Religious Studies Lecturer/Senior Lecturer and Academic Head of Department

Faculty Theology and Religion                                                

Department Religion Studies

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (and Academic Head of Department)

Job ID: 1997

The successful candidate could be considered (together with internal candidates) for the position of Academic Head of Department.  In the application the candidate must clearly indicate whether he/she would like to apply for the position of Academic Head of Department.

Duties and responsibilities:

Teach undergraduate and postgraduate modules.

Contribute to curriculum development within the faculty.

Provide study guidance to postgraduate students.

Initiate, conduct and sustain high-level research.

Produce research outputs of a high quality.

Participate in community service.

Perform general administrative duties.

 

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 discipline vis-à-vis competing international entities.
• The Academic Head of Department is directly responsible for:
• directing the academic debate in the department;
• influencing the department's overall climate and culture;
• energising everybody in the department and beyond; and
• shaping the future of the department.

Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.

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 consensus among staff.

Responsible for effective internal and external communication.

The Academic Head of Departmentis 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;

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 the fraternity.

Create and maintain a(n) –

ovisionary 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 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 account of the strategic plans of the University, faculty and department;

appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is 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.

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 requirements:

Lecturer:

Masters’ degree in Religion Studies or a relevant subject discipline within the field of Theology.

Proven experience in the presentation of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.

A good academic record.

Senior Lecturer:

PhD-degree in Religion Studies or a relevant subject discipline within the field of Theology.

Proven experience in the presentation of papers/posters 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 masters’ 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.

Specialised knowledge of current trends in the study of religion.

Expertise in the following fields of study:

African religions

Christianity

Islam

 

Recommendation:

Lecturer:Willing to enrol for a PhD-degree in Religion Studies or a relevant subject discipline within the field of Theology at the first available opportunity, if not yet attained by the time of the appointment.

 

Term of office: With regard to Academic Head of Department: Five years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further term.

 

Assumption of duties:

1 February 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Closing date:

18 August 2017.

Salary:

The salary scale is available on request.  For any further enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 2868/9329/9962.

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.

General:
The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The University subscribes to and applies the principles prescribed by the Employment Equity Act. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the aforementioned act and the employee profile of the specific department/division.