The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership of the Research Office Department and play a pivotal role in advancing UCT’s research ecosystem, working closely with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research and Internationalisation.

• Strategic decision-making at the institutional level related to research in cooperation with the DVC: R&I and across institutional, national and international committees
• Building and managing strategic stakeholder relationships and partnerships in research with universities, networks, donors, funding agencies, research councils and government departments
• Leading and managing the Research Office Department, including the Postgraduate and Research Development Directorate, the Office of Research Integrity, and the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office
• Strengthening postgraduate research and training and expanding international collaborations and networks
• Working in close collaboration with faculties, Directors, eResearch, International Academic Programmes Office, Development, Libraries, ICT Services, Human Resources and research finance to deliver integrated research support
• Guiding alignment of UCT’s research in line with strategic priorities and overseeing research management finances
• Line management and transformation of the Research Office with focus on equity targets and institutional culture transformation

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is Africa’s leading research-intensive university. The Executive Director: Research is a member of the University’s Leadership Lekgotla – UCT’s senior management team tasked with implementing the institution’s strategic goals, building its financial health, and maintaining its academic excellence.

The position of Executive Director: Research role has three main components:

• Strategic decision-making in cooperation with the DVC: Research & Internationalisation; and a range of institutional, national and international committees, working groups and boards;
• Management of stakeholder relations in collaboration with the DVC to strengthen external relations with other universities, networks, donors, funding agencies, research councils and government departments; and
• Leadership and management of the Research Office Department including; the Postgraduate and Research Development Directorate, the Office of Research Integrity and the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office.