"Associate Professor"

Position Summary

Industry: Education & Training
Job category: Education and Training
Campus: Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Contract: Permanent
Remuneration: Market related
EE position: Open to all
Level: Skilled

Introduction

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan institution, guided by its bold UJ Strategy 2035, which emphasises Societal Impact and Sustainability, Global Footprint and Partnerships, and Technology for the Future. Committed to transformative change, UJ’s mission is “To transform and serve humanity through innovation and the collective and collaborative pursuit of knowledge.” The University is guided by the vision of building “An international university of choice, anchored in Africa and the global south, dynamically shaping a sustainable future".

Job Description

Please note that the University is obligated, in terms of recent amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (Act 13 of 2021), to assess all prospective employees (including applicants) against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). The outcome of such an assessment may have an impact upon possible employment with the University.
For more information, please review the following link: Justice/Criminal/NRSO

The Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering is an academic department within the Faculty of Science. The Academy offers qualifications in Information Technology, Computer Science, and Informatics, ranging from short learning programs and higher certificates to bachelor’s degrees, honours degrees, research-based master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees.

Within the Academy are two centers, namely the Centre for Cyber Security and the Salient Pattern Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (SPARC). The Academy is a research-active institution, publishing in accredited national and international peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and plays a central role in shaping computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity expertise within South Africa and the broader region.

Job Description:

As an Associate Professor within the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering, the successful candidate will undertake a range of teaching, research, and administrative duties that support the Academy, Faculty, and University in achieving their strategic goals and key performance indicators. The position requires a scholar with strong leadership potential, research productivity, cybersecurity expertise, and commitment to high-quality teaching.

Responsibilities

• Overall: Perform academic, research, and associated administrative activities in the department.
• Teaching and Learning: Teach allocated modules according to the timetable and dedicate sufficient time to preparation, academic support, and curriculum development.
• Research: Conduct high-quality, ethically governed research with emphasis on sustained, accredited publications in cybersecurity or related fields.
• Administrative: Carry out all administrative duties related to teaching, assessment, research, examination moderation, and departmental processes.
• Community Engagement: Participate in activities that advance the University’s mission and benefit the broader society, with a focus on specific opportunities in cybersecurity awareness and digital literacy.
• Personal Development: Continuously develop academically and professionally in the cybersecurity domain and related fields.

Minimum requirements

• A Doctoral Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, or a closely related field.
• At least 8–10 years of post-doctoral academic experience, showing consistent contributions in teaching, supervision, and research.
• Preference will be given to candidates with specialisation in one or more of the following:
  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Forensics
  • Network Security / Penetration Testing
  • Secure Software Development / Cryptography
  • Artificial Intelligence (where applied to security)
• A proven track record of international, peer-reviewed, accredited research outputs exceeding 2 DHET publication units annually over the past 3 years in cyber security or related areas.
• A proven postgraduate supervision track record, including:
  • At least 3 Master’s students completed under the main supervisor.
  • Active co-supervision or main supervision of Doctoral students (at least 1 PhD student nearing completion or already completed as a co-supervisor).
• Demonstrated excellence in both Teaching & Learning and Research, supported by formal institutional evaluation.
• Successful contribution to a Projects Day or similar academic showcase events involving senior software development or cybersecurity projects.
• Demonstrated success in offering undergraduate modules across a wide range of the computing and cybersecurity body of knowledge.
• Proven ability to mentor, guide, and evaluate third-year practical project work to standards acceptable to the British Computer Society (BCS).
• Proven ability to mentor, guide, and evaluate honours-year practical project work to standards acceptable to the British Computer Society (BCS).
• Experience with the BCS accreditation process or equivalent academic certification and quality assurance processes.
• Must pass a practical programming and/or security assessment as determined by the Academy.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes

• Proven ability to teach undergraduate modules in Computer Science, Informatics, and Cyber Security, including advanced data structures and security fundamentals using languages taught in the Academy.
• Proven ability to teach Cyber Security and related modules at Honours level, including network security, cryptography, incident response, penetration testing, secure coding, or similar.
• Excellent command of English. Where English is not the home language, a formal certification of English competence may be required.
• Sufficient lecturing experience with professionally evaluated outcomes.
• Experience using Turnitin or equivalent tools for research assignment integrity checks.
• Experience managing the moderation and auditing of examination scripts at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Proven ability to supervise postgraduate studies, including:
  • Master’s students (main supervisor) to completion, and
  • Active engagement in doctoral supervision (co-supervision or ongoing main supervision).
• Proven ability to supervise a minimum of 10 Honours research projects to BCS standards.
• Evidence of consistently high pass rates in undergraduate modules taught.
• Willingness to undergo additional assessments, including live teaching demonstrations, programming evaluations, and/or cybersecurity task evaluations.

Recommendations

• Membership of professional bodies such as BCS, ISC², ISACA, IEEE, or ACM.
• At least 5 years of project management or coordination in Computer Science, Informatics, or Cyber Security.
• A strong media presence or active participation in the popularisation of science, cyber safety advocacy, or public cybersecurity education.
• NRF rating (Y or C category) or clear eligibility for NRF evaluation is highly desirable.

Working conditions and Expectations

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, research-active academic environment within the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering. The position carries expectations typical of an Associate Professor at a research-intensive South African university and includes the following working conditions:

• Academic Workload and Performance Expectations
  • The candidate is expected to maintain a balanced workload across teaching and learning, Research, Supervision, Academic Leadership, Administration, and Community Engagement.
  • Workload allocations will be determined annually in alignment with the Academy’s operational requirements and the Faculty’s workload model.
  • The candidate must demonstrate sustained excellence and leadership in at least two of the following areas, with strong competence across all:
    1. Teaching & Learning
    2. Research & Postgraduate Supervision
    3. Academic Citizenship and Leadership
    4. Community Engagement
    5. Industry engagement (especially for Cyber Security)
• Availability and On-Campus Presence
  • The position requires regular on-campus presence for teaching, student consultations, laboratory sessions, meetings, postgraduate supervision, and research group activities.
  • Certain teaching and administrative activities may require evening or weekend availability, particularly during assessment periods, Projects Day, or departmental events.
  • Remote or hybrid work may be permitted for specific tasks (e.g., research writing, marking, external collaboration) but is subject to departmental guidelines and approval by the Head of Department.
• Teaching and Programme Contribution
  • The candidate will teach courses across undergraduate, Honours, and postgraduate levels in Cyber Security and related fields.
  • They are expected to lead and innovate in curriculum design, laboratory development, cybersecurity practicals, and assessment strategies.
  • Active participation in BCS accreditation cycles, curriculum review meetings, and compliance processes is expected.
  • The candidate must contribute to ensuring high-quality assessment, moderation, and examination integrity within the Academy.
• Research and Postgraduate Supervision
  • The candidate is expected to maintain an active and productive research agenda, producing regular, accredited outputs that meet or exceed Faculty benchmarks.
  • They must supervise a steady pipeline of postgraduate students, including those pursuing Honours, Master’s, and doctoral degrees.
  • Engagement in national and international collaborations, grant applications, and industry-facing cybersecurity research is strongly encouraged and expected.
  • The candidate should make a meaningful contribution to strengthening the Academy’s research profile and external visibility.
• Administrative and Leadership Duties
  • The candidate will take on departmental administration, which may include:
    1. Module coordination
    2. Programme leadership
    3. Assessment management
    4. Committee service (departmental, faculty, university-level)
    5. Events organisation (e.g., Projects Day, Cyber Security Awareness initiatives)
  • Expected to contribute to developing junior academics, mentoring tutors, and supporting the academic growth of colleagues.
• Community Engagement and Industry Collaboration
  • The role requires active participation in community engagement, including cybersecurity awareness, digital safety initiatives, school outreach, or public engagement activities.
  • Strong engagement with industry partners, professional bodies, and government stakeholders is expected to support innovation, employability, and societal impact.
  • Candidates should contribute to positioning the Academy as a regional leader in cybersecurity education and research.
• Professional Conduct and Continuous Development
  • The candidate must uphold the University’s ethical, professional, and academic integrity standards, particularly with respect to cybersecurity research ethics, POPIA compliance, and responsible disclosure.
  • Continuous personal and professional development is expected in both teaching practice and the evolving Cyber Security landscape.
  • Participation in training, seminars, and developmental frameworks provided by the University is required where applicable.
• Research Environment and Facilities
  • The Academy provides access to cybersecurity laboratories, high-performance computing resources, and departmental research infrastructure.
  • Candidates are expected to contribute to the growth, management, and responsible use of these facilities.