Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences

Introduction

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan university, anchored in Africa and driven by a powerful strategy focused on attaining global excellence and stature (GES). With an emphasis on independent thinking, sustainable development, and strategic partnerships, UJ is an international university of choice. The University is guided by the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of “positioning UJ in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the context of the changing social, political, and economic fortunes of Africa”.

Job description

The Faculty of Health Sciences is one of the leading faculties of the University of Johannesburg. It is a leading contributor to the provision of high-quality graduates in a number of the Health Sciences domains, allowing registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the South African Nursing Council (SANC), and the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). The Faculty is an essential driver for enabling the University to position itself in the Fourth Industrial Revolution within the context of the changing social, political, and economic fortunes of South Africa and the continent. The Faculty has world-class facilities and hosts a South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) research unit, research centres focused on relevant and impactful research, and a SAMRC Extramural Unit, while the establishment of a medical school is at an advanced stage.
The Executive Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellors: Academic, and Research and Internationalisation, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Group of the University of Johannesburg. The primary responsibility of the Executive Dean is to effectively and collegially steward the Faculty in achieving excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement.
Read more about the Faculty of Health Sciences at: https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/health-sciences/
The University is seeking to appoint an exceptionally motivated and energetic leader of high professional and academic standing as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Reporting to both the Deputy Vice-Chancellors of 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, and inter-professional 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 steward effectively and collegially the Faculty to achieve sustainable excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, innovation, internationalisation, and community engagement.
The starting date of the position is 1 July 2023. With mutual agreement, and as appropriate, the University may decide on the role of an Executive Dean (designate).

The Executive Dean will be expected to, among other things:

• Determine, articulate, implement, and lead faculty-based strategic initiatives to enhance 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.
• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the Faculty’s academic programmes across academic departments and disciplines.
• Develop and deepen excellence and innovation in learning and teaching, 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 learning and teaching capacity and capabilities of the Faculty, including raising funds in support of research and learning and teaching, and Continuous Education.
• Oversee an effective, competitive, and responsive Programme Qualification Mix, including joint programmes with international peer universities while ensuring that faculty programmes are, where necessary, fully accredited with the relevant accreditation bodies.
• 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 health sector, 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.
• Provide strategic leadership for the promotion and establishment of the medical school.
• Ensure graduates will be well placed to apply their skills within the broader health setting in South Africa, including adopting new technologies to improve health outcomes in patients and communities. 

Minimum requirements

• Substantial academic stature that meet the University’s criteria for professorial appointment, with a PhD or equivalent qualification in Health Sciences or a related field.
• An excellent academic reputation, evidenced by a sustained record of research output.
• Excellent strategic leadership skills and knowledge, insight, and vision regarding the teaching profession, nationally and internationally.
• 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, emotional intelligence, and resilience to function under pressure.
• Unquestionable professional integrity and stature.

Recommendations:

• Professional registration with a relevant South African statutory body is preferable.
• Rating with the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa or the potential for rating within a one-/two-year period.

Terms of appointment:
The position of Executive Dean, which is subject to a compulsory probation period of 12 months, is a 5-year contract appointment, with an Executive-level remuneration and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. The appointment may be renewed for a further term of office, subject to performance.
 Retirement age:
The normal retirement age for members of the Executive Leadership Group is 65. Consideration will be given to candidates who would be able to serve for a 5-year term. If there is a need, MEC may decide on Executive Dean (designate).
Enquiries: Ms. T Kwinana, email at [email protected]
Application:
To apply, submit a detailed Curriculum Vitae and letter of motivation outlining a possible vision and strategic direction for the position. The name and full contact details (including telephone numbers and email addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be included.
Applications must be marked ‘Confidential’ and addressed to the Executive Director: Human Capital Management, and emailed to Ms. B Dumezweni at email: [email protected]
Closing date: 20 May 2023

PLEASE NOTE: APPLICANTS THAT APPLIED IN THE PREVIOUS ADVERT NEED NOT TO RE-APPLY.

Your application, comprising of a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be uploaded before or on the closing date of the advertised post. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and if applying for an academic position, a list of accredited research output and/ or a portfolio of your creative output.

Enquiries (UJ e-recruitment Portal)

If you have general enquiries regarding the advertised post, please send an e-mail with the subject line being the reference number of the post to [email protected]
If you require technical support / assistance on the UJ e-recruitment website, please contact our service provider PNET on the following contact details: 0861 227337/010 140 3099 or email [email protected]

Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.

In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. As necessitated by operational requirements the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 8 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.