Professor and Dean at The University Of Pretoria– Apply Now!

JOB DETAILS

📌 Job Title: Professor and Dean – Faculty of Law
🏛 Institution: University of Pretoria
📍 Location: Pretoria, South Africa
🕒 Employment Type: Full-Time
📄 Contract Type: Regular (Dean term-based appointment)
📅 Closing Date: 31 January 2026
🆔 Job ID: 26213

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The University of Pretoria is one of South Africa’s leading research-intensive universities with a strong international footprint. The institution is recognised for high-impact research, academic excellence, and its contribution to postgraduate and postdoctoral development. It hosts the largest number of NRF-rated researchers in the country and actively promotes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research through platforms such as Future Africa.

With approximately 55,000 students and nine faculties, the University plays a critical role in shaping knowledge, leadership, and innovation across South Africa and globally.

JOB OVERVIEW

The University of Pretoria invites applications for the senior leadership position of Professor and Dean: Faculty of Law. This role requires a visionary academic leader with strong strategic, managerial, and scholarly credentials. The Dean will provide academic and operational leadership to the Faculty, align faculty strategy with institutional goals, and contribute as a member of the University’s senior management team.

The successful candidate must qualify for appointment at full professor level and demonstrate the ability to advance research excellence, teaching quality, transformation, and community engagement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Align the Faculty’s vision, mission, and ethos with the University’s strategic objectives

• Provide strong academic and executive leadership to the Faculty of Law

• Ensure achievement of faculty strategic goals and performance targets

• Enhance the Faculty’s national and international academic standing

• Promote research excellence, teaching quality, and postgraduate supervision

• Market the Faculty locally and internationally

• Lead fundraising initiatives and external stakeholder engagement

• Strengthen national, regional, and international academic partnerships

• Foster an inclusive environment that supports transformation and social justice

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Doctorate (PhD/LLD) in Law

Experience

• Eligibility for appointment as a full professor at the University of Pretoria

• Minimum five years’ senior academic management experience in higher education

• Proven experience in faculty-level leadership and administration

• Demonstrated success in generating external research or institutional funding

Skills and Competencies

• Recognised academic standing at professorial level in the field of Law

• Strong research, publication, and postgraduate supervision record

• Proven leadership and people management capability

• Sound knowledge of higher education governance, finance, HR, and marketing

• Ability to drive transformation, curriculum development, and academic excellence

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Capacity to develop national and international collaborations

CV TIPS FOR THE ROLE

• Clearly demonstrate eligibility for appointment at full professor level

• Highlight senior academic leadership and management experience

• Include a strong research profile with publication and citation metrics

• Emphasise experience in fundraising and external stakeholder engagement

• Attach a concise but compelling vision statement for the Faculty of Law

• Ensure referees include at least one international academic referee

BENEFITS OF JOINING THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

• Competitive senior academic remuneration package

• Employer contribution to BESTMED or UMVUZO medical aid schemes

• Opportunity to lead one of South Africa’s leading law faculties

• Access to world-class research infrastructure and platforms

• Influence national and international legal scholarship and transformation

• Be part of a diverse, research-driven, and globally connected institution

COMPANY POLICY

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity, and diversity. Preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups in accordance with the University’s Employment Equity Plan. All shortlisted candidates will be subject to verification of qualifications, criminal record checks (including sexual offences), credit checks, and disciplinary history. The University reserves the right not to fill the advertised position.