Community Development jobs in South Africa

Title of Position

Lecturer

Post Number

9087

Faculty/Department

University of the Western Cape -> Community & Health Sciences -> Social Work

Type of Position

Permanent - Full Time

Location

Main Campus - Bellville, WC ZA (Primary)

Closing Date

30/4/2025

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

The Department of Social Work in the CHS faculty is committed to excellence in Community Development and Social Work Education, Practice, and Research. We believe in justice, gender equity, human diversity, and citizenship for all. Currently, the following five Social Service Practitioner (SSP) occupations exist as a result of the review of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 as amended in 1998, and subsequent amendments, which transformed the social services sector to be more inclusive of a broader range of social service practitioners (SSPs): Social Workers, Community Development Practitioners, Child and Youth Care Workers, Early Childhood Development Practitioners, and Caregivers.

The Department of Social Work has added the Community Development 4-year Bachelor degree to its SSP offerings in 2021 and is actively seeking candidates to fill a Community Development Lecturer position.

The Department will prepare Community Development professionals for distinguished practice to facilitate collective processes in communities to effect psycho, social, and economic development, through empowerment to enhance the capacity of people as active citizens through communities, organisations, and networks. Appropriately qualified and experienced lecturers are thus set as a key priority. The successful candidate will be expected to join the programme on 1 July 2025.

Key Performance Areas and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate excellent learning and teaching, lecture a combination of lectures, seminar courses, workshops, and student mentoring to contribute to academic functions.
• Portray a commitment to high-quality research.
• Engage in academic administration and leadership (i.e., module and programme specific administration and representation on committees).
• Engage in the Scholarship of Community Engagement and contribute to the practice of the Community Development occupation.
• Establish themselves as experts in their field and should be active as scholars (i.e., publish in peer-reviewed journals and books; conduct research and actively participate in engagements related to their Community Development profession).

Minimum Requirements:

• A Masters in a related discipline with emphasis on Community Development.
• Experience in teaching at the undergraduate level.
• Knowledge and experience in at least three of the following fields:
• Community Development Theories;
• Frameworks, Approaches, and Processes of Community Development;
• Institutions in Community Development (e.g., local government, CBOs, NGOs);
• Community Development practice;
• Community Development research.
• Evidence of publications and/or accepted manuscripts awaiting publication in the discipline.

Added Advantages:

• Experience in work placement (service learning) coordination and supervision.
• Experience in modern e-learning technologies.

Required Competencies:

• Client/student service and support
• Building interpersonal relationships
• Teamwork / collaboration
• Conceptual thinking
• Analytical thinking / Problem solving
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication
• Planning and organizing / work management
• University awareness

In your application, you are encouraged to highlight your strengths and include anything else you deem exceptional and outstanding to be considered by the selection panel. In addition, please attach a cover letter motivating your suitability, a detailed curriculum vitae including contact details of three referees, and your highest qualification to your online profile.

DISCLAIMER: By applying for the position, you consent to the University sharing your application, including curriculum vitae, with University stakeholders to process the application. In line with the University’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our Employment Equity Targets. The official retirement age at UWC is 65 years. The University reserves the right to not make an appointment, make an appointment at a different level, seek additional candidates and may conduct competency assessments.