The University of Cape Town is seeking a highly experienced and qualified individual to fill the position of Registrar, a senior executive role that plays a critical part in the university's governance, academic administration, and institutional regulatory environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of key governance structures, academic administration, and the integrity of the academic record. The Registrar will report to the Vice-Chancellor and serve as Secretary to Council, Senate, and Convocation.
The Registrar will have overall accountability for academic administration and the student academic record, including systems and processes supporting student recruitment, admissions, registration, examinations, certification, and graduation. The position also requires executive accountability for University legal matters and contributing strategic advice across various executive, academic, governance, and administrative structures. The ideal candidate should have an appropriate NQF Level 9 qualification, such as a Master's degree in Law, Higher Education, Public Administration, Governance, Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
To be considered for the position, applicants must have at least 10 years of recent and relevant experience in a complex higher education environment, including substantial senior-level leadership experience in academic administration, university governance, and/or legal and regulatory affairs. Demonstrated experience in strategy, institutional leadership, and change management is also essential. The successful candidate will have strong strategic, conceptual, and systems-thinking capability, with the ability to understand and manage the interdependencies between governance, academic administration, legal, and institutional systems.
The Registrar will be responsible for providing strategic and executive leadership across the Office of the Registrar and contributing to the leadership, governance, and strategic direction of the University. The position involves serving as Secretary to Council, Senate, and Convocation, ensuring that these statutory bodies and their relevant committees are properly constituted, effectively serviced, and supported by sound governance advice, accurate records, and appropriate institutional processes.
The University is looking for a candidate with detailed knowledge of applicable higher-education legislation, governance frameworks, and policies. The successful candidate will also have a demonstrated ability to provide strategic oversight of financial and resource management, risk governance, and organisational sustainability within a complex higher education environment. Additionally, the Registrar will be responsible for leading and developing a capable, accountable, and service-oriented professional team.
The position of Registrar requires an individual with strong leadership and communication skills, able to establish and sustain effective relationships and exercise influence across multiple levels of a complex institution. The successful candidate will have knowledge and understanding of the academic core business of a university and the institutional administrative and operational systems that support it. The Registrar will also be responsible for ensuring effective financial and resource stewardship within the Registrar's portfolio.
The 2026 annual cost of employment, including benefits, is commensurate with the Senior Management level. Interested candidates can view the job description on the University's website and apply through the UCT Jobs portal. The University of Cape Town is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from qualified individuals.
Key points
- The University of Cape Town is seeking a highly experienced and qualified individual to fill the position of Registrar.
- The successful candidate will have overall accountability for academic administration and the student academic record.
- The position requires an individual with strong leadership and communication skills, able to establish and sustain effective relationships across multiple levels of a complex institution.
