Purpose
Responsible for teaching and learning, research and community engagement and to provide support to the department/school in pursuit of its academic objectives. Responsibilities may also include curriculum development, student academic development, administration and quality assurance to contribute to the academic initiatives undertaken by the department/school.

Minimum Requirement

Lecturer P8

• Master’s degree in Botany (or related field) with a specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
  
• Evidence of some teaching experience at tertiary level
• At least one relevant, published full length paper in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal (not mandatory).
• Evidence of active participation in professional, industry and/or community activities.
• Evidence of competence in administration of a course/subject at departmental level.
  

Senior Lecturer P7

• PhD/Doctorate in Botany (or related field) with a specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
• At least 4-6 years relevant teaching experience at tertiary level.
• Evidence of managing a research program.
• Evidence of relevant, published full length papers in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
• Evidence of successful postgraduate research supervision.
• Evidence of successful curriculum development and academic management (not mandatory).
• Evidence of active participation in professional, industry and/or community activities.
• Knowledge and experience of implementing quality assurance requirements.
• Evidence of external funding or demonstrate the ability to apply for external funding.
• Evidence of statistical competence.
  

Recommendation 

Lecturer

• It is highly recommended that the incumbent has knowledge of or has teaching experience in specialisation in Plant, Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics. 
• Statistical competence in R will be an added advantage.
• Experience with online teaching platforms and blended learning approaches will be an added advantage.
  

   Senior Lecturer

• It is highly recommended that the incumbent has the following experience:
• Teaching experience in or knowledge of specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
•  Research active with evidence of participation in collaborative research programmes.
• NRF rating or demonstrate the potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• SACNASP, ResearchGate and ORCID ID registration.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Teaching:

• Develop and present a reflective teaching portfolio which covers: Approach to teaching; contributions to curriculum development; design of learning materials; innovative pedagogy; student and junior staff mentoring; successful supervision of postgraduate students; formal participation
  in teaching and learning development courses; Student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching; Evidence of scholarship of Teaching and Learning would be beneficial.
• Provide evidence of teaching modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as evidence of postgraduate supervision.
• Contributions to curriculum development.
• Design of learning materials.
• Innovative pedagogy.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in implementing quality assurance requirements.
• Evidence of national and/or international collaboration within the Natural and applied Sciences fraternity.
• Student and junior staff mentoring.
• Formal participation in teaching and learning development courses.
• Student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching; Demonstrate the ability to teach across subjects.

Research:

• Demonstrate evidence of continuous research productivity in the form of:
• Publications in DHET-accredited journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings, research papers presented at national and/or international conferences.
• Contributions to scholarly books published by reputable publishers, in good standing with DHET and not linked to predatory practices.
• Highlight evidence of managing a research program.
• Evidence of external research fundraising.
• Proof of citations (e.g. Scopus H-index); Evidence of scholarship of Teaching and Learning would be beneficial.
• NRF rating is recommended OR demonstrate potential for obtaining an NRF rating within the next five 5 years.

Community Engagement:

• Significant involvement in discipline or departmental official activities and processes.
• Active academic participation in workshops/forums in higher education.
• Movement towards recognition in the broader subject/ discipline community.
• External examining/ moderating at other higher education institutions at UG and/or PG levels.

Curriculum development and accreditation

• Contribute to curriculum development and participate in curriculum review to ensure alignment with sector /discipline norms and requirements.

Student academic development

• Identify, report, and support students at risk timeously.
• Develop intervention strategies.

Administration

• Keep attendance registers.
• Record student results.
• Assist with registration of students.
• Invigilate test and examinations.
• Implement policies and procedures applicable to the teaching and learning community engagement research, SHE and academic administration functions.
• Participate in departmental School /Faculty committees.

Quality Assurance

• Contribute to quality assurance through committee meetings and submission of relevant documents.
• Implement appropriate interventions.

Personal /Professional Development

• Keep abreast of development within own field of study.
  
• Register as member of professional bodies.
• Attend conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Present research papers at conferences.

Monitoring, Evaluations, and reporting

• Develop relevant reports as and when required.
• Communicate and consult with relevant stakeholders.

Enquiries can be made via email at [email protected]

Assumption of duties: As mutually agreed to upon acceptance of the appointment. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. This position may be subjected to assessments.

Women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Note: Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is dedicated to meeting its Employment Equity targets.