Executive Dean - Private Higher Education, Milnerton

Executive Dean: Private Higher Education Reports to: CEO

About Cornerstone Institute Cornerstone Institute is an independent, registered, not‑for‑profit higher education institution with a story that matters. Founded in 1970 on the Cape Flats at a time when education was used to divide, we were built on a different premise: that learning should advance human dignity for everyone, regardless of race, religion or background.

Today, we are a vibrant community of learners and leaders based in Cape Town and online. Our philosophy is simple:

Learn to Change the World.

While our heritage is steeped in an ethical, faith‑based worldview, we are a deliberately pluralistic community. We don’t see our degrees in Psychology, Business, Education, Theology, and Sociology as separate silos, but as different ways to understand and serve a complex society.

Joining us means joining a legacy of transformation. We’re a team that values inclusivity, creativity, and the kind of understated excellence that actually moves the needle on the world’s challenges.

About this role You’ll be leading a faculty that’s caught between doing what’s always worked and building what’s next. That’s just the reality of higher education right now. We need someone who can hold that tension without pretending it doesn’t exist.

This isn’t about fixing everything or having all the answers on day one. It’s about creating the conditions for good work, hard conversations, and thoughtful evolution. You’ll be expected to deliver on today’s priorities while actively shaping tomorrow’s possibilities, without burning yourself outor the people around you. If that sounds exhausting, it can be. If it sounds energising, you might be the right person.

The tensions you’ll be working with

Today vs. Tomorrow:

Immediate operational fires and long‑term strategic work both matter. Neither can be sacrificed for the other.

Stability vs. Change:

Some want certainty, others want transformation. You’ll need to give both groups something real to hold onto.

Internal Complexity vs. External Pressure:

The sector is shifting fast: funding models, student expectations, technology, and competition. Inside a faculty, decisions can move slowly. You’ll need to work the system and push past it when necessary.

Being Visible vs. Doing the Work:

Deans are often expected to be everywhere, but the real work happens in quiet moments: one‑on‑one conversations, difficult decisions, and creating space for others to lead. You’ll need to balance performance with presence.

What we’re actually looking for

You’ve adapted and grown through change: you’ve changed your mind about something important and let go of something that was working because you knew it wasn’t working well enough.

You can hold the long view while managing the short term: you don’t get paralysed by competing priorities. You know when to move fast and when to slow down.

You’re comfortable with ambiguity: you don’t need perfect clarity to act. You can work with incomplete information and messy human dynamics without using complexity as an excuse for inaction.

You build trust, not just authority: people will follow you because they trust your judgement, not your title. You listen more than you talk.

You understand systems: you see the faculty as an ecosystem, not a hierarchy. You know that sustainable change happens through relationships, not memos.

What success looks like in this role

Academic Strategy:

You’ve helped us define exactly where Cornerstone Institute sits in a shifting landscape.

Academic Quality:

Our learning and teaching standards are high, and our policy management is unfussy and effective.

Student Success:

Our module success rates are climbing, and our graduates are demonstrating real‑world employability.

Audit‑Readiness:

When the CHE or ISO auditors knock, we don’t panic. You’ve built a culture of continuous quality and high governance.

Faculty Vitality:

You’ve removed the blockers, allowing our smart, committed staff to do their best work without burnout.

Requirements

PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., Education, Humanities, Business, Psychology, Management).

At least 5 years’ experience in academic management within the South African private higher education sector.

Experience in distance (online) learning environments.

Deep understanding of the SA regulatory environment (CHE, DHET, SAQA).

#J-18808-Ljbffr