Senior Lecturer

Title of Position

Senior Lecturer

Post Number

Senior Lecturer (8021122) [ITS A239]

Faculty/Department

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

Type of Position

Permanent - Full Time

Length of Contract Period

Location

Main Campus - Bellville, WC ZA (Primary)

Closing Date

31/7/2025

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 from 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. The programme 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 Department is actively seeking candidates to fill a Community Development Senior Lecturer position. The successful candidate will be expected to join the programme on 1 December 2025.

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

• Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Department of Social Work.
• Conduct research and publish in the field of Community Development.
• Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate supervision.
• Supervision of research projects.
• Participation in research programmes, curriculum development and staff development.
• Engaging in community-related activities.
• Responsible for administrative duties within the department/unit, faculty and the university.

Minimum Requirements

• A PhD in in a related discipline with emphasis on Community Development.
• 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, with a focus on the South African context and legal framework; and
• Community Development research
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating learning, preferably in the field of community development.
• At least five years experience in practice.
• Evidence of a publication record in the discipline.
• Evidence of the integration of community engagement and learning and teaching/research.
• Experienced with postgraduate supervision.

Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Adaptability and the ability to operate in a diverse environment
• Student focused approach
• Teamwork/collaboration
• Coaching and mentoring skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Computer literacy
• 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

Added advantages

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

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 Universitys 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.