Professor/Associate Professor & HOD

Durban University of Technology (DUT), a prominent multi-campus university in South Africa with a strong national and international reputation for teaching, research and engagement, is seeking an accomplished academic leader for the role of Professor/Associate Professor and Head of Department within its Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, specifically in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This permanent position combines the scholarly responsibilities of a senior academic with the managerial duties of leading the department, offering a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of engineers while contributing to DUT’s strategic vision, ENVISION2030, which emphasises creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and societal transformation. The successful candidate will join a university known for its rapid growth in research output, its NRF-rated researchers and its recent award of multiple SARCHi Chairs, all within a people-centred and engaged institutional culture.

Candidates may be appointed at either Professor or Associate Professor level, depending on their experience and track record, and will also take on the Head of Department role for a fixed term of five years, renewable for a further term based on performance. For appointment as Professor, applicants must hold a PhD/Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, have at least ten years of teaching experience in a higher education institution, and demonstrate a sustained research record with publications in accredited journals, postgraduate supervision, leadership of research groups, a consistent record of external funding, collaborative linkages and external engagement. For appointment as Associate Professor, a PhD/Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, a minimum of seven years of higher education teaching, evidence of publication in peer-reviewed journals, completed postgraduate supervision and a track record of external funding are required. In both cases, professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as PrEng or PrTech, strong communication and lecturing skills, and a genuine passion for teaching and research are essential, along with experience in online learning platforms such as Moodle, Blackboard or Teams.

The academic duties of the role include teaching undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, supervising postgraduate projects and students, developing learning materials for various courses, actively conducting research and participating in research activities, engaging with industrial projects, contributing to community engagement initiatives and assisting with delegated administrative tasks. As Head of Department, the appointee will take on a broad leadership portfolio that includes managing and supervising academic and support staff, allocating workloads, overseeing leave administration, conducting performance management and reviews, and fostering positive staff relations within a student-centred department. Additional responsibilities involve addressing student queries and complaints, managing study leave, grievances, disputes and staff development, appointing part-time staff and filling vacancies, leading curriculum reviews and the development of new programmes, and supporting faculty-wide projects such as postgraduate recruitment and supervision, orientation, graduation and the first-year student experience. The role requires strong academic leadership across teaching, research and scholarship, and candidates must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline with at least five years of experience in higher education and academic leadership. This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader to contribute to the growth of mechanical engineering at a university that is among the top six percent of universities worldwide according to recent rankings, while advancing lives and livelihoods through impactful education and research.