Associate Professor/Professor (Co-Director: Africa Climate Collaborative)

About

The University of Cape Town seeks a part-time (50% FTE) Associate Professor or Professor to co-direct the Africa Climate Collaborative, a cross-university climate resilience and sustainability training and research initiative. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, advance research, education, partnerships and fundraising, and must meet the stated academic, research, leadership and management requirements. Salary: The annual cost of employment for 2026, including benefits for Associate Professor level is R1 457 192. Salary: The annual cost of employment for 2026, including benefits for Professor level is R1 805 034. Terms of service: Fixed term contract, 6 years (50% FTE). Reference: ID1602. Duty station: Cape Town.

How to apply

Apply online through the UCT Jobs Site (www.jobs.uct.ac.za) to create a candidate profile and submit your application. Attach your CV and a two-page motivation letter that speaks to the specific requirements of the position.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision & Leadership: Co-developing and co-executing the programme's long-term mission and dynamically evolving the programme’s strategy, scope and activities.
• Line Management: Direct line management of the leads of several major activities within the Africa Climate Collaborative.
• Research and Innovation: Facilitating and advancing transdisciplinary research and innovation to advance knowledge on climate and sustainability that is needs-driven and informs policy and practice in diverse African contexts.
• Educational Oversight: Leading the development and implementation of climate-focused degree programs and professional training, ensuring graduates are equipped with the skills for a "green, climate resilient economy" workforce.
• Partnerships & Outreach: Build and maintain strategic alliances with other higher education institutions, especially members of the Africa Climate Collaborative, research centres, government agencies, non-profits, civil society and the private sector.
• Internal Relationships and Coordination: Maintain productive relationships with other programmes funded by the Mastercard Foundation at UCT, facilitate productive relationships with key stakeholders across UCT, and contribute to ACDI leadership and management activities.
• Fundraising & Financial Management: Implementing fundraising initiatives, oversight of operating budgets, and securing external grants to support large-scale research initiatives.

Qualifications

• A PhD in a topic relevant to climate change and sustainable development.
• International recognition for research in one or more areas relevant to climate change and/or development.
• An understanding of the climate-resilience challenges facing the African continent.
• Excellent publication track record with evidence of recent productivity.
• Experience bridging the gap between physical sciences, social sciences and policy to shape needs-driven research.
• Evidence of engaged and outcome-based research and knowledge translation.
• A track record of obtaining independent funding appropriate to the level of appointment.
• Proven experience of supervision and graduation of Masters and PhD students appropriate to the level of appointment.
• Experience in teaching and designing postgraduate (Masters/PhD) academic and/or Professional Development (CPD) courses.
• Experience in administration and management within large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Skill in navigating complex partnerships involving diverse stakeholders and partners, across scales.
• Ability to oversee complex budgets and satisfy the reporting requirements of international donors.
• Recognised internationally as a leading researcher in one or more areas relevant to climate change and/or development.
• Substantial institutional management and leadership experience.
• Evidence of leadership in international science and/or practice activities, such as advisory boards, editorial boards, and science assessments such as the IPCC.