DIRECTOR

Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance

FACULTY OF COMMERCE

The Faculty of Commerce seeks to appoint a director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance. The position reports to the Faculty Dean.

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is a graduate school dedicated to fostering ethical, transformative leadership and strengthening public governance across the African continent. The school offers academic programmes designed to equip public servants, policymakers, and civil society actors with the skills and knowledge to drive developmental change. These programmes focus on strategic leadership, practice-informed change-making, and context-driven governance solutions. The school boasts a robust research programme which encompasses the following broad research areas, democratic governance, developmental regionalism, sustainable development, social inclusion, and public policy implementation on the African continent. The school has established itself as a key convenor of Pan-African leadership networks, strengthening partnerships and dialogue across sectors and nations.

The director will lead the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance campus and the Memorial Centre. The Centre is envisioned to serve as a global public space for reflection, dialogue, and contemplation.   

The main purpose of the position of Director is to provide strategic leadership in building the school, grow the academic programme and consolidate the research agenda. The ideal candidate will combine academic excellence, strategic leadership capabilities, and practical experience in governance and / or policymaking. They must demonstrate the ability to expand the school’s networks, enhance its global standing, and foster innovation in teaching, research, and public engagement.

Requirements for the job:

• A PhD
• A minimum of 10 years in government and/or policy making at a senior level
• A track record of fund raising
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies that promote the school’s financial sustainability.
• Proven experience in fostering partnerships with public, private, and academic sectors
• A deep understanding of Africa’s developmental and governance challenges
• Experience in successful management of teams with diverse skills
• Experience in leadership development
• Demonstrated ability for strategic thinking
• Excellent communication skills

Advantageous:

• Experience and expertise in research supervision and teaching.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the school to build on the current strengths and create innovative opportunities for growth
• Lead the development and implementation of long-term financial strategies to ensure the school’s financial sustainability and resilience.
• Be an active member of the school, embedded in its activities, including teaching on the academic programmes and supervising research students
• Build the national and international reputation of the school.
• Provide visionary leadership and strategic oversight for both the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and the Memorial Centre.
• Attract sustainable independent research funding.

The ideal candidate will be appointed at the level equivalent to that of Professor, subject to the faculty’s benchmarks and expectations for performance.

The annual remuneration packages for 2025, including benefits, at the respective level is as follows:

• Professor                        - R1, 694 867

To apply, please visit the UCT Internal Careers site (for internal applicants) and UCT Careers site (for external applicants) to create a profile and submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• A covering letter of motivation which addresses the above criteria, including a statement on your potential contribution as the Director for the Unit
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three referee names, which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address, and telephone number

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments and deliver an oral presentation to the school.

References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any inquiries for this position are to be addressed to Mr. Ian Petersen at [email protected] or 021 650 2163.

Closing Date: 15 August 2025

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.