Associate Professor/ Professor - Deevelopment Studies

Nelson Mandela University; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Nelson Mandela University seeks a senior academic to lead Development Studies teaching and research in development finance. The role includes supervising master’s and doctoral students, publishing in accredited journals, and coordinating programmes within the department.

The candidate will contribute to advancing development-finance research, engage with multidisciplinary teams, and mentor early-career academics while managing academic administration.

Qualifications

• Have a relevant PhD in Development Studies, Development Finance or a cognate degree with a substantive focus on Development Finance.
• Have at least four years’ experience as an Associate Professor in Development Finance or related field.
• Demonstrated supervision of master’s and doctoral candidates and evidence of leadership in research.
• Proven lecturing experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in development finance modules.
• Strong track record in coordinating academic programmes and contributing to academic leadership.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods and strong statistical analysis skills.
• A sustained record of attracting research funding.

Responsibilities

• Lecture at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with emphasis on development finance and related applied topics.
• Supervise master’s dissertations and doctoral theses across development-finance themes.
• Publish high-quality research and contribute to the department’s development-finance agenda.
• Engage in curriculum development, programme coordination, and research administration.
• Mentor emerging scholars and collaborate on multidisciplinary research projects.

Skills

Program coordination

Lecturing

Supervision

Quantitative methods

Statistical analysis

Research funding

Education

PhD in Development Studies

Job description

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The core purpose of this academic post is to lecture at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with particular strength in development finance and related applied economic development areas, to conduct and publish high-quality research within the discipline of Development Studies with focus on development finance, to supervise both master’s and doctoral students working on development-finance and socio-economic development topics, and to undertake the necessary administrative duties within the Department, while also providing mentorship and academic support to emerging scholars. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstratestrong applied quantitative research capability, particularly in the analysis of financial, economic and socio-economic data, and to contribute meaningfully to the Department’s development-finance research agenda.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Coordination of academic programmes within the Department, including strengthening content related to development finance, entrepreneurship, and applied economic development.
• Supervision of masters’ dissertations, treatises and guided reports, particularly in areas such as development finance, SME development, innovation, and socio-economic transformation.
• Supervision of doctoral theses across development-finance, entrepreneurship ecosystems, public-sector finance, and related development-related themes.
• Teaching on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with the ability to deliver modules in development finance, Quantitative Methods in Development Finance, finance and economic growth, International Finance for Development, managerial/project finance, entrepreneurship, and broader Development Studies.
• Contribute to Departmental research output, especially in accredited journals, through high-quality publications in development finance, venture capital, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic development.
• Efficient academic administration as required by the Head of Department, including curriculum development, programme coordination, and research administration.
• Capacity to work well with other members of the Development Studies team and support collaborative, multidisciplinary research.
• Capacity to contribute to the Department’s expanding themes in fields such as Development Finance; Sustainable development, Socio-Ecological Development; and Socio-Economic Development.
• Provide mentorship and academic support to emerging scholars, particularly inresearch design, quantitative analysis, academic writing and publication development.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Proven/extensive experience in coordinating academic programmes or leading research/academic units.
• In-depth understanding of the theory and application of Development Studies, with specialised expertise in development finance, venture capital in emerging markets, entrepreneurship ecosystems, SME development, and socio-economic transformation.
• Ability to facilitate learning at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a strong track record of teaching finance-related modules such as Quantitative Methods in Development Finance, managerial finance, project finance, financial inclusion, finance and economic growth, International Finance for Development, and entrepreneurship finance.
• For Associate Professor: proven experience supervising at least 5 Masters and 2 doctoral candidates to completion, with at least 1 as main supervisor; and for Full Professor: proven and sustained experience supervising at least 10 Masters and 4 doctoral candidates to completion, with at least 2 as main supervisor across Development Finance, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Public-Sector Finance and related fields.
• Demonstrated contribution to knowledge creation through an extensive and sustained publication record in accredited peer-reviewed journals, scholarly books, and book chapters, with a majority of outputs in development finance, and contemporary contributions in entrepreneurship.
• Working knowledge of national development policy frameworks, including the National Development Plan, and the ability to situate research and teaching within broader development agendas.
• A good understanding of research ethics in the South African context.

REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSOR. Candidates must:

• Have a relevant PhD in Development Studies, Development Finance or a cognate degree, with a demonstrable and substantive focus on Development Finance.
• Have at least four years’ working experience as an Associate Professor in Development Finance or a related field.
• Have a substantive academic background, demonstrated through supervision experience, accredited peer-reviewed publications, external examination work, funded research projects and research leadership, in at least two of the following areas: Development Finance, Socio-Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and SME Development, Rural and Township Economies, Innovation and Venture Capital, Economics, and Sustainable Development.
• Have proven and extensive experience in lecturing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, particularly in development finance-oriented modules.
• Have a proven and sustained record of successfully supervising master’s and doctoral students to completion.
• Have demonstrated experience in coordinating academic programmes and leading academic units.
• Have knowledge and experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including strong statistical analysis skills, as evidenced through supervision, publications and research outputs.
• Have a strong and sustained record of attracting research funding.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR. Candidates must:

• Have a relevant PhD in Development Studies, Development Finance or a cognate degree, with a demonstrable and substantive focus on Development Finance.
• Have at least three to seven years’ higher education experience in Development Finance or a related field.
• Have a substantive academic background, demonstrated through supervision experience, accredited peer-reviewed publications, external examination work, funded research projects and research leadership, in at least two of the following areas: Development Finance, Socio-Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and SME Development, Rural and Township Economies, Innovation and Venture Capital, Economics, and Sustainable Development.
• Have proven experience in lecturing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, particularly in development finance-oriented modules.
• Have proven experience in the successful supervision of master’s and doctoral students to completion.
• Have demonstrated experience in coordinating academic programmes and contributing to academic leadership.
• Have knowledge and experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including strong statistical analysis skills, as evidenced through supervision, publications and research project outputs.
• Have demonstrated experience in attracting research funding, including NRF-funded projects and externally supported institutional collaborations.
• Have a strong record of knowledge creation through accredited peer-reviewed publications and scholarly books and/or book chapters, with contributions to Development Finance and related fields.

DISCLAIMER: Nelson Mandela University is a designated employer committed to pursuing excellence, diversity, inclusion, and redress in achieving its employment equity targets. Preference will be given to suitably qualified (Race and Gender) candidates in accordance with the University's employment equity targets. No applications will be accepted after the closing date Friday, 09 October 2026.