Deputy Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies (N002720)
Listing reference: nwu_003514
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 30 June 2025
Position summary
Industry: Education & Training
Job category: University and Academy
Location: South Africa
Contract: Fixed Term Contract
Remuneration: Market Related
About our company
NWU
Introduction
As the most senior representative of the Faculty of Education on campus, manage the operational delivery to achieve the unitary Faculty strategy and plan and provide functional and academic leadership across campuses in respect of Research and Postgraduate Studies.
Job description
JOB DESCRIPTION
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Strategy development
- Co-determine faculty strategy and joint accountability for the implementation thereof.
- Jointly accountable for the successful implementation of the NWU Research strategy.
- Jointly accountable for the successful implementation of the overall NWU strategy.
- Translate the faculty strategy into a site implementation plan and operationalise.
2. Operational Management
- Lead and direct day-to-day operational planning, performance and quality enduring alignment with the faculty plan.
- Participate in planning with Schools and the annual faculty calendar.
- Oversee and manage utilisation of resources and finances as allocated by the Executive Dean.
- Deputise for the Executive Dean.
- Accountable across campus as Chairperson of relevant faculty board committee(s).
3. Research
- Maintain a research environment and support infrastructure enabling world-class research.
- Implement inter- and trans-disciplinary research that differentiates the NWU nationally and internationally.
- Participate in national and international collaborations addressing NWU niche research areas.
- Continuous improvement of research outputs (quality and quantity) to positively impact national and international standing.
- Promote the faculty through market trends and needs identification.
- Clustering research and innovation appropriately around agreed research themes focusing on national and international imperatives.
- Coordinate fundamental research, applied research, research in application, curiosity-driven research, blue skies research and directed research.
- Facilitate differentiation and third-stream revenue generation through innovation and commercialisation.
4. Community Engagement
- Support community engagement activities that are integrated with research and innovation.
- Socially responsive local community projects, supportive of faculty objectives and departmental programme content.
5. Student Relations
- Liaise with students and parents, build relationships and resolve escalations.
- Increase students’ identification and association with the faculty and its operations across campuses.
6. Postgraduate Studies
- Accountable for enrolment planning, admissions, terminations, programme delivery, examination, moderation and overall quality.
- Day-to-day management of postgraduate programmes, e.g., allocation of study leaders, timetables, venues, student requests and complaints, recording and financial obligations.
- Ensure effective policies, processes and faculty academic rules (calendars) regarding the management of undergraduate programmes and ensure that it is complied with to ensure the quality of academic programmes.
- Cooperation with the Deputy Deans to ensure the quality of the academic programmes and to address the shortcomings in the management of postgraduate programmes.
- Manage the selection process and be actively involved in the registration of students in coordination with the Administrative Manager.
- Implement and manage an effective system to deal with student’s requests and grievances (including appointments with students).
- Attend to requests/queries by supervisors and lecturers.
- Ongoing review of the curriculum and ensure the implementation of changes.
- Reflect on the teaching and learning methodology of postgraduate coursework programmes on an ongoing basis to adapt to the needs of present-day students and the demands of the modern technological era and see to it that it is implemented successfully, considering different delivery modes.
- Implement and oversee a secure and effective system for assessment and moderation.
- Monitor the throughput of postgraduate students and determine strategies to reach the NWU targets and improve student success.
- Administer an effective system to identify and support students who are not performing (as-risk students).
- Administer an effective system to terminate the studies of students who do not perform adequately.
- Involved in student disciplinary matters within the faculty and referred to the Student Disciplinary Committee/Appeals Committee for student matters.
- Attending meetings to see that the faculty’s interests are met and to stay abreast of developments.
- Manage, assist and provide leadership and mentorship to the Deputy Directors of Postgraduate Studies.
7. Management and Leadership
- Faculty effectiveness and efficiency inclusive of infrastructure and facilities.
- Joint accountability with leadership team for management effectiveness of the institution.
- Stakeholder relationship development and effectiveness.
- Corporate governance, conformance, reporting and risk management.
- Cost management and cost effectiveness.
- Faculty processes and systems implementation, utilisation, effectiveness and efficiency.
- Personal effectiveness, wholeness and development.
- Values-based behaviour leadership and personal compliance.
Minimum requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- A PhD in one of the faculty’s disciplines (NQF level 10).
- Five (5) to ten (10) years’ senior management experience.
- Significant research and postgraduate studies experience within the higher education environment.
- Membership and/or professional registration with appropriate academic and professional networks/bodies.
- Experience in financial management and budgeting.
- A distinguished record of research and scholarship excellence.
- A track record of developing and maintaining relationships with research-funding and professional bodies.
ADDED ADVANTAGE:
- An NRF rating.
KEY FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Excellent people and communication skills.
- A thorough knowledge of the RSA’s higher and basic -education environment.
- A well-developed proficiency in information and communication technology.
- An acceptable knowledge of approaches to student access and support and curriculum design and delivery within the applicable academic fields.
- An aptitude for managing the research and innovation value chain.
- Demonstration of language proficiency in order to function optimally in the various multilingual environments of the NWU.
KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:
- Professional work ethic.
- Autonomous, accurate and assertive.
- Responsible, accountable, fair, transparent.
- Is decisive, able to reach timely decisions and initiate action appropriately.
- Follows through on commitments, obligations for services.
- Represents the faculty in a positive and professional manner.
REMUNERATION:
The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING JOB CONTENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Prof. Lloyd Conley on 018 299 1610
ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Mr. Lionel Eksteen on 018 285 2104
CLOSING DATE: 30 June 2025
PLANNED COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES: As soon as possible
Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official nwu vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.
The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. It all starts here ®
