Rector and Vice-Chancellor

Prefered skills

Evidence, Support Services, Strategic Vision, Executive Management, Curriculum, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Learning, Social Justice, Higher Education, Education, Educational Management

Job description

RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR
(Five-year contract with the option of renewal)

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a vibrant, diverse and dynamic institution that is cognisant of the volatile, uncertain, complex, ever-changing and challenging global environment. The University actively responds, in critical and creative ways, to the developmental needs of the local, national and international contexts. UWC appreciates the opportunities of the academic project and wishes to build on its history of providing students with an excellent academic experience. The academic project constitutes the core mandate of a university; hence the quality of its teaching, research, community involvement and transformation goals are integral to its success.

The Council of UWC seeks to appoint a suitably qualified and accomplished leader of high professional and exceptional academic standing as the new Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape. The person must demonstrate strategic vision, excellent personal and interpersonal skills, and possess the ability of fostering partnerships and stakeholder relationships at all levels, and govern collaboratively, as evidenced by examples of decisive and responsive management among academic colleagues, students, professional and support staff. S/he must possess a discerning public stature. The applicant should further demonstrate a commitment to social justice and transformation, competencies in nurturing and developing staff, and display a commitment to promoting the sustainable development goals. The applicant must provide evidence of academic excellence, demonstrable experience in executive academic management and proven evidence of a student-centred approach to the academic agenda.

The primary responsibility of the Rector and Vice-Chancellor is to provide executive and academic leadership to the University. The role encompasses tasks of Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, and Legal, Administrative and Academic Head of the University. In addition, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor is the Chairperson of the Senate. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor has overall responsibility for the academic stature of the institution, as well as its effective and efficient management, and is accountable to the University Council. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor is assisted in the management and administration of the University by the members of the Executive and the Senior Management team.

The applicant must hold a doctoral degree and be eligible to be appointed at a Professor level. The applicant must possess demonstrable minimum ten (10) years senior management experience of which at least five (5) years should be at an executive management level. The applicant must possess deep insight into every aspect of tertiary education, be it teaching and learning, research and innovation and professional support services, all of which are demonstrated in the ten-plus (10+) years of senior management, inclusive of at least five (5) years of executive roles. Demonstrated experience in fundraising external to the university environment is essential. The applicant must display a good understanding of the integration of various forms of technology into the delivery of programmes and services.

In your application, you are encouraged to highlight your strengths and include anything else that may be pertinent to the selection panel. In addition, please attach your cover letter motivating your suitability, a detailed curriculum vitae and the highest qualification to your online profile.

To be considered for this vacancy, apply directly via UWC Careers at https://uwc.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll For any further information related to this
application, please get in touch with our Executive Director of Human Resources, Meko Ernest Magida, via
email at mmagida@uwc.ac.za.

Short-listed candidates must make a presentation to the University community and later participate in an interview process to be conducted by the Senior Appointments Committee of the University Council.

Applications should be submitted online by 12 May 2023.

NB: This is a five-year contract with the possibility of it being extended for a second term.

The official retirement age at UWC is 65 years.

By submitting an application for the position, you consent to the University sharing your application, including curriculum vitae, with University stakeholders for purposes of processing the application.

EQUITY DISCLAIMER: In line with the Universitys commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our Employment Equity Targets. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment, make an appointment at a different level, seek additional candidates and may conduct competency assessments.