Associate Professor/Professor and Head of the Department (One Post), Department of Mercantile L[...]

University of Pretoria; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Pretoria seeks to appoint an Associate Professor/Professor and Head of the Department of Mercantile Law. This role encompasses providing academic leadership, managing departmental operations, and fostering research and teaching excellence in a leading legal education environment.

Benefits

Contributions to medical aid schemes

Research opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in high-level liaison with stakeholders.
• Established national and international profile.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Handle academic and operational management of the Department.
• Promote and manage academic and research programmes.
• Recruit and manage personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Research

Education

Doctoral degree in Mercantile Law

Job description

UP Posting - Academic

FACULTY OF LAW

DEPARTMENT OF MERCANTILE LAW

POST TITLE: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR / PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT (ONE POST)

POST LEVEL: 006

The University of Pretoria is one of the leading research-intensive universities in South Africa. Its nine faculties and business school offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. We are a diverse and dynamic community of staff and students committed to excellence, diversity, sustainability, and making a difference.

The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research Universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international science and technology development.

In pursuit of excellence and diversity, the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the above vacancy.

Overview Of The Department:

The Department of Mercantile Law's work in teaching, research and community engagement lies at the intersection of business and law. The teaching, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and research span across the vast majority of subject fields in the broader mercantile and commercial law category. The work of the Department, anchored on vast experience and skills of staff, a significant majority of whom holds a doctorate as their highest qualification, enable them to produce knowledge and impart skills needed by the corporate legal sector, the economy and broader society.

While the work of the Department has a significant business flavor, we are not just about business and the law. The Department is mindful, and do take cognisance, of historical injustices and prevailing socio-economic challenges in our society. Thus, in executing its mandate in teaching, research and community engagement, the Department strive to find solutions for problems in society and to promote social justice.

As the largest academic Department in one of South Africa and Africa’s top ranked Law Faculties, the Department considers itself a leader in a number of subject fields in which it offers tuition to undergraduate and postgraduate students and conduct research. The international standing and profile, consistent with that of our Law Faculty, is also among the highest in South Africa and the African continent. This means undergraduate and postgraduate students who complete any of our courses and programs can be confident that they are equipped with the right knowledge and skills needed to excel in the complex modern legal and business worlds.

The Department is also home to the ABSA Chair in Banking Law in Africa and the Unit for Insurance Law and Governance. The ABSA Chair in Banking Law in Africa and the Unit for Insurance Law and Governance furthers the Department’s objectives in teaching, research, community engagement and internationalisation.

Position Overview :

The University seeks to appoint an Associate Professor/Professor and Head of Department. The appointment will be additional to the successful candidate’s academic appointment. The primary role of the Head of Department is to provide strong academic leadership. The Head of Department is required to lead, manage, and develop the Department (including centres and units located within the Department) and its staff to ensure it achieves the highest possible standards of excellence in all its activities, in line with both the Faculty’s and University’s strategic objective of being a research-intensive University.

Key Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will be responsible for but not limited to the following:
• Handling the strategic, academic and operational management of the Department;
• Promoting, planning, organising and managing academic and research programmes and the Department’s research profile;
• Recruiting and managing personnel;
• Managing all financial activities including externally funded projects;
• Playing an active role as academic leader of the discipline at a national and international level;
• Marketing and growing the Department on all levels;
• Aligning the Department with the strategic plans, goals and policies of the University and the Faculty.
  
  

Minimum Requirements:

Associate Professor:

• A relevant doctoral degree in Mercantile Law;
• The candidate must possess the requisite qualifications and experience to be eligible for appointment as Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of Pretoria, the assessment of which is based on several factors, including teaching, research and postgraduate supervision, community engagement, academic administration and academic citizenship;
• Preferably 8 years teaching experience;
• Recognised academic status in the relevant discipline of which a suitable NRF rating will serve as a strong indication thereof;
• At least 16 quality publications in accredited journals, demonstrating regular research output, of which 6 should have been accredited publications published in the 3 years preceding the year of application;
• Conference papers delivered internationally;
• Active memberships of academic relevant national and international subject-related bodies;
• Evidence of successful master’s supervision: 4 research master’s, or 6 coursework master’s mini-dissertations will be strong recommendations, and where possible, evidence of completed successful doctoral supervision or co- supervision;
• Extensive record of Academic Citizenship.
  
  

Professor:

• A relevant doctorate with specialisation in doctoral degree in Mercantile Law ;
• The candidate must possess the requisite qualifications and experience to be eligible for appointment as Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of Pretoria, the assessment of which is based on several factors, including teaching, research and postgraduate supervision, community engagement, academic administration and academic citizenship;
• Preferably 10 years teaching experience;
• Extensive experience in Curriculum Development;
• At least 30 publications in accredited journals, demonstrating regular research output, including 8 accredited publications published in the last 3 years preceding the year of application;
• Recognised academic status in the relevant discipline for which a suitable NRF rating will serve as a strong indication;
• Conference papers delivered internationally;
• Active memberships of academic relevant national and international subject-related bodies;
• Evidence of successful master’s supervision: (at least 6 research or 10 coursework master’s mini-dissertations successfully completed), or at least two completed successful doctoral supervisions);
• Extensive record of Academic Citizenship.
  
  

Associate Professor:

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Experience in high-level liaison with internal and external stakeholders and professional boards;
• An established national profile and networks;
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
  
  

Professor:

• Experience in high-level liaison with internal and external stakeholders and professional boards;
• Experience in supervising postgraduate students (master’s or doctoral students);
• Established national and international profile and networks;
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
  
  

Associate Professor:

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• Proven managerial experience at a tertiary institution;
• Experience in curriculum development;
• NRF rating;
• Evidence of Community Engagement.
  
  

Professor:

• Proven managerial experience at a tertiary institution;
• NRF Rating;
• Evidence of Community Engagement.
  
  

The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent's level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.

Applicants are requested to apply online at www.up.ac.za, and follow the link: Careers@UP.

In Applying For This Post, Please Attach:

• A cover letter, comprehensive CV detailing academic and professional qualifications, as well as a full employment history;
• Certified copies of qualifications;
• A self-evaluation of your suitability for appointment in the post;
• Vision for the Department;
• Teaching portfolio;
• Research portfolio (including record of citation index scores); and
• The names and contact details of at least three referees (one national and two international) who can attest to your academic stature and leadership qualities.
  
  

The University reserves the right to appoint and consult its own referees.

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to prepare a 10-minutes presentation of their vision for the Department. The topic and further details will only be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Although candidates will be appointed permanently as Professor or Associate Professor, the headship is a fixed-term appointment of four years. Preference will be given to the incumbent for re-appointment for a second term if they are available for appointment . External candidates will also be considered for a permanent academic appointment in a suitable academic department.

CLOSING DATE: 11 July 2025

No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.

ENQUIRIES: Contact person Prof CA Maimela Tel: [phone], or e-mail: [e-mail] for position related enquiries Name, Contact person Jeanette Schoeman – Tel [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail] for application process enquiries.

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 31 October 2025, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity.

Under the University's Employment Equity Plan and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but it is not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups.

All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply.

By applying for this vacancy, candidates consent to undergo verification of personal credentials and related information, including, but not limited to, qualifications, criminal record, (including sexual offenses clearance) credit record, and and current and historic disciplinary proceedings as part of the selection process.

The University of Pretoria reserves the right not to fill the advertised position.