Chief Officer at University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

• The University of the Western Cape (UWC) enjoys national and international acclaim for its continuing contribution to democratic change in South Africa, for making quality education accessible to all South Africans and developing centres of excellence of national importance. Part of this strive for excellence is a commitment to biodiversity conservation and research.
• The Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is located within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. It is a dynamic department with strong research foci on Marine Biology, African Biodiversity, Ecology, Behavioural Ecology and Systematics. The department provides undergraduate teaching broadly focused on themes within Botany and Zoology, and offers service courses in Life Science, as well as Plant and Animal Diversity, to several other Faculties within the University.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key responsibility areas:

• Management of Health and Safety in the department.
• Management of support staff performance and development.
• Undergraduate and postgraduate lecturing within the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, i.e. development of learning and teaching material such as course readers, online content, tutorials and assignments.
• Procurement and financial management.
• Managing laboratory equipment (including calibration of instruments) and stores, including collection of biological specimens.
• Inventory control.
• Preparation and delivery of, and cleaning up after, undergraduate practical classes.
• Administration of student marks.
• Active participation in support of departmental research.

Minimum Requirements

• A Master's degree in Botany and/or Zoology
• At least two years relevant experience in laboratory practices, including scientific equipment management/maintenance.
• Experience in lecturing at a tertiary institution.
• A valid driver’s license.

Required competencies :

• Skills in planning, organisation and budget management.
• Proven oral and written communication in English.
• Good interpersonal Skills
• Computer literacy and e-learning skills (i.e. working on online teaching platforms).

Added advantage and preferences: 

• Knowledge of Health and Safety practices.
• Experience in procurement and Finance