Associate Professor (5 year contract) (Grade AP)

Rhodes Business School

The Rhodes Business School invite suitably qualified candidates to join their team. 

The Department - Description of the Department

At Rhodes Business School, our bold vision is clear: To transform business for a sustainable world.

Our purpose is equally focused: To educate and influence responsible business practice, responsibly.

These commitments are embedded across our entire academic and operational model. We are internationally recognised as a thought leader in Leadership for Sustainability, anchored by our distinctive Knowledge Wheel and 4E Model (Economy, Ethics, Ecology, Equity). Sustainability is not treated as a bolt-on; it is the very foundation of business thinking, decision-making, and leadership at Rhodes Business School.

Central to our philosophy is the development of leaders who demonstrate:

1. Integrative Thinking

We equip our graduates to navigate complexity, paradox, and competing demands — balancing short-term pressures with long-term sustainability goals. This includes applying systems thinking to address interconnected business, societal and environmental challenges and applying frameworks such as double materiality to evaluate financial and non-financial impacts holistically.

2. Principled Leadership

We develop leaders who are committed to ethical stewardship, accountability, and governance excellence. Our graduates are equipped to lead with integrity, making decisions that deliver sustainable business transformation, while recognising the broader responsibilities of leadership in today’s rapidly evolving global economy.

3. Engaged Citizenship

We cultivate business leaders who recognise their responsibility to wider society. Through active stakeholder engagement, inclusive growth, and long-term value creation, our graduates contribute to building resilient communities and regenerative economies that serve both people and planet.

This holistic approach produces graduates who are uniquely positioned to lead responsibly across private, public, and civil society sectors.

Our growing portfolio includes:

• The AMBA-accredited MBA (re-accredited in 2023; one of only a handful in Africa);
• The Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis (launched 2022), which has experienced significant growth through its fully online delivery mode;
• The Postgraduate Diploma in Advancement and Resource Mobilisation (launched 2024), a pioneering qualification addressing Africa’s resource mobilisation and advancement capacity;
• A full suite of short courses and executive education programmes designed to meet sector-specific development needs.

Our public impact and recognition include:

• Diamond ESG recognition by PMR Africa (2022) — ranked #1 among South African business schools for Environmental, Social, and Governance leadership;
• Active contributions to public policy, corporate governance and business discourse across the continent;
• International partnerships and alignment with the UN SDGs, the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI), and emerging global standards for responsible management education.

As a small, agile and highly collaborative School, Rhodes Business School offers both academic rigour and entrepreneurial flexibility, enabling innovation, agility, and rapid response to emerging societal needs. The appointee will join a passionate, forward-thinking team committed to advancing responsible business practice from an African base, while enjoying the rich intellectual environment of Rhodes University and the unique quality of life offered by Makhanda (Grahamstown).

Main Objectives
All academics are responsible for the dissemination of knowledge (teaching and learning), creation of knowledge (research) and community engagement, recognising that there are differences in the execution of these responsibilities within the various departments and Faculties.  Academics are also expected to assume some administrative, management and/or leadership duties at the departmental (school) level, Faculty and/or University level. The Business School is self-funding and it is essential that all academics have an entrepreneurial mindset and are expected to develop and contribute a viable revenue stream from executive education, short courses, workshops, contract research and consulting.

In addition, an Associate Professor must be able to provide academic leadership in the following areas: teaching and learning; research and community engagement, as well as to contribute towards the governance of the institution. This leadership contribution of the Professor should be evidenced at the departmental, Faculty and institutional levels.

 Application Process

It is essential that prospective candidates read the job profile and further particulars for further information and ensure that all relevant documentation is submitted.

The following documents are required:

• A comprehensive CV and relevant qualifications which should include the following: -
  • Reasons for leaving your current and previous jobs.
  • Referees who are and/or were your direct line manager, their title, name, designation and contact information which should be at least their contact number and email address.
• A strong and succinct motivation outlining your interest in the post and suitability relative to the job requirements. 

The Requirements
At least a PhD in the disciplines of either Advancement, Business Analysis, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Science, Governance, Leadership, Philosophy

• Teaching experience at the postgraduate level required.
• Some facilitation of adults (training, presentation, as well as group facilitation) experience, albeit not in an academic context. Where individuals have exceptional practical experience, teaching experience may not be required, but the candidate would have to demonstrate an ability to design curricula, facilitate learning and assess learners in the selection process.
• Academic and or practical experience in one or more of the following disciplinary areas: Finance, Law, Psychology, Organisational Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Philosophy, Strategy.
• Research supervision of at least Masters’ degrees required.
• Emerging national profile in the discipline.
• Familiarity and expertise in advancement and fundraising from experience in NGO’s, Foundations, and related institutions is essential for the Advancement & Resource Mobilisation role.
• Familiarity and expertise in the field of business analysis as defined by the International Institute of Business Analysts [see https://www.iiba.org/professional-development/career-centre/what-is-business-analysis/ ] is essential for the Business Analysis role.
• Strong track record of administration, management and/or leadership roles.
• Experience in distance learning mode of delivery is desirable, but not essential. 

Please note that no hand-written applications will be considered. Your application must be submitted via our website and online recruitment system.  Failure to submit all documentation and respond to all the questions asked appropriately will result in an application being disqualified.

Any questions or enquiries regarding the submission of an application please contact 046 603 7266.

Selection Process (provisional date, subject to change):

• Short-listing meeting scheduled for the TBC.
• The selection process that will be followed for this post will include an assessment and/or presentation and an interview.
• Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the interview date.

Remuneration per annum (Grade AP):

Basic Pensionable Salary per annum:                          R743,243.00

Cost to Company per annum (Approximately):             R1,013,469.00

All applications will be treated in strict confidence. This post is advertised as a permanent post, but the University may opt to appoint on a fixed-term contract of not less than three years. The University reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. An application in itself does not entitle the applicant to an interview.  Employment checks will be conducted on recommended candidates. 

Our core values and principles are the foundation of our commitment to creating a positive, supportive, and enabling environment. These values guide our decisions, actions, and how we engage with each other as we work to achieve our vision and mission.

These values are: 
Diversity; Integrity; Respect; Excellence; Collegiality and Compassion


Recognising that diversity is important in achieving excellence. Rhodes University strongly encourages South African members of underrepresented designated groups as well as persons with disabilities to apply. Spouses and partners of existing staff members are also encouraged to apply. 

Please note all appointments are made in line with the requirements of the Employment Equity Act of 55 of 1998, as amended, the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2022 and the University's Recruitment and Selection policies.