Executive Dean: Faculty of Science at University of Johannesburg

• The University seeks to appoint an exceptionally motivated and energetic leader of high professional and academic standing as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science.
• Reporting to both the Deputy Vice-Chancellors Academic, and Research and Internationalisation, the Executive Dean is a member of the UJ Executive Leadership Group (ELG) and is responsible for shaping, leading, and delivering world-class, transformative education, professional development, and postgraduate programmes, coupled with a strong focus on research with impact.
• The Executive Dean has strategic, operational, and administrative oversight of the faculty and is expected to effectively and collegially steward the faculty to achieve sustainable excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, innovation, internationalisation, and community engagement.

The Executive Dean will be expected to:

• Determine, articulate, implement, and lead faculty based strategic initiatives to enhance the UJ’s reputation and performance in accordance with its 2025 Strategic Objectives, viz. attaining Global Excellence and Stature (GES) in the context of decolonisation, 4IR, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In other words, a strong commitment to delivering on the university’s strategic plan is required.
• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the faculty’s academic programmes across academic departments and disciplines.
• Develop and deepen excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, including online/blended-learning pedagogy, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and academic citizenship and leadership.
• Promote and advance excellence in research and innovation—both in quality and quantity.
• Implement policies and develop resources that promote and enhance the research as well as the teaching and learning capacity and capabilities of the faculty, including raising funds in support of research, teaching and learning, and continuing education.
• Oversee an effective, competitive, and responsive Programme Qualification Mix, including joint programmes with international peer universities;
• Ensure the highest level of faculty governance, administration, and systems functioning, including enrolment planning, management of the student’s academic life cycle, and risk management.
• Develop and implement relevant online, inbound, outbound, virtual, and/or joint academic programmes.
• Effectively manage academic, administrative, and professional support staff, including staff recruitment, development, and retention.
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the faculty’s research centres, finances, subsidies, and other resources.
• Promote the reputation and standing of the faculty within the scientific community and generally in broader civil society, industry, and government.
• Strengthen relationships with the public and private sectors, and in particular with professional societies/councils, departments of education, and academic partners in South Africa and internationally.
• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships between the faculty’s alumni and their alma mater.

Minimum requirements

• Substantial academic stature commensurate with an appointment at the professorial level, with a Ph.D. or equivalent qualification.
• An excellent academic reputation evidenced by a sustained record of research output.
• Excellent strategic leadership skills.
• Proven resource, strategic, and people management skills, along with the ability to develop and maintain collaborative networks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent conflict management and administrative skills.
• Exceptional ability and resilience to function under pressure.
• Unquestionable professional integrity and stature.

Recommendations:

• Where applicable, professional registration with a relevant South African statutory body.
• Rating with the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa or the potential for rating within a one- or two-year period.