Vice-Chancellor and Principal (Peromnes Level 1 – Contract Appointment: Five Years, with the Possibility of Reappointment For a Further Term) - (1499) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal assumes overarching responsibility for:

• driving Vision-130 and the University’s strategic plan with courage, integrity and a deep commitment to teaching and research excellence, social justice and the achievement of a transformed institution;
• managing the University to ensure that it is locally and globally competitive, financially sustainable, and environmentally and socially responsible;
• implementing the University’s strategic, change, and operational initiatives;
• facilitating and promoting external fundraising;
• facilitating and managing sound policies and practices for the functioning of the University;
• establishing, maintaining, and promoting sound relations with staff and students and with key stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally;
• identifying and managing the strategic and operational risks to which the University may be exposed; and
• ensuring local, regional, and international participation by the University.

Inherent Job Requirements

• A doctoral degree would be generally required and the ideal candidate will be someone who fulfill the following criteria: 
• Has a distinguished academic and research record. 
• Recognised academic standing as a Professor or eligibility for appointment to the rank of Professor.
• A minimum of ten years of proven high level leadership success at an executive level having progressed through the academic/management hierarchy. 
• Proven leadership, management and communication skills at senior management level in higher education.
• An ability to successfully manage leadership teams, and to empower, motivate and unite staff, students and other stakeholders to achieve the shared objectives of the institution.
• Track record of visionary, innovative, and strategic leadership, and commitment to excellence in the successfully developed and overseen the implementation of fundamental change in complex spaces.
• Experience of human resources and financial management appropriate to the level of appointment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the funding arrangements for higher education and a deep understanding of the financial health and sustainability of universities.
• Proven record as a fundraiser.
• Proven understanding and appreciation of the pressures and opportunities in the higher education sector, locally and globally.
• A commitment to harnessing technology to achieve the strategic objectives of the University and to support the University in preparing graduates fit for the workplace of the future.
• A commitment to sustaining and a track record for further developing a student-centred, transformed, inclusive and multilingual culture for all stakeholders, especially students.
• A proven record of well-developed national and international networks that will support growth for the University and its stakeholders.
• As part of the interview process, provisionally shortlisted candidates will be expected to deliver a short presentation to the Selection Committee and the community of the UFS.  

Competencies

• Term of Office:  The appointment is for a five-year term with the possibility of a reappointment for a further term.