Strategy Development:

• Develop faculty strategy and implement NWU strategy aligned to the Faculty’s multi-campus nature and national imperatives
• Co-determine and be jointly accountable for successful implementation of NWU Teaching and Learning Strategy and Research and Innovation Strategy
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable annual faculty performance plans with clear lead and lag indicators
• Drive strategic differentiation and positioning, identifying niche areas of academic strength and emerging growth opportunities
• Integrate transformation and Employment Equity targets into strategic planning

Teaching and Learning:

• Lead and direct teaching and learning practices, processes and competencies achieving academic excellence and innovation
• Support continuous curriculum renewal delivering socially responsive programmes aligned to national imperatives
• Lead effective academic planning to deliver flagship programmes providing competitive advantage
• Lead enrolment planning to ensure optimal levels across academic fields, qualification levels and delivery modes
• Lead quality assurance of academic programmes ensuring standards and student learning experience quality
• Direct integration of research outputs into teaching and learning to enhance graduate employability

Research and Innovation:

• Establish and maintain research environment and support infrastructure enabling world-class research
• Implement inter- and trans-disciplinary research differentiating the NWU nationally and internationally
• Lead flagship research entities providing competitive advantage to the NWU
• Cluster research and innovation around agreed research themes focusing on national and international imperatives
• Facilitate third-stream revenue generation through innovation and commercialisation

Community Engagement:

• Lead and direct community engagement initiatives integrated with teaching, learning and research
• Participate in community engagement initiatives with joint accountability

External Strategic Relationships:

• Develop effective local and international relationships with peers, higher education institutions, research community, industry and professional bodies
• Position and promote NWU brand through relationships with government, community, industry, students, parents and alumni

People Management and Development:

• Build and sustain cohort of academics of superior standing with high research and teaching performance
• Drive recruitment, retention and progression of high-calibre academic talent across campuses
• Appoint, develop and hold accountable senior faculty managers ensuring best-practice people leadership and performance execution
• Lead development and execution of Faculty Employment Equity Plan aligned to institutional and sectoral targets
• Co-determine and actively manage faculty people profile ensuring alignment to enrolment plans and institutional affordability
• Implement best-practice staff development systems including mentorship, leadership development and succession planning

Management and Leadership:

• Manage faculty composition, structure and staffing effectiveness and efficiency
• Hold joint accountability for management effectiveness of schools and research entities
• Ensure corporate governance conformance, reporting and risk management
• Oversee budgeting, cost management and cost-effectiveness
• Ensure personal effectiveness and values-based behaviour leadership

The Executive Dean reports to the Senior DVC: Teaching and Learning and serves as the executive leader and accountable head of the Faculty of Engineering. The role is responsible for strategically positioning and transforming the Faculty as a cohesive, unitary entity distinguished by academic excellence, research impact, innovation, and sustained commitment to societal and industry advancement within the broader framework of a unitary NWU.