Academic Head of Department

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY FULL-TIME PERMANENT ACADEMIC PERSONNEL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT AT THE UFS 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. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements, as well as the following standard documentation:                                                                      
•    A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
•    Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
•    A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
 

Duties and responsibilities: 
•    Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the department as a leader in the field of Public Administration and Management.
•    Responsible for directing the academic debate in the department.
•    Responsible for influencing the department's overall climate and culture.
•    Responsible for energising everybody in the department and beyond.
•    Responsible for shaping the future of the department.
•    Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
•    Liaise with public sector bodies such as the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), as well as various tiers of government.
•    Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans, general organising and coordinating of staff, students, and activities, mentoring, and motivating staff, structing, and exercising overall control.
•    Create an atmosphere of collaboration among staff.
•    Responsible for effective internal and external communication.
•    The Academic Head is pivotal in linking the department’s staff and students with the University’s management and administration through communication, negotiation, and consultation.
•    Active participation and involvement in faculty management structures, attending meetings, leading project teams, representing the department and faculty, and fulfilling the roles of liaison officer and marketer, when necessary.
•    Active participation and involvement 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.
•    Ensure relevance of content, material, and presentation in all modules.
•    Ensure the enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates.
•    Ensure that adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
•    Adhere to all the rules and regulations of the UFS, faculty and department.
•    Ensure quality and timely feedback on student work.
•    Ensure proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the department.
•    Ensure the revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the department as a leader in the fraternity.
•    Create and maintain a visionary research strategy for the department.
•    Create and maintain an 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.
•    Ensure that 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.
•    Ensure active engagement with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for departmental research initiatives.
•    Plan and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the department.
•    Plan and implement 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.
•    Implement appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed.
•    Manage staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures.
•    Responsible for recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs, whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours.
•    Create and maintain a scholarship-friendly environment in the department.
•    Plan and oversee effective and relevant staff development.
•    Responsible for financial management culminating annual budgeting, financial planning, allocation of funds and 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 requirements:
•    PhD on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or closely related field.
•    Full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of the Department of Public Administration and Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) at the level of professor / associate professor / senior lecturer.
 

Required competencies: 
•    Results Orientated:
-    The ability to set high standards, establish tough goals, and to work to achieve success.
-    The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
•    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 sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:
1 March 2027

Closing date:
23 October 2026

Allowance:
The AHD allowance 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 me at 051 401 2558 or email at ManzanaL@ufs.ac.za or Recruit@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 2979/ 9813 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 Plan is available at: ufs-employment-equity-plan_2025.pdf

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.