Job Details

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll  - Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!
To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements, as well as the following standard documentation:

                                                                     
•    A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
•    Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
•    A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
•    Confirmation of employment in the form of a letter, appointment contract, service certificate, or recent payslip from your current or most recent employer (applicable to external applicants only).
 

Duties and responsibilities: 
•    Teach Local Government Management, Public/Municipal Finance, Public Policy and or Public Administration modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
•    Perform academic administration of undergraduate and postgraduate modules pertaining to learning, teaching, research and assessments.
•    Contribute to curriculum development in the department and faculty.
•    Provide supervision in postgraduate programmes to Honours, Masters or PhD students.
•    Conduct high-quality research, publish in accredited journals, and deliver quality research outputs in line with the faculty's research strategy.
•    Provide leadership in pursuit of the department and faculty’s strategic plan with regard to research, learning and teaching, engaged scholarship, as well as leadership and administration.
•    Participate in additional academic activities including, but not limited to, presentation of research papers at national and/or international conferences as well as involvement in departmental/faculty research projects.
•    Serve as a member of various academic and research committees and perform any other tasks allocated by the Dean and Head of the Department.
•    Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with relevant research, civil society, government, industry, and professional organisations.

Inherent requirements:
Lecturer
•    A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or a related field (for a permanent appointment) 
or
•    A Master’s degree on NQF Level 9 in the field of Public Administration and Management or a related field (contract appointment: five years during which a Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or a related field  MUST be obtained to be converted to a permanent appointment). 
•    Proven record of teaching Public Administration and Management related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level, with a specific focus on Local Government Management, or Public Policy, and or Public/Municipal Finance.
•    Proven experience in the delivery of poster or oral presentations at conferences or equivalent activities.
•    Evidence of manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.
•    A good academic record (attach a copy).

Senior Lecturer
•    A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or a related field.
•    Proven record of teaching Public Administration and Management related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level, with a specific focus on Local Government Management, or Public Policy, and or Public/Municipal Finance.
•    Proven experience in the presentation of papers/posters at national scholarly conferences.
•    Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in a specific area of scholarship.
•    An NRF rating or demonstrated potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
•    Proven experience in supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
•    A proven research record of relevant publication/s in peer-reviewed national and international accredited scientific journals. 
•    Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society or committee or agency concerned with research at higher-education levels.

Associate Professor
•    A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or a related field. 
•    Proven record of teaching Public Administration and Management related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level, with a specific focus on Local Government Management, or Public Policy, and or Public/Municipal Finance.
•    Experience as external examiner for postgraduate students.
•    Proven experience in the presentation of research papers at national conferences, where there is evidence of peer review of papers.
•    Acted as an editorial board member of high-quality national scholarly journals.
•    Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a specific scientific area of scholarship.
•    An NRF rating of C3 or equivalent status.
•    Proven experience in the supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
•    A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals
•    Served as a member of a national scholarly society OR a national committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels OR showed evidence of service as an active member of an international equivalent.

Professor
•    A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in Public Administration and Management or a related field. 
•    Proven record of teaching Public Administration and Management related modules at an undergraduate and/or postgraduate level, with a specific focus on Local Government Management, or Public Policy, and or Public/Municipal Finance.
•    Experience as external examiner for master’s-degree and doctoral students.
•    Acted as editorial board member of high-quality international/ISI/IBSS journals.
•    Proven international recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a particular area of academic scholarship (for example, regularly serves as a reviewer for international/ISI/IBSS journals).
•    An NRF rating of C1 or C2 or equivalent status.
•    Demonstrated successful supervision of graduated master’s-degree and preferably graduated doctoral students.
•    Proven experience in delivering keynote addresses at national scholarly conferences.
•    Served as a member of an international scholarly society OR an international committee or agency concerned with research at higher-education levels.

Recommendations:
•    Member of a or registration at a professional body (applicable to Lecturer / Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor).
•    Experience as a departmental leader/ manager in a higher education environment (applicable to Associate Professor and Professor).
•    Sound knowledge of the South African Public Administration and Management environment.
•    Sound knowledge of the South African public sector environment.
•    Proven work experience in the South African public sector environment.
 

Required competencies:  
•    Results Orientated:
-    The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
-    The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.
•    Strategic Thinking:
-    The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
-    The ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.
•    Business Acumen:
-    The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
-    Proficient in using MS Office.
-    Sound knowledge of the South African Public Administration and Management environment.
•    Leading:
-    The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 
-    The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.
•    Building Coalitions:
-    The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:
1 July 2026

Closing date:
25 February 2026

Salary:
The salary is available on request.

Fringe benefits: 
(Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.

Enquiries:
For enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 2558 or email ManzanaL@ufs.ac.za  or Recruit@ufs.ac.za. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 2876 / 7659 for assistance.

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at: 
ufs-employment-equity-plan_2025.pdf

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.