Job Opportunities at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

Academic Administration

•     Prepare, conduct and coordinate undergraduate practicals in the following modules: lower life and molecular biology, plant biology, plant anatomy and morphology, vegetation ecology and plant systematics, plant physiology and biotechnology.
•     Order and manage all practical material.
•     Mark undergraduate practical reports and tests.
•     Capture practical marks and keep an accurate record of marks.
•     Manage all communication with students overseen in practicals.
•     Manage student assistants and research assistants.
•     Assist with verification of class and examination timetables for the department.
•     Organise workshops and seminars.  

Financial Administration

•     Manage departmental entities.
•     Compile a report on departmental entities.
•     Request and appraise quotations.
•     Capture requisitions and follow up on their approval.
•     Receive purchase orders and forward them to suppliers.
•     Receive ordered goods and equipment.
•     Submit invoices to the Finance Department for payment of service providers.
•     Manage ad hoc claims of the department.
•     Capture, report and follow up on job requests for maintenance and repairs when necessary.
•     Purchase and order office suppliers, stationery, and equipment.
•     Generate cost centre reports for departmental entities and check on a weekly and/or monthly basis.
•     Check on encumbrances for all departmental entities and follow up on outstanding invoices and payments.
•     Assist postgraduate students with F1 claims.

Laboratory Maintenance 

•     Ensure laboratory equipment is in good working order.
•     Report on equipment failure and make arrangements for it to be fixed.
•     Keep a record of departmental assets including microscopes.
•     Keep a record of departmental equipment for servicing and repairs.
•     Ensure laboratory compliance with safety regulations and oversee cleanliness in laboratories.
•     Manage the departmental chemical storerooms and ensure safety of chemical storage and disposal.
•     Manage the departmental glassware storeroom.
•     Manage the disposal of laboratory waste, chemical waste and broken glassware.
•     Taking care of plants growing in the glasshouses for undergraduate practicals.
•     Liaise with the Finance Department with tagging of departmental assets and the disposal of old pieces of equipment.

General Administration 

•     Provide administrative support to department academic staff.
•     Manage general office administration and operations, including:
  •          Handle general enquiries.
  •          Responsible for meeting administration.
  •          Arrange events within the department (departmental meetings, end of year function, etc.).
  •          Responsible for travelling and accommodation arrangements.
  •          Participate in faculty activities/committees when nominated.

Human Resource Administration 

•     Monitor and supervise student assistants.
•     Act as a team leader.
•     Assist with the administration of contract appointments.

Marketing 

•     Develop marketing material.
•     Responsible for the arrangements of Open Days, Postgraduate Open Days, Research days etc.

Inherent Job Requirements:

•     BSc degree in Botany on NQF Level 7.
•     Three (3) years relevant work experience within the higher education environment (e.g., assisting with practicals and administration).

Recommendations:

•     BSc Honours degree in Botany on NQF Level 8. 
•     Experience in Oracle PeopleSoft-Financial System will be an advantage.
•     Experience with curation of Herbarium specimens will be an advantage.

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Duties and Responsibilities:

•     Provide formal teaching of Human Geography for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
•     Provide study leadership at postgraduate level.
•     Ensure active involvement in research.
•     Recruit postgraduate students.
•     Supervise and provide consultation sessions for postgraduate students.
•     Source external research funding and forge linkage with the industry.
•     Perform general administration duties as applicable at the university level.

Inherent Job Requirements:

•     PhD on NQF Level 10 in Human Geography or a closely related discipline (for a permanent appointment)

or

•     Master’s Degree on NQF Level 9 in Human Geography or a closely related discipline (for a contract appointment: 5 years during which a PhD on NQF Level 10 in Human Geography or a closely related discipline MUST be obtained to be converted into a permanent position).
•     Proven experience in the presentation of papers at both national and international scholarly conferences.
•     Proof of published articles in accredited journals.

    A good academic record.

Recommendations:

•     A PhD degree NQF Level 10 in Human Geography or a closely related discipline.
•     Any relevant tertiary teaching, research and experience in the industry as well as national and international contacts.
•     Proven experience of presentation of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.
•     Provide evidence of manuscripts published in accredited journals.

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Duties and Responsibilities:

•     Contribute towards creating a strong academic identity for the Department of History on the Qwaqwa Campus of the UFS.
•     Teach and assess undergraduate modules in History.
•     Provide study guidance to undergraduate students.
•     Active participation    and involvement in applicable Departmental and Faculty management structures.
•     Contribute to building an effective team of scholars.
•     Contribute to programme development and curriculum review within the Department and Faculty of the Humanities.
•     Perform organisational and administrative duties.

Inherent Job Requirements:

•     PhD on NQF Level 10 in History

or

•     Master’s Degree on NQF Level 9 in History with registration for a PhD on NQF level 10 in History.
•     One (1) or more years relevant lecturing experience at tertiary level.
•     Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.
•     Provide evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.

Recommendations:

•     A PhD on NQF level 10 in History.
•     Proven record of supervision of postgraduate students at Honours level.
•     Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
•     Experience in teaching with electronic management tools such as Blackboard.
•     Ability to conduct and publish quality research.

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Duties and responsibilities:

•     Teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas of geospatial analysis and modelling and contribute to teaching within the broad field of environmental systems and/ or human-environment interactions especially in a mountainous environment.
•     Maintain an active research program leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals and other avenues.
•     Recruit and supervise postgraduate Geography students.
•     Initiate and conduct high-level research and sustain quality research outputs.
•     Active participation and involvement in applicable UFS management structures.
•     Build an effective team of scholars.
•     Contribute to programme development and curriculum review within the department and faculty. 
•     Participate in community engagement initiatives.
•     Perform organizational and administrative duties.

Inherent Job Requirements:

Lecturer:

•     PhD on NQF level 10 in Geography/Earth Sciences/Environmental Sciences/Geographical Information Science (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS)/Geospatial Science, or related field (for a permanent appointment).

or

•     Master’s degree on NQF level 9 in Geographical Information Science (GIS) and Remote Sensing or closely related field (contract appointment: 5 years during which a PhD on NQF level 10 MUST be obtained to be converted into a permanent position).
•     Demonstrate geospatial-modelling skills with proven experience in GIS systems and remote sensing analysis. Preference will be given to applicants with previous University teaching experience linked to modelling within GIS and remote sensing software.
•     Background and capability to teach R, IDL, Python or other programming language suitable for scientific computing.
•     Potential to teach effective upper-level courses related to GIS, RS, and geospatial analysis.
•     Potential for excellence in graduate instruction and mentoring.

Senior Lecturer:

•     PhD on NQF level 10 in Geography/Earth Sciences/Environmental Sciences/Geographical Information Science (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS)/Geospatial Science, or related field. 
•     Relevant tertiary teaching experience, research and experience in academia as well as national and international contacts.
•     Demonstrated research experience in geospatial science as evidence by record of publication (Poster or Oral Presentations at conferences or equivalent activities) and external funding.
•     Teach effective upper-level courses related to GIS, RS, and geospatial analysis.
•     Proven ability in excellence in graduate instruction and mentoring.
•     Proven experience in the presentation of papers at both national and international scholarly conferences.
•     Proven experience in supervision of graduated master`s students.
•     Proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals.