The University of Cape Town (UCT) is among the world’s top research-led universities, producing graduates with nationally and internationally recognised qualifications that are underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice. With an ambitious agenda for the future, UCT is seeking to appoint a Deputy Vice-Chancellor to the portfolio of

Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness. This role is at the heart of the university’s Vision

2030, with new perspectives and a renewed drive to deliver on our institutional culture change agenda.

The appointed candidate will be an exceptional academic leader with proven senior leadership experience and vision.

The successful candidate is expected to have a thorough knowledge of the major issues impacting the higher

education sector and an ability to work in an ever-changing environment. Potential candidates should demonstrate

sophisticated stakeholder management skills, an ability to transact across different constituencies and levels of

power, and to build and maintain relationships of trust.

Requirements for the position:

A doctoral degree is required, and in addition, the suitable candidate will be someone who fulfils most of the following

criteria:

• An academic with an established track record as a scholar and experience in a leadership role in an academic

institution.

• Evidence of leadership and management in social responsiveness, community engagement or engaged

scholarship.

• A demonstrated track record of managing a complex portfolio, or running of an academic department or faculty.
• Evidence of a successful record of leadership, team work, and an ability to mobilise and inspire others towards

shared goals.

• Experience in leadership and management of student affairs and governance.
• A demonstrated commitment to transformation and institutional culture change.
• Understands the operations and affairs of a university environment.
• Thinks strategically and can operationalise such thinking into plans and projects.
• Has experience in addressing historic imbalances in student and staff profiles.
• Demonstrates effective communication, persuasive and interpersonal skills, and well-reasoned decision-making

ability.

• Can operate confidently and sensitively across cultures and other divides.

Specific responsibilities:

Transformation:

• Work closely with Deans and Executive Directors to ensure transformation of the demographic profiles of the

university’s staff and students, responding to the statutory requirements of the Employment Equity Act.

• Work with constituencies within UCT to achieve the vision of a diverse and inclusive community, free of

discrimination and harassment.

• Contribute to the ongoing transformation of learning and teaching, ensuring that students have the best-possible

opportunities for realising their full potential through appropriate psycho-social support in an environment free

of discrimination, harassment and violence;

• Develop, lead and coordinate implementation of projects for re-imagining the university’s physical and virtual

campus, as encapsulated in the university’s Vision 2030 strategy – the combination of language, symbols,

artworks and projects that shape and direct the transformation of the university’s institutional culture, realising

our African identity.

Student Affairs:

• Oversee the establishment and monitoring of enrolment and equity targets for student admissions.
• Promote an enriched academic and social environment for students, ensuring that they have the best possible

opportunities for realising their full potential through appropriate psycho-social support in an environment free

of discrimination, harassment and violence.

• Work with the Senate Admissions Committee, to oversee strategies for transformation in student admissions.
• Work closely with the Executive Director for Student Affairs, to provide Executive oversight for Student Housing,

Residences, Student Wellness Services, Financial Aid and for the Student Governance bodies.

Social Responsiveness:

• Provide leadership in engaged scholarship and social responsiveness.
• Responsible for institution-wide initiatives such as the UCT Knowledge Co-op, and Engaged Scholarship.
• Develop and implement projects that will promote a sense of connection with UCT within local communities that

feel excluded from the university.

• Work in partnership with the Deans and the Deputy Vice-Chancellors responsible for teaching & learning and

research to ensure that the university continues to respond, and contribute, to social and economic priorities

locally, nationally and in the context of our responsibilities as an African university with global impact.

 

Interested candidates can send their CV

 

To apply, please e-mail the following documents in a single pdf file to [email protected]:

• A covering letter to the selection committee which addresses the above criteria, including a statement on

your potential contribution as part of the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

• Your full curriculum vitae with the names and contact details of three referees.
• The HR204 application form for Senior Executive Posts available at: http://forms.uct.ac.za/hr204.doc.