MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION CIRCULAR NO. 3 OF 2024.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION P.O. BOX 24
MASERU – 100
08″ JULY, 2024
Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition:
MINISTRY: AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION
DEPARTMENT: LESOTHO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
PROGRAMME: CROP SCIENCE
TITLE: PRINCIPAL LECTURER (CHEMISTRY)
GRADE: H
RESPONSIBLE TO: DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
LOCATION: MASERU/LERIBE
JOB SUMMARY
UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES, THE PRINCIPAL LECTURER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING PROGRAMME CONTENT, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT, CONDUCTING AND COORDINATING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT.
ENSURING TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE WITH INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS.
PREPARATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BUDGET, STAFF SUPERVISION AND HEALTH & SAFETY.
MAIN DUTIES
- Guides the development of synopses relevant to Crop Science courses and modules.
- Arranges temporal sequence of courses offered under Crop Science.
- Validates course outlines through assessing the potential of such outlines to meet set objectives within a given time-frame (e.g. semester), and adjust accordingly to fit the same.
- Facilitates connectedness and complementarity of Crop Science courses, culminating in a clear career path.
- Conducts rescarch and literature review to inform course content.
- Compiles a comprehensive database of library resources and other literature to aid contact and on-line teaching / learning.
- Draws schemes of work and component lesson plans to reflect inputs, output, outcome and impact as implied by course objectives.
- Delivers and facilitates delivery by others of technical Crop Science content to students by methods appropriate at any instant, assuring inclusivity.
- Identifies locations for relevant practical and field tours to augment acquired theoretical knowledge with appropriate hands-on skills.
- Designs and supervises practical lessons to strengthen or promote better understanding of
Crop Science concepts. - Facilitates and supervises on-farm and industrial attachments of students for practical exposure.
- Encourages and runs scheduled individual or group consultations/ tutorials to promote clarity of learning material among students.
- Records work done based on topics delivered, day or date and the duration of contact or interaction.
- Sets presentations assignments, tests and quizzes to count to continuous assessment.
- Set examinations based on content that was intended to be known by the end of the assessment period and as per course objectives as per course objective and facilitate their delivery.
- Weigh questions and allocate or award marks according to the required intensity of reasoning.
- Moderates tests and examination papers to ensure alignment and adherence to the assessment policy.
- Invigilates tests and examinations to ensure compliance with assessment and examination regulations.
- Conducts research relating to Crop Science to keep abreast of new developments and provides advice accordingly.
- Supervises students’ research projects for the fulfilment of academic requirements.
- Facilitates presentation of students* proposals
- Collaborates with other institutions locally. regionally and internationally for the development of research programmes and sourcing of funds for research activities.
- Coordinates Crop Science research to align with the programme objectives.
- Conducts seminars and presentations on research activities annually
- Publishes peer-reviewed articles annually
- Facilitates the implementation of in-service training for community development in line
- with outreach policy.
- Participates in subject-related meetings, seminars, and conferences both locally and internationally to ensure adherence to local and international standards. norms and procedures.
- Conducts outreach programs to create awareness and provide innovative skills to the community geared towards diversification and development.
- Facilitates work-integrated learning
- Periodically reviews instruction material in line with industrial needs to meet certain academic standards.
- Compiles and avails instruction material to students at the beginning of the respective semester/ year
- Implements policies that safeguard academic and quality assurance in teaching and learning.
- Prescribes reference materials (textbooks, articles, etc.) to students at the beginning of the semester/academic year.
- Prepares and facilitates the preparation of activity-based annual work plans.
- Align annual work plans with relevant financial needs and resources to draw an academic departmental budget.
- Implements planned sectional activities while managing the budget according to financial regulations.
- Ensures compliance by teaching staff (under his/her supervision) with set ethical, moral and performance standards.
- Enters into annual performance contracts and appraises supervisees at the end of each half-year and financial year.
- Carries out the Training Needs Analysis (TNA) in consultation with Crop Science staff
- Compiles annual training plans for skills development and improvement of staff under his/her section.
Monitors the implementation of the Crop Science training plan so that it is carried out accordingly.
- Ensures compliance with health and safety protocols in lecture rooms and other learning facilities.
- Introduces and ensures adherence to safety standards while conducting practicals with students.
COMPENSABLE FACTORS
JOB SPECIFICATION
PhD in Chemistry/Chemical Technology
OR
MSc in Chemistry/ Chemical Technology PLUS Two (2) years of teaching experience
OR
Honours in Chemistry/ Chemical Technology PLUS Three (3) years of teaching experience
OR
BSc Chemistry/Chemical Technology PLUS Five (5) years of teaching work experience
NB: EXPERIENCE AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING WILL BE AN ADDED ADVANTAGE
Other necessary knowledge and skills
- Managerial and leadership skills
- Communication Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Inter-personal Skills
- Teaching Skills
- Financial Management Skills
- Computer Literacy
- Negotiation Skills
- Conflict Management Skills
- Problem Solving Skills
- Decision Making Skills
WORKING CONDITIONS
Unfavourable working conditions
The job requires the incumbent to:
- Work before and beyond normal working hours. during weekends and on public holidays
- Be exposed to walking long distances on foot while taking students out for practical work
Applications on relevant forms, (obtainable from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition). GP 104 for serving officers, and GP 103 for job seekers duly accompanied by certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, National Identity Documents, and up-to-date performance appraisal forms for serving officers.
All applications must be hand delivered or addressed to:
The Director Human Resources
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
P.O. Box 24
Maseru – 100
Not later than the 07th August 2024
