Vice Dean in Teaching and Learning
University of the Free State
South Africa

Faculty Health Sciences
Office of the Dean

Vice Dean: Teaching and Learning (contract appointment: 5 years) 

Job ID: 3674

This post was previously advertised as Job ID: 3440.  All applications received in response to the previous advertisement, will automatically be considered again. Previous applicants therefore do not need to reapply

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/vacancies. Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. 

Please ensure that all relevant documentation is attached to your application. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please note:  Combine all the below documents as one document (PDF or Word), when uploading it on the online applications system.

• A detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter (please note that the first three (3) referees on your CV will be contacted with regard to reference checking);
• Certified copies (not older than 3 months) of all academic records;
• Certified copies (not older than 3 months) of qualifications (please provide the SAQA accreditation in the case of foreign qualifications);
• A certified copy (not older than 3 months) of your identity document (ID);
• Proof of registration with a Professional Body (if applicable);
• A copy of your driver’s license (if applicable).

Duties and responsibilities:

• Strive for excellence in all aspects of health sciences with a focus on teaching and learning.
• Responsible to ensure the achievement of the mission of all faculty-based programmes with the main focus on teaching and learning and also other areas of community and stakeholder engagement and accreditation.
• Responsible to provide effective and appropriate academic and scholarly teaching and learning direction and to develop and implement the teaching and learning mission of the faculty within the broader university context. In addition, to focus on community and stakeholder engagement and accreditation included with the teaching and learning drive within this strategic direction.
• Responsible to ensure improving and maintaining all academic standards for programme accreditation across all programmes in terms of teaching and learning initiatives, graduate and research output.
• Support the dean to ensure oversight of all internal and external relations to assist in securing strategic collaboration and third-stream income.
• Participate in committees at both faculty and university level and chair the chair the faculty teaching and learning committees.
• Participate predominantly in the teaching and learning portfolio that will include aspects of ethics, medical writing, quality assurance and community and stakeholder engagement but also in accreditation, employment equity and areas of education and community service that link up with research.
• Develop a comprehensive agenda for the development and offering of credit bearing and non-credit bearing formal short learning programmes.
• Manage strategic projects as deemed relevant by the dean, relating to the faculty and the UFS’ overall strategy.
• Participate in community service and engagement initiatives pertaining to the teaching and learning portfolio.
• Manage all student-related undergraduate matters.
• Take responsibility of enrollment planning, management, exclusions and rule revisions.
• Manage staff allocated to the portfolio and also other teaching and learning staff in partnership with line managers.
• Provide direction to Health Sciences Education.
• Stand in for dean at graduations where needed.
• Take responsibility for open day activities.
• Act as dean and report to the vice-rectors and rector when the dean is not available and appointed in the capacity of acting dean.   

Inherent requirements:

• A PhD or equivalent qualification on NQF level 10 in health sciences, clinical medicine or related discipline.
• An undergraduate qualification in a health sciences direction.
• An appropriate/relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Appointment at the level of Associate Professor, Professor, or equivalent such as a senior position within the industry.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ relevant experience with at least 3 years of leadership and/or management experience.
• Superior knowledge of basic and academic clinical health sciences education, teaching, learning and research in the higher education environment.
• Track record of sustained commitment with a focus on teaching and learning as the main focus of the post will be teaching and learning driven.

Recommendations:

• An NRF rating.
• Proven academic stature, teaching and learning record.
• Experience within the higher education environment.
• Record of experience in a senior academic environment (or equivalent), especially in leadership roles such as a programme director, departmental chair, teaching and learning chair or member of the dean’s team.

Required competencies: 

• Results orientated:
- Ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
- Ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

• Strategic thinking:
- Ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.
- Ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

• Business acumen:
- The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.
- Proficient in using MS Office.

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

• Building coalitions:
- Ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
- Ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision.
- Established leadership and team-building capacity.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate, collaborate, communicate and facilitate in complex environments. 

Assumption of duties:

As soon as possible.

Closing date:

05 February 2021.

Salary: 

Salary is available on request.

Enquiries:

For enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 9737/9003 or email Recruit@ufs.ac.za 

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. 

The UFS is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at https://ufsacza.sharepoint.com/sites/supportservices/hr/Resources/Employment%20Equity%20Plan_July2017.pdf. For this post, we seek particularly to attract black (i.e. African, Coloured and Indian) and disabled South African candidates.

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.

APPLY ONLINE:

External candidates can click HERE to apply online.
UFS staff members can log onto PeopleSoft, click on Self Service, then on Recruiting, and then on Careers to apply online.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Physicaloxy