The University of the Western Cape (UWC) invites applications for the position of Director: Community Engagement Unit (CEU). This senior leadership role is situated in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and plays a critical part in embedding the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) across all levels of the university. Rooted in UWC’s legacy of social justice, equity, and transformation, the CEU fosters sustainable partnerships, institutional learning, and public engagement, aligned with Boyer’s vision of engagement as an evolving and co-creative process.

The Director will lead the CEU strategically, positioning it as a dynamic academic and institutional hub for engaged scholarship. The role entails institutionalising community engagement (CE) across teaching, learning, research, and outreach, and promoting inclusive, participatory practices that reflect UWC’s transformation agenda and contribute to societal development. This includes driving CE policy and recognition mechanisms, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge co-production, and amplifying UWC’s visibility in national and international CE landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Integration:

• Shape and implement the CE strategy in alignment with UWC’s Institutional Operating Plan (IOP)
• Embed CE in governance, curriculum, academic promotion, and research systems
• Contribute to national and global dialogues on community engagement and higher education transformation
• Institutionalising the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) across all levels of the university.

Academic and Scholarly Integration:

• Advance CE as a scholarly field through research, publications, and conferences
• Support curriculum transformation through CE integration in undergraduate and postgraduate offerings
• Lead the development and implementation of CEU-specific modules (e.g., trauma-informed practices, youth engagement).

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and manage equitable partnerships with communities, NGOs, government, and international bodies
• Facilitate co-productive knowledge processes and community-led initiatives.
• Represent UWC in strategic CE collaborations, benchmarking, and national platforms.

Programme and Curriculum Development:

• Oversee CEU’s role in accreditation processes, and co-create guidelines for CE integration
• Lead curriculum design, training programmes, and programme renewal
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of CE initiatives institutionally and in communities.

Operational and Financial Management:

• Ensure sound administrative, human resource and budgetary management of CEU
• Develop and manage systems for monitoring and evaluating CE’s institutional impact
• Leverage digital platforms, AI, and emerging tools to enhance CE practice and visibility.

Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation:

• Conceptualise, prepare, and manage funding proposals and donor reports
• Implement development strategies and maintain stakeholder relationships through regular engagement.

Public Engagement and Advocacy:

• Promote UWC’s public profile through CEU outputs such as media campaigns, newsletters, alumni stories, and radio series
• Develop CE award criteria and support institutional recognition of CE efforts
• Contribute to national policy and advocacy platforms on CE in higher education.

Staff Leadership and Capacity Building:

• Mentor and develop CEU staff through skills training and professional growth pathways
• Facilitate internal capacity building across UWC to strengthen CE competencies among academics and administrators.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A Doctoral degree (PhD) in a relevant field.
• Eligible for appointment at Professor or Associate Professor level.
• At least 10 years’ experience in higher education, including 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• An established track record in engaged scholarship, curriculum transformation, and partnership development.
• Demonstrated expertise in CE within African or Global South contexts.

Key Competencies:

• Visionary leadership with the ability to align CE initiatives with institutional, national, and global priorities.
• Deep knowledge of CE theory, policy, and practice, including quality assurance and accreditation.
• Proven skills in curriculum development, knowledge co-production, and participatory pedagogy.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and public engagement abilities.
• Capacity to mobilise resources, manage teams, and operationalise CE strategies.
• Commitment to ethical, inclusive, and decolonial leadership in contexts of social inequality and intergenerational trauma.