Dean, Faculty of Law job at Bishop Stuart University

Background

Bishop Stuart University (BSU) is a Faith-Based Christian University founded in 2002 by Ankole Diocese of the Church of Uganda. Fully accredited and chartered by His Excellency, the President of Uganda in 2014, the University is located in Mbarara City, Western Uganda. Our Mission is to train and produce Responsible, Ethical, Employable, Entrepreneurial and God-fearing graduates (REEE+G).

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BSU offers competitive salaries and excellent opportunities for career growth and professional development. The University now seeks to recruit competent and highly qualified professionals to contribute to the implementation of its 10-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2035) and the efficient operationalization of the University Council policies in a highly competitive higher education environment.

Role Context

The Dean, Faculty of Law, provides visionary academic and administrative leadership for the Faculty, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal education that produces ethical, competent, and socially responsible lawyers equipped to serve the global community. The Dean fosters a culture of integrity, service, and public interest law, bridging legal academia with the profession, judiciary, and broader society. Reports to the Academic Registrar.

Qualifications and Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree in Law.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in legal education, legal practice, or a combination, including significant academic leadership roles (e.g., department head, associate dean, or equivalent).
• Proven record of scholarship, teaching excellence, and professional achievement in law, qualifying for appointment as a tenured full Professor in the Faculty of Law.
• Experience in university administration, strategic planning, budgeting, and accreditation processes (e.g., with relevant Ugandan or international legal education bodies).

Personal Competencies

• Inspirational leadership with strong ethical grounding, aligned with Christian values of justice, compassion, integrity, and service to humanity.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to engage faculty, students, staff, alumni, legal professionals, and external stakeholders.
• Strategic vision and innovative thinking, with knowledge of Ugandan, African, and global legal trends, including emerging areas like technology law, environmental law, and access to justice.
• Data-driven decision-making and resource management skills, including budgeting, fundraising, and performance analytics.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and fostering an environment that empowers underrepresented groups in legal education and the profession.
• Adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and passion for mentoring future leaders who integrate faith, entrepreneurship, and public service in their legal careers.

• Provide overall academic and administrative leadership for the Faculty, including developing and implementing a strategic vision that enhances legal education, research, and community engagement in line with university goals.
• Oversee curriculum development, program accreditation, and quality assurance to ensure programs meet national and international standards, integrating ethical training, practical skills, clinical legal education, and entrepreneurial perspectives.
• Lead faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention, promoting excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service while supporting professional growth.
• Manage the Faculty’s budget, resources, and facilities (including moot court, Library and Computer lab), and drive fundraising, grant acquisition, and alumni relations to support scholarships, infrastructure, and initiatives.
• Foster student success through oversight of admissions, academic support, career services, internships, moot courts, clinics, and mentorship, embedding Christian principles of ethical practice and public interest advocacy.
• Build partnerships with the legal profession, judiciary, government, NGOs, and international organizations to facilitate experiential learning, research collaborations, and graduate employability in Uganda and beyond.
• Promote research and scholarship in areas relevant to African legal challenges, justice reform, and societal development, while tracking Faculty outcomes (e.g., bar passage rates, graduate employment, publications) to inform continuous improvement.
• Represent the Faculty and university in external forums, ensuring marketing of programs reflects the institution’s faith-centered, innovative, and service-oriented identity.
• Ensure inclusive practices and equitable opportunities for all students and staff, advancing access to legal education for underrepresented communities.

• Inspirational leadership
• Strong ethical grounding
• Excellent communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Strategic vision
• Innovative thinking
• Knowledge of Ugandan, African, and global legal trends
• Data-driven decision-making
• Resource management skills
• Budgeting skills
• Fundraising skills
• Performance analytics skills
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Adaptability
• Cultural sensitivity
• Mentoring skills

• Doctoral Degree in Law.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in legal education, legal practice, or a combination, including significant academic leadership roles (e.g., department head, associate dean, or equivalent).
• Proven record of scholarship, teaching excellence, and professional achievement in law, qualifying for appointment as a tenured full Professor in the Faculty of Law.
• Experience in university administration, strategic planning, budgeting, and accreditation processes (e.g., with relevant Ugandan or international legal education bodies).