Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) enjoys national and international acclaim for its continuing contribution to democratic change in South Africa and for making quality education accessible to all South Africans and developing centres of excellence of national importance. The Department of Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Community & Health Sciences has a growing reputation as a leading educational provider for both undergraduate and postgraduate professional Occupational Therapy programmes. It has a long history of focusing on promoting equity and community development in its education and training of professionals and is involved in partnerships with service providers and communities in urban, as well as rural areas within South Africa and other African countries. The post requires the incumbent to develop, grow and drive Occupational Therapy related initiatives at UWC that are nationally and internationally recognised. The department offers the following accredited programmes: Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Philosophy.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key performance areas:

1. Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
2. Conduct research and publish in the field of Occupational Therapy.
3. Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate supervision.
4. Undertake curriculum development and assessment.
5. Undertake community engagement and outreach.
6. Provide academic leadership and administration.
7. Responsible for application and securing research grants and/or third-stream income.

At the level of Associate Professor:

1. PhD in Occupational Therapy or related field.
2. Demonstrated experience in teaching and/or clinical supervision particularly in the field of Mental health and Psychiatry.
3. A track record of quality peer reviewed publications in the field of Occupational Therapy.
4. A record of successful Masters supervision and evidence of at least current PhD supervision.
5. Evidence of expertise, national standing, and where appropriate, an international presence in his/her discipline.
6. Full registration with the HPCSA in the category independent practice (Occupational Therapy).
7. Evidence of the integration of community engagement for societal impact with learning and teaching and/or research.
8. More than three (3) years’ experience in a higher education institution and evidence of leadership experience.

Added advantage:

1. A valid driver’s license.
2. NRF rating.
3. Proficiency in two or more South African languages.

At the level of Senior Lecturer:

1. PhD in Occupational Therapy or related field.
2. Demonstrated experience in teaching and/or clinical supervision particularly in the field of Mental health and Psychiatry.
3. A track record of quality peer reviewed publications in the field of Occupational Therapy.
4. Full registration with the HPCSA in the category independent practice (Occupational Therapy).
5. Evidence of community engagement in diverse contexts.
6. Postgraduate research supervision experience (Masters supervision).

Added advantages:

1. Proficiency in two or more South African languages.
2. Experience in research supervision at a PhD level.
3. A valid driver’s license.
4. At least three (3) years’ experience in a higher education institution.

Competencies:

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (Language of instruction of the institution).
2. Presentation and facilitation skills.
3. Adaptability and the ability to operate in a culturally diverse environment.
4. Student focused approach.
5. Coaching and mentoring skills.
6. Planning and organising skills.
7. Computer literacy.
8. Technical professional knowledge and skills in the discipline and in the core strategic areas, namely learning and teaching, research and scholarship, community engagement as well as professional leadership.

Please note that this position is part of the Joint Establishment, which refers to a formal collaborative agreement between the University and the Provincial Health Department. The appointed individual will be expected to engage in both academic responsibilities and service delivery, as per the collaborative agreement with the Provincial Health Department. This includes contributing to the clinical service delivery component, in line with the requirements of the service delivery model.