Professor Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences

FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCES

PROFESSOR AND DEAN

PEROMNES POST LEVEL: 2

The University of Pretoria is one of South Africas top research-intensive universities dedicated to producing high-quality impactful research that addresses complex contemporary issues. It is one of the most significant producers of research and makes a major contribution to postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowship training as well as nurturing and supporting researchers at different stages of their research careers. It is home to the largest number of National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researchers. The University has developed the infrastructure and a number of research platforms including the Future Africa Platform which support multi- inter- and transdisciplinary research across the institution. The University is continuously expanding its research partnerships and collaborations worldwide.

The Universitys nine faculties and business school offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes recognised internationally. It offers quality education to a cohort of approximately 55000 students from across the diversity of the South African population and awards approximately 14% of all degrees conferred annually by public universities in South Africa.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality employment equity and pursuit of the ideals of excellence and diversity the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the position of Professor and Dean: Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Overview of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences

The Faculty of Veterinary Science situated on a satellite campus of the University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort Campus) is indispensable to the economy of South Africa and serves the interests of all the people of South Africa. Well-known for its quality of training research services and community engagement the Faculty aims to be an internationally accredited seat of veterinary excellence. The only one of its kind in South Africa the Faculty is solely responsible for the training of veterinarians and veterinary nurses. The Faculty is home to more than 1400 students and offers a range of specialised undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes including specialist veterinary training at its renowned Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital and numerous accredited laboratories. The undergraduate Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree is internationally accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (United Kingdom) the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (Australia New Zealand and Tasmania) and the Namibian Veterinary Council.

The Faculty is responsible for 100% of South Africas veterinary science qualifications and is the only institution in the country that trains both Veterinarians and Veterinary Nurses producing highly skilled and specialised graduates who contribute significantly to animal health conservation and human nutrition. The Faculty conducts teaching and research across the full spectrum of veterinary disciplines encompassing companion production and wildlife species.

The Faculty has five (5) academic departments: Anatomy and Physiology Companion Animal Clinical Studies Paraclinical Sciences Production Animal Studies and Veterinary Tropical Diseases a teaching farm and a research animal unit. Academic excellence in the Faculty is underpinned by a strong research culture: 51% of the academic staff hold doctoral degrees and 35 are NRF-rated researchers. It hosts several Research Chairs and Centres including the SARChI Chair in Poultry Health and Production a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Centre for Training in Integrated Livestock and Wildlife Health and Management the Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research the Equine Research Centre the African Centre for Biosecurity and Disease Risk Assessment the Hans Hoheissen Research Centre and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Current research in the Faculty is structured around four primary thematic areas: Translational Medicine; African Wildlife Health and Management; Pathobiology of Disease; and Sustainable Livelihoods and Wellbeing. The Faculty boasts of specialised research strengths in vaccine development novel diagnostic test development high-impact infectious diseases One Health and zoonotic diseases clinical diagnostics and advanced patient care wildlife disease epidemiology and immobilisation as well as ethnoveterinary medicine toxicology and pharmacology.

The Faculty maintains a strong commitment to community engagement with initiatives such as mobile veterinary clinics in surrounding communities the Hluvukani Animal Clinic the Mamelodi Community Clinic and numerous student-oriented programmes. The Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) is a fully functional commercial hospital which provides state-of-the-art diagnostics and specialist clinics for multiple species with on-site clinical pathology diagnostic imaging and pathology services. The Faculty also operates the Hans Hoheissen Wildlife Research Centre with BSL2 laboratory facilities at the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park.

For more information on the Faculty of Veterinary Science visit PROFESSOR AND DEAN

The University seeks a dynamic leader for the role of Professor and Dean capable of visionary academic and research leadership strategic thinking and executing the Universitys and the Facultys strategic plans. The successful candidate must qualify for a full professor appointment in the Faculty of Veterinary Science and will be supported by appropriate senior management structures in the Faculty. The Dean is part of the Universitys senior management team.

The Professor and Dean will:

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Faculty in alignment with UPs mission and strategic plan.
• Align the Facultys ethos and mission with the Universitys.
• Promote excellence in teaching learning research and innovation across the veterinary science disciplines.
• Strengthen inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration within the Faculty and across other faculties and with national and international partners.
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure the Faculty attains its institutional goals and meets agreed performance indicators.
• Provide strong academic and research leadership and enhance the Facultys stature in these areas.
• Provide strategic oversight to ensure the efficient management of the Facultys finances human resources and infrastructure.
• Market the Faculty engage in fundraising and promote regional national and international liaisons with alumni other academic institutions research organisations professional bodies government civil society and the broader community.
• Foster an environment conducive to research teaching and learning excellence and community engagement.
• Foster an environment of collaboration with the National Department of Agriculture the Agricultural Research Council and various other role players in the veterinary sphere.

CLOSING DATE: 10 April 2026

Applications that are received after the closing date or do not comply with at least the minimum requirements will not be considered.

• Registered as a veterinarian or veterinary specialist with the South African Veterinary Council or eligible for immediate registration or authorisation.
• An appropriate doctorate in a field in Veterinary Science.
• A distinguished record of scholarly achievement research output and academic leadership.
• Requisite qualifications and experience for appointment as a full professor at the University of Pretoria the assessment of which is based on several factors including teaching research and postgraduate supervision community engagement academic administration international standing and academic citizenship.
• At least five (5) years of senior academic management experience in higher education.
• Proven managerial expertise skills and competencies to manage all areas of the Faculty including knowledge of and experience in finance human resources marketing and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven experience to raise external funds mobilise resources and build partnerships including collaboration with industry government funding bodies and international institutions.
• Proven experience in negotiating partnerships and external stakeholder engagement.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Recognised academic stature in veterinary science at the level of Professor or equivalent.
• A distinguished record of research excellence evidenced by high-quality scholarly publications and postgraduate supervision.
• Proven teaching excellence and the ability to foster an enabling environment for research teaching and learning and community engagement.
• Strong academic leadership and management capability with experience in leading complex academic units.
• Strategic and visionary leadership aligned with the Universitys mission values and transformation agenda including curriculum transformation; and
• Exceptional interpersonal communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to inspire collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
• Demonstrated commitment to transformation inclusivity and excellence in higher education.
• Ability to oversee and manage the budgeting resource allocation and sustainability initiatives within the Faculty.
• A demonstrated drive for advancing science technology transfer innovation and enhancing societal relevance through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES

• Senior management experience at a research-intensive institution.
• An NRF rating

The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbents level of appointment as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and the employer contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.

The Dean is appointed for a term of four (4) years. External candidates will also be considered for a permanent academic appointment in a suitable academic department.

The Regulations and Procedure for the Appointment of Deans and Deputy Deans can be made available upon request from the Department of Human Resources by contacting Jeovitah Chimhamhiwa via email to . By applying applicants consent to the appointment process as detailed in the regulations and procedure.