Executive Director: Research at University of Cape Town

The position of Executive Director for Research has three main components in its role:
Strategic decision-making in cooperation with the DVC 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, the Postgraduate and Research Development Directorate, the Office of Research Integrity and the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office.

Minimum requirements:

• Possession of a Masters degree. A PhD degree is advantageous;
• At least ten years’ experience and in-depth knowledge of the Higher Education research, statutory research councils or similar research environment, specifically of the structures, processes, trends and policies informing achievement of research-related objectives;
• Demonstrated understanding of the global research and research funding landscapes;
• Five years’ experience in a senior and strategic leadership position, leading a team of people from a range of professional and administrative backgrounds;
• Demonstrated experience in enabling multi-lateral research collaboration across disciplinary, structural and governance boundaries;
• Demonstrated experience in building national or international partnerships and networks of researchers;
• Strong communication skills and skills in people management.

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Strategic decision making at the institutional level related to research in co-operation with the DVC: Research & Internationalisation;
• Building strategic stakeholder relationships and partnerships in research;
• Leading the Research office, Office of Research Integrity, Postgraduate Studies and Researcher Development Directorate and the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office;
• Working in close collaboration with the Directors of Research Contracts and Innovation, eResearch, the UCT Libraries, Information and Communication Technology Services, Human Resources and research finance to deliver an integrated research support platform to UCT researchers;
• Guiding transformation of UCT’s research in line with its strategic priorities;
• Oversight and planning of the finances for the research management and operation;
• Line management and transformation of the offices indicated above.

The 2020 annual cost of employment, including benefits, is appropriate to the Senior Management level.