Professor and Deputy Dean : Research and Innovation and Community Engagement (N000722) (Re-Adve[...]

North West University; Potchefstroom; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent South African university seeks a Professor and Deputy Dean to drive research, strategy, and community engagement. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in Engineering, significant leadership experience, and a vision for enhancing the faculty's impact. This is a strategic role crucial for shaping the future of the Faculty in a dynamic academic environment.

Qualifications

• PhD (NQF level 10) in Engineering or related field relevant to the research areas.
• NRF-rating as established researcher or potential for it.
• Minimum of 8 years relevant work experience.
• At least 4 years middle management experience in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for the Faculty and ensure implementation.
• Manage day-to-day operations and resources.
• Lead research initiatives and improve research outputs.
• Drive community engagement with local projects.

Skills

Strategic planning

Operational management

Research and innovation

Community engagement

Student relations

Stakeholder management

Cost management

Education

PhD in Engineering or related field

Tools

Information and communication technology

Job description

Job title: Professor and Deputy Dean : Research and Innovation and Community Engagement (N000722) (Re-Advertisement)

Job Location: North West, Potchefstroom

Deadline: November 10, 2025

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Purpose of the Position

• The Faculty of Engineering at North-West University (engineering.nwu.ac.za) is a vibrant, industry-engaged academic environment focused on developing engineers who are equipped to lead in a rapidly changing world.
• The Faculty offers seven professional undergraduate programmes—Chemical, Electrical and Electronic, Computer and Electronic, Mechatronic, Industrial, Mechanical, and Electromechanical Engineering—all fully accredited and aligned with national priorities.
• Diploma and research-based variants of these programmes are also offered at postgraduate level, alongside specialised offerings in Nuclear Engineering and Sustainable Mining.
• The Faculty is particularly known for its integrated energy systems research, including Hydrogen (HySA), Nuclear Engineering, renewable generation, carbon-based alternatives, energy storage, automation, and smart grid optimisation.
• It also has strong capacity in data- and technology-integrated systems, including data science, AI and industrial automation research and programmes and Engineering Education.
• With strong partnerships in industry, government, and an expanding network of international collaborators, the Faculty plays a key role in advancing sustainable socio-technical solutions in South Africa and beyond.
• Following a recent strategic realignment, two new Deputy Dean positions have been created to support the Faculty’s continued growth and complexity. We are now seeking to appoint a visionary academic leader to the position of Deputy Dean : Research and Innovation and Community Engagement, who will help shape the next chapter of the Faculty’s development.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Development

• Co- determine faulty strategy and joint accountability for the implementation thereof
• Jointly accountable for the successful implementation of the new NWU Teaching and Learning strategy.
• Jointly accountable for successful implementation of the overall NWU strategy.
• Translate the faculty strategy into a site implementation plan and operationalise.

Operational Management

• Lead and direct day – today operational planning, performance and quality ensuring alignment with faculty plan.
• Participate in planning with schools and the annual faculty calender.
• Oversee and manage utillisation of resources and finances as allocated by the executive Dean.
• Deputise for the Executive Dean.
• Accountable across campus as Chairperson of relevant faculty board committee(s).

Research and Innovation

• Maintain a research environment and support infrastructure enabling world-class research.
• Implement inter-and trans-disciplinary research that differentiates the NWU nationally and internationally.
• Participate in national and international collaboration addressing NWU niche research areas.
• Continuous improvement of research outputs (quality and number) to positively impact national and internationalstanding.
• Promote the faculty through market trends and needs identification.
• Clustering research and innovation appropriately around agreed research themes focusing on national andinternational imperatives.
• Coordinate fundamental research, applied research, research in application, curiosity- driven research, blue skiesresearch and directed research
• Facilitate differentiation and third- stream revenue generation through innovation and commercialization administration.

Community Engagement

• Drive community engagement initiatives that are integrated with research and innovation.
• Socially responsive local community projects, supportive of faculty objectives and departmental programme content.

Student Relations

• Liaise with students and parents, build relationships and resolve escalations.
• Increase students’ identification and association with the faculty and its operation across campus.

External Relationships

• Secure funding, professional recognition, academic development, employment, through effective local and international relationships with peers, higher education institutions, research community, industry professional bodies and community.
• In consultation with the Executive Dean, position and promote the faculty and ultimately the NWU Brand, through effective marketing and communication, relationships with local government, the community, industry, students, parents and alumniand other stakeholders.
• Promote and drive internationalisation and commercialization.

Management and Leadership

• Faculty effectiveness and efficiency inclusive of infrastructure and facilities, schools, Programme and Research entities effectiveness joint accountability.
• Joint accountability with the leadership team for management effectiveness of the institution.
• Stakeholder relationship development and effectiveness.
• Corporate governance, conformance, reporting and risk management.
• Cost management and cost- effectiveness.
• Faculty processes and systems implementation, utilisation, effectiveness and efficiency.
• Personal effectiveness, wholeness and development.
• Values-based behavior leadership and personal compliance.

Minimum Requirements

• A PhD (NQF level 10) in Engineering or related field relevant to the research areas of the Faculty.
• An NRF-rating as established researcher or a full portfolio submitted with application that could possibly qualify for NRF-rating.
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ relevant work experience of which at least two (2) are specialist industry experience.
• A minimum of four (4) years’ middle management experience in a higher education or science council context as Director / HoD / Academic Programme Manager / Research Programme Manager – as appropriate for the role.

Key Functional / Technical Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of the RSA Higher Education system.
• Well-developed information and communication technology proficiency.
• Acceptable management accountancy proficiency.
• Acceptable knowledge of approaches to student access and support and curriculum design and delivery within theapplicable academic fields.
• Aptitude in managing the research- innovation value chain.

Key Behavioural Competencies

• Competency model under development- will be added later.

Apply by : 2 November 2025