South Africa: Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer Human Movement Science Health Sciences posted by Nelson Mandela University

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The Department of Human Movement Science (HMS) invites applications for the position of Associate Professor or Senior lecturer. Situated in a modern, well-equipped facility, the department is home to three qualifications (i.e., BHSc in Biokinetics, Bachelor of Human Movement Science and Diploma in Sport Management) and two service units (i.e., Biokinetics and Sport Science Unit (BSSU) and the High- performance unit). The department is an integral part of the Madibaz High Performance Complex.

We seek a qualified individual with a relevant Doctoral degree, with expertise in a Human Movement Science related discipline, including extensive performance-based skills. The candidate should be registered with a professional body, where applicable. The ideal candidate should showcase established national and international expertise in the field.

In the case of an Associate Professor:

In addition to academic qualifications, the candidate should have experience in an academic leadership role in internal and external review processes to enhance the quality of learning and teaching. The applicant must have extensive relevant experience (five to seven years) in facilitating learning and teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels with a growing national recognition for the quality of teaching practice. They should possess proven experience in research, managing national and international collaborations, and supervising students at various academic levels (honor’s, masters, PhDs, and post-doctoral).

The applicant is expected to have experience in academic leadership, whether it be program management, coordination, Head of Department (HOD), or Director of School (DOS), alongside actively participating in engagement programs.

In the case of senior lecturer:

The applicant is expected to demonstrate an ability to contribute to internal and external review processes to enhance the quality of learning and teaching. The applicant must have relevant experience (three to five years) in facilitating learning and teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. They should possess experience in research and postgraduate student supervision at various levels (honors and Masters with capacity to supervise at PhD level).

The department is strategically enhancing its commitment to teaching, research, and community engagement. Therefore, applicants should bring substantial university-level teaching experience and a proven research record in Human Movement Science.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Facilitate and oversee the learning process for students enrolled in modules offered by the Department, spanning both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Review and formulate academic curricula to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• Assume a leadership role in the management of research within the Department and Faculty, actively engaging in self-initiated or collaborative research efforts, including interdisciplinary projects.
• Produce peer-reviewed articles for publication in accredited national and international journals.
• Participate in academic engagement, contributing to internal (within the department, faculty, and institution) and external service to the discipline and/or profession.
• Present research papers at academic and professional conferences, both nationally and internationally.
• Conduct advanced research in Human Movement Science and show evidence of successful grant writing applications (The latter applies to Associate Professor applicant).
• Contribute to community engagement initiatives and actively participate in the core administrative functions of the Department, Faculty, and the University.
• Engage actively in professional bodies and academic associations, as applicable.

CORE COMPETENCIES

The candidate should be:

• Proficient in delivering effective lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate HMS related curricula, involving teaching and supervision at the university level.
• Registered with Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and/or other relevant bodies, where applicable, ensuring compliance with professional standards.
• Capable of securing external research funding to support research, engagement, and academic initiatives (This applies to Associate Professor level).
• Proficient in supervising and examining both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Capable of supervising and mentoring post-doctoral fellows (for Associate Professor level).
• Able to work diligently to complete and deliver quality tasks timeously.
• In possession of strong interpersonal skills, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Team-oriented, able to work harmoniously within a team setting, acknowledging the inter and multidisciplinary nature of the discipline.
• Willingness to assume a leadership role in the management of an academic/service/research unit within a collaborative team

REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for consideration for this position, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Possession of a PhD or DPhil degree in HMS or equivalent Health Sciences, accompanied by a minimum of 3 to 7 years of full-time university-level teaching and research experience in the field of performance physiology and/or biomechanics (for Associate Professor level), or a minimum of 3 to 5 years of full-time university-level teaching and research in the given field (for Senior lecturer level); and
• Proven record of publications in recognized accredited journals in the given field; and
• Evidence of active participation in both local and international conferences, in the given field; and
  • Demonstrate success in research methodology and supervising honors and masters’ graduates (for Senior Lecturer level) and/or doctoral candidates and/or postdoctoral fellows (for Associate Professor level); and
  • Documentation of engagement in national and international collaborations; and proven ability to secure external research grants; and
  • In possession of strong interpersonal skills, fostering effective communication and collaboration within a multidisciplinary or interprofessional team; and
  • Proven experience in the use of lab-based equipment and/ or software (including Microsoft Office products), relevant to the field.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact person:

Applicants are to submit:

• a cover letter detailing how their skills exactly match the post requirements,
• a reference letter outlining core competencies and key performance areas,
• an updated CV,
• a copy of ID,
• copy of Driver’s License and
• certified copies of all tertiary qualifications