Head Of Doctoral Programmes
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
The Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) seeks to appoint a Head of Doctoral Programmes, a senior academic leader entrusted with driving the School’s DBA and PhD programmes to internationally benchmarked standards. Working in close consultation with the Director of Academic Programmes in GSB&L and the Dean of Research in the College, the Head of Doctoral Programmes provides strategic input and operational direction across all aspects of doctoral training. This includes ensuring curriculum quality, managing admissions, monitoring dissertation progress, and aligning programmes with broader institutional and global goals.
The incumbent will lead the selection of doctoral candidates, oversee orientation and resource familiarisation, match candidates with supervisors and mentors, enforce academic standards and progression milestones, and enhance the doctoral student experience through professional development and research training.
As a member of the College Research and Higher Degrees Committee and Chair of the School Research and Higher Degrees Committee, the Head of Doctoral Programmes plays a pivotal role in governance, coherence, and integrity of doctoral qualifications. The role is critical for the allocation, coordination, and management of supervisors across disciplines, ensuring academic and financial viability of the School’s doctoral portfolio.
The incumbent will also design and implement intervention programmes, mentorship, and coaching initiatives to strengthen supervisory capacity and academic leadership, ensuring alignment with global sector norms where doctoral education is expected to meet rigorous standards of quality, ethics, and innovation. The role requires consistent implementation of University policies, frameworks, and Senate decisions, while contributing to accreditation, assessment, and programme review processes.
Minimum requirements
- A relevant Doctorate Degree and prior appointment at senior academic level (Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, or Professor).
- Minimum of 10 years’ academic or industry experience, including substantial teaching, lecturing, and research responsibilities.
- At least 5 years’ postgraduate teaching and supervisory experience, with evidence of mentoring junior staff and building supervisory capacity.
- Internationally recognized research record, demonstrated through publications in high-impact journals, citation metrics, and contributions to global scholarly networks.
- Proven track record of successful supervision at Master’s and Doctoral levels, with graduates progressing to impactful academic or professional careers.
- Demonstrated experience in curriculum innovation and reform, aligned with international accreditation standards (AACSB, EFMD, AMBA).
- Leadership in governance, accreditation, and quality assurance, including programme reviews and strategic planning for doctoral education.
- Evidence of international collaboration and partnerships, such as joint doctoral projects, visiting scholar appointments, or cross-border research initiatives.
- Commitment to research ethics and integrity, ensuring doctoral programmes meet global standards of quality, transparency, and accountability.
- Where applicable, registration with the appropriate regulatory or professional body, and active membership in international academic associations.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 3 July 2026.
The successful incumbent, if an internal appointee, will revert to their substantive post at the end of their five-year term of office.
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The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.
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