Associate Professor: Anthropology

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology located in the Faculty of Humanities at Nelson Mandela University seeks to appoint a suitable candidate at the Associate Professor level in Anthropology to contribute to the Department’s undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, supervision, research, and community engagement activities. The Department is particularly interested in applicants who possess expertise or specialization (evidenced by publications) in one or both of the following areas:

• Anthropological Theory and the development of Anthropology in Africa, including the study of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). The candidate must have a thorough working knowledge of how IKS within Anthropology speaks to practices and representations of Indigenous knowledge that seek to conceptualize the acknowledgment, development, conservation, and affirmation of IKS and its contribution to the Eastern Cape knowledge economy.
• Science and Technology Studies (STS), animal-human relations, and climate change. 

The candidate must have a sound academic rooting in Anthropological Theories and Research Methods and show that they can contribute to innovative Anthropological research that expands or rethinks the conceptual boundaries of the discipline. The preferred candidate will have a proven track record in carrying out learning and teaching demands in a high-pressure public higher education institution with the ability to handle large classes, and a demanding teaching load and enable the learning success of a diverse student body. The candidate will be able to contribute towards the faculty strategy of Revitalisation of the Humanities as part of the intellectual repositioning of a dynamic and growing Department.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Facilitate Africanisation and creative transformation of curriculum content at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Supervise Honours, Masters, and PhD candidates.
• Conduct research, attend academic conferences, and publish to improve the research profile of the department.
• Maintain local and international research profile.
• Active membership in and service to departmental and faculty standing committees.
• Undertake administrative duties within the Anthropology programs and the department at large.
• Facilitation of workshops, seminars, public lectures, and conferences.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Advanced knowledge of foundational areas in Anthropological theory.
• Commitment to developing an Africa-centred Anthropology curriculum.
• Ability to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches into Anthropology teaching and research.
• Ability to teach, manage, and conduct assessments for large undergraduate classes.
• Advanced experience in supervising postgraduate studies
• Ability to work independently as well as co-operatively within an academic team setting with members that have diverse perspectives and differing academic approaches.
• Professional self-management and the ability to operate collegially and competently within the complexities and challenges of the South African higher education environment.
• Advanced administrative competencies.
• Must have qualities of ethical, inclusive, and collegial scholarliness within a dynamic higher education environment.
• Show advanced research and potential fundraising abilities.

REQUIREMENTS

• PhD in Anthropology with a proven track record in Anthropology teaching, research, and supervision.
• Demonstrable track record in using both quantitative and qualitative methods will be an advantage.
• Minimum 3-7 years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience
• Proven record of successful supervision to completion at the post-graduate level
• Proven research publication record in accredited scholarly journals including at least 12 publications of which a minimum of 3 should be in international journals.
• Candidates will be required to furnish three references.