Dean: Humanities

In brief

**Overview** The University of Cape Town is seeking an outstanding academic leader for the position of Dean of Humanities. This role requires an individual with a scholarly record appropriate for appointment at a full or associate professorial level. The Dean will provide visionary academic and strategic leadership, advancing UCT Strategy 2030 and strengthening the faculty’s position as a leading centre for teaching, scholarship, research, creative practice, and public engagement. **What you will do** The Dean will be responsible for: * Providing visionary academic and strategic leadership. * Advancing UCT Strategy 2030. * Strengthening the faculty’s position as a leading centre of teaching, scholarship, research, creative practice, and public engagement. * Shaping and implementing the faculty’s strategic vision, building on its strengths and positioning it to respond to opportunities and challenges in higher education across South Africa, Africa, and globally. * Championing academic excellence, student success, curriculum renewal, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful scholarship. * Ensuring sound governance, financial stewardship, and organisational sustainability. * Providing strategic leadership for the faculty’s governance, academic direction, and organisational performance as Chair of the Faculty Board. * Ensuring the effective implementation of university policies, academic regulations, and institutional priorities. * Providing strategic oversight of the Baxter Theatre and serving on its Board. * Contributing to institutional leadership and decision-making as a member of the University's senior leadership team, collaborating to advance the University's mission, values, and strategic priorities. * Potentially undertaking broader institutional leadership responsibilities, including acting for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, where required. * Fostering an inclusive, intellectually vibrant, and high-performing academic community that attracts, develops, and retains outstanding staff and students. * Enhancing the faculty’s contribution to scholarship, public engagement, innovation, and societal impact through strategic partnerships across various sectors. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * A PhD qualification in an appropriate discipline represented within the faculty or an appropriate professional equivalent. * An outstanding record of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including postgraduate supervision and the successful graduation of Master's and PhD students. * A distinguished record of scholarship, research, and/or creative practice within a discipline represented in the faculty. * An excellent track record of academic leadership and administration, including a substantive appointment as Dean, Deputy Dean, Head of Department or an equivalent senior academic leadership position. **Who should apply** The ideal candidate is an outstanding academic leader who possesses: * A scholarly record appropriate for appointment at a full or associate professorial level. * A clearly articulated strategic vision for the future of the faculty, aligned with the University's strategic priorities. * Demonstrated ability to provide values-based, inclusive, and accountable leadership, inspiring high-performing academic and professional communities. * Demonstrated ability to lead in ambiguity, complexity, and institutional change, exercising sound judgment in a dynamic higher education environment. * Strong communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust, influence, resolve conflict, and lead constructively across diverse constituencies. * Proven experience in leading diverse academic and professional teams, including the effective management of complex staff and student matters, organisational change, and performance. * Demonstrated commitment to academic freedom, institutional integrity, transformation, equity, and ethical leadership. * Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, fundraising, resource mobilisation, and sustainable financial management. * A proven track record of developing interdisciplinary, national, continental, and international partnerships. * An in-depth understanding of university governance, academic quality assurance, and the higher education policy environment. * An understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping higher education in South Africa, the African continent, and globally. * Willingness and ability to represent the Faculty and the University nationally and internationally, including through strategic partnerships, governance responsibilities, and other institutional engagements. **Deadline** 23 October 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/dean-humanities-university-of-cape-town Source: myjobmag

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