Head of Department_Anatomical Sciences

Key Responsibilities

The Head of Department will provide the academic vision, strategic direction, and leadership required to ensure that the Department maintains and strengthens its position of excellence within the University and the broader higher education sector.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic academic leadership across all teaching, research, and postgraduate training activities.
• Ensuring curricula remain current, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of the Health Sciences and Science disciplines.
• Promoting research excellence that is both locally relevant and internationally competitive.
• Strengthening postgraduate education and supervision while fostering research collaboration and innovation.
• Leading student affairs and promoting an inclusive, supportive learning environment.
• Managing the Department's human resources, financial resources, infrastructure, Body Donor Programme and administrative functions.
• Promoting academic excellence across the Department's constituent disciplines while maintaining its diversity and collegial culture.
• Ensuring the Department fulfils its outreach and engagement responsibilities within the University and the broader community.

Minimum Requirements and Experience

Applicants must possess:

• A Doctorate degree (PhD) in an appropriate discipline
• Appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Professor, or eligibility to be awarded one of these academic titles in accordance with the Faculty of Health Sciences criteria. For promotion criteria click here Promotion Criteria.
• A distinguished record of research achievement, postgraduate supervision, and scholarly leadership.
• At least 10 years' experience in higher education, within the discipline of Anatomical Sciences, including significant experience in university administration and academic leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, financial management, human resource management, and governance within a university environment.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication, and managerial skills, with the academic and professional standing necessary to command the respect of colleagues and stakeholders.

Term of Appointment

The successful candidate will be appointed as Head of Department for a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable based on performance.

Should the successful applicant be appointed from outside the University, they will be appointed to a continuous academic position at an appropriate academic level within the relevant discipline upon completion of their term of office.

The awarding of the title Professor or Associate Professor will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications, research profile, and other academic criteria in accordance with the Faculty of Health Sciences guidelines.

Employment Equity

The University of the Witwatersrand is committed to employment equity and diversity. In accordance with the University's Employment Equity Plan and Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference may be given but is not limited to South Africans and candidates from under-represented designated groups.

All candidates who meet the requirements for appointment are encouraged to apply.

Enquiry: Prof Kennedy Erlwanger [email protected]

Closing date: 21 August 2026

Detailed Description

Job Requirements

Additional Details

How To Apply

Please apply via i-Recruitment https://irec.wits.ac.za 21 August 2026.

Submit a covering letter clearly indicating which post you are applying for, a detailed CV with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail addresses of 3 referees via i-Recruitment https://irec.wits.ac.za

Only applications via the website will be considered for shortlisting. An interview will form part of the selection process

NB: The University will seek confidential referee reports for all shortlisted candidates. At least one referee must be the candidate’s current or most recent immediate supervisor or line manager.

No appointment will be made without the receipt and satisfactory consideration of the required referee reports.

By applying for this post the Applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant, by their conduct in proceeding with an application for this position, gives their consent to the processing of their personal information as required by the University’s Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy. Such processing includes logging their information on the University’s recruitment systems, conducting necessary background and reference checks including disciplinary and/or criminal records, and disclosing their personal information to university employees identified to take part in the selection and recruitment process. The Applicant consents to any processing of their personal information as may be required. The confidentiality of the Applicant's personal information will be maintained

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates.

Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates.

Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.

Minimum Salary

Maximum Salary

Currency

Amount of Travel

Work At Home