Director Position - Closing date for application extended to 31 May 2023.

After some 15 years at the helm of the Centre for Human Rights, the current Director (Professor Frans Viljoen) will stand down from the position (while staying on with the Centre as professor of international human rights law). The closing date for applications is 31 May 2023; interested persons should please apply through the UP website

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

Background:

The responsibilities of the Director straddles the Centre’s academic and non-academic operations. The Centre for Human Rights is on the one hand an academic department in the Faculty of Law, conducting research, running five pan-African master’s programmes and supervising a large cohort of doctoral candidates, and, on the other hand, engages in donor-funded research, capacity-building, advocacy and training projects to advance human rights in Africa. The Centre has observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. While the appointment as Associate Professor/Professor in the Centre is permanent, the appointment as Director is for a renewable term of four years. The Director acts as Head of Department and leads the Centre’s donor-funded work. The selection committee will take into account the strengths and weaknesses of the Centre’s existing staff complement and the complementary nature of the position of Director, the Assistant Directors and other Centre staff.

Responsibilities:

• Providing strategic leadership on both the projects to enhance and advance human rights in Africa and, globally, undertaken by the Centre for Human Rights as an NGO, and on the Centre’s academic programmes;
• Providing managerial oversight and leading the fundraising of the Centre;
• Maintaining and ensuring the financial sustainability of the Centre;
• Oversee the management of human resources and related activities of the Centre;
• Representing the Centre in high-profile events and in international fora;
• Maintaining and enhancing collaboration with the African Union human rights bodies and other partners;
• Providing intellectual leadership to Centre programmes and projects;
• Ensuring a transformative and inclusive institutional culture in the Centre;
• Providing strategic leadership to frame and implement the Centre’s research agenda;
• Conducting and publishing research outputs in line with Faculty policy;
• Teaching on the Centre’s post-graduate academic programmes, and human rights short courses;  
• Supervising master’s and doctoral candidates and postdoctoral fellows.

Minimum Requirements:

Associate Professor:

• A doctorate degree in human rights law or a related field;
• A total of 8 years related experience, of which 3 years in management;
• A suitable NRF research rating, or otherwise a substantive peer review support and other proof of academic standing as per university requirements indicating local and some international recognition in the field of human rights in Africa, based on accredited journal articles, accredited books or chapters in such books, demonstrating regular high quality research output;
• Proven experience in successfully raising and managing funds;
• Experience in building partnership with internal and external stakeholders, particularly within Africa;
• Established national, African and international profile and networks;
• A proven record of teaching and training in human rights law with a focus on Africa, with experience in curriculum development and transformation as strong recommendations;
• Experience in supervising post-graduate students, with successful postgraduate student supervision of at least 4 research master’s or 6 coursework master’s mini-dissertations as a strong recommendation, and where possible, evidence of completed successful doctoral supervision or co- supervision;
• Proven competence and experience in management of sizable projects, including their monitoring and evaluation;
• Relevant academic administration experience; 
• Evidence of community engagement related to human rights.

Professor:

• A doctorate degree in human rights law or a related field;
• A total of 10 years related experience, of which 4 years in management;
• A suitable NRF research rating, or otherwise a substantive peer review support and other proof of academic standing as per university requirements indicating international recognition in the field of human rights in Africa, based on accredited journal articles, accredited books or chapters in such books, demonstrating regular high quality research output; with a a published monograph as a strong recommendation;
• Proven experience and competence in successfully raising and managing funds;
• Experience in building partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, particularly within Africa;
• Established national, African and international profile and networks;
• A proven record of teaching and training in human rights law with a focus on Africa, with curriculum development and transformation as strong recommendations;
• Experience in supervising post-graduate students, exemplified by successful supervision of at least 6 research master’s or 10 coursework master’s mini-dissertations, or at least 2 doctoral theses;
• Proven competence and experience in management of sizable projects, including their monitoring and evaluation;
• Relevant academic administration experience; 
• Evidence of community engagement related to human rights.

Required competencies (skills, knowledge and behavioural attributes):

• Academic research and writing;
• Project planning and proposal writing;
• Proven strategic leadership skills;
• Knowledge of human rights in Africa;
• Proven competence and experience in project management;
• Management of sizeable projects;
• Editing and production of publications;
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English;
• Ability to multi-task;
• Initiative and creativity;
• Reliability and trustworthiness;
• Interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict;
• Team player;
• Inspirational.

Added advantages and preferences:

• Academic specialisation in African human rights issues;
• A qualification in management, generally, or project management, specifically;
• Proven managerial experience at a tertiary institution, human rights non-governmental organisation or international organisation working in the field of human rights;
• Experience of working with African Union human rights bodies;
• Experience in editing or production of publications;
• Competency in any of the AU languages (French, Arabic, Swahili, Portuguese);
• Experience in litigation before national or international tribunals.

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 comprehensive CV;
• Certified copies of qualifications;
• A letter of motivation, in which the candidate indicates how they meet the minimum requirements for the position;
• A four-year vision for the Centre for Human Rights both as academic department and as NGO;
• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone details of three referees whom we have permission to contact (relevant to both management and academic roles);
• Names and contact details of peer reviewers, including international reviewers (relevant to both management and academic roles);
• Self-evaluation of teaching (notably post-graduate teaching and supervision) and self-evaluation of research.

Candidates are expected to make a 10-minute verbal (no technology) presentation to the Faculty Recruitment and Selection Committee on his/her vision for the Department.

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.

Closing date:  31 May 2023.

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

ENQUIRIES: Ms J Schoeman, Jeanette.schoeman@up.ac.za for application-related enquiries, and Prof E Schoeman, elsabe.schoeman@up.ac.za for enquiries relating to the post content.

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­31 August 2023 please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

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

In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but 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, the candidates consent to undergo verification of personal credentials and related information including, but not limited to, qualifications, criminal record, credit record, current and historic disciplinary proceedings as part of the selection process. The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.