Specification
- Determine, articulate, implement, lead, and strengthen the University’s postgraduate programmes, postdoctoral research fellowship programmes, supervisor development, transdisciplinary studies, and research capacity development programmes in accordance with the University’s 2025 Strategic Plan; namely attaining Global Excellence and Stature (GES) in the context of 4IR;
- Manage the postgraduate programme to ensure an exceptional good life-cycle experience for postgraduate students;
- Source external funding (including and beyond the National Research Foundation (NRF)) to support postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellowships in the form of bursaries, scholarships, and fellowships. For external sponsors outside of the NRF, the approach must be coordinated with the Research and Development Office;
- Provide strategic support to staff to acquire higher qualifications and provide the necessary support to establish them as leaders in research;
- Develop, implement, and monitor the postdoctoral research fellowship programme to attract top local and international postdoctoral fellows and ensure that postdoctoral research fellows are productive in terms of research and development as academics;
- Support/introduce initiatives for research talent management, including the improvement of staff qualifications;
- Ensure institutional compliance with the relevant statutory and regulatory framework in which the University functions;
- Ensure the highest level of portfolio governance, efficient administration, and systems functioning, including enrollment planning for the Faculties and College;
- Ensure effective and efficient management and utilisation of the portfolio’s finances and resources;
- Respond to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) research capacity-building related policy documents, draft proposals, and reports, and initiate policy;
- Partner with faculties and divisions towards an approach that continuously communicates the societal and discipline-specific impact of our postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. The approach should include, among others, social media;
- Collaborate with faculty and other stakeholders to develop and implement postgraduate programmes and initiatives;
- Establish and maintain appropriate systems (analytical tools, information systems, projections of cost behaviour), processes, and policies to ensure effective and efficient management of resources; and
- Manage risk within the portfolio.
Minimum requirements
- Doctoral degree (NQF 10) and proven experience in a Higher Education environment.
- An extraordinary administrator within an academic institution and/or a senior academic with administrative experience (for example, a former head of department, vice-dean, etc.) – at least five years of relevant management experience.
- Demonstrated leadership at all academic levels: undergraduate, postgraduate, postdoctoral, and in staff recruitment, mentorship, and development.
- Proven excellence and experience in research.
- Established and valuable local and international networks paired with outstanding stewardship, diplomatic, effective, and efficient communication skills to leverage local, Pan-African, and global networks.
- Proven resource, strategic, and people management skills, with exceptional ability and resilience to function under pressure.
- Financial and numerical acumen (advanced user of spreadsheets, including online documents/worksheets), coupled with the understanding and use of data analytics,
- Proven experience in managing projects.
- Outstanding personal qualities of integrity, sound judgment, energy, passion, and constructive interpersonal skills.
Recommendation
- A well-respected academic leader who can attract and motivate the academic community and students in the University’s drive to provide high-quality teaching, cutting-edge research, and effective community engagement. The candidate should ideally be rated by the NRF.
- Be an inspiring and contributing member of the postgraduate component of international networks, for example, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), Universitas 21 (U21), and others.
Terms of appointment:
Retirement age:
Application:
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.
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.
For more information, please review the following link: Justice/Criminal/NRSO.
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.
