Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Affiliations
Education
Software
Languages
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Timeline
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Damion Jacobs

Damion Jacobs

Legal Professional
Cape Town

Summary

Dynamic and creative professional with a self-driven, detail-oriented work ethic seamlessly blending with robust experience in the commercial and legal sectors. Advanced skill set encompassing exceptional organizational prowess, sharp analytical thinking, comprehensive research expertise, strong leadership, and effective communication. Well-equipped to excel in challenging and pragmatic roles. Consistently delivers outstanding results by harnessing these competencies.

I have experience in operational management, with a track record of driving efficient processes and optimizing performance. Adept at implementing strategies that align with organizational goals and fostering collaborative work environments. Known for adaptability and reliability in dynamic settings, ensuring seamless team operations and goal achievement.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
6049
6049
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages

Work History

Faculty Officer (Acting)

University Of Cape Town
01.2025 - Current
  • Established effective relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally for increased collaboration opportunities.
  • Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their skills and advance in their careers.
  • Improved department efficiency by streamlining and implementing policies and processes.
  • Implemented process improvements that streamlined workflows, reducing redundancies and increasing operational efficiency.
  • Coordinated cross-functional teams to address complex issues, leading to more efficient problem-solving processes.
  • Enhanced communication between team members by organizing regular meetings and fostering open dialogue.
  • Maintained strict adherence to industry regulations, minimizing risk exposure for the organization.
  • Provide administrative support to the Deputy Deans and act as liaison between students and the Deanery
  • Support the development and maintenance of a faculty administrative information management system
  • Provide support for faculty governance processes, including maintaining the faculty calendar
  • Servicing of Faculty Committees.
  • Utilized data-driven decision-making techniques to inform strategic planning processes and measure progress towards goals.

Co-Director and Operations & Compliance Manager

Keynes Business Academy
01.2021 - 11.2024
  • Established innovative training enterprise focusing on virtual education within legal, financial, and corporate governance sectors.
  • Led the development of top-tier educational materials, guaranteeing market competitiveness through engaging and pertinent content.
  • As COO, provided strategic operational leadership, enhancing organizational efficiency and fostering business expansion.
  • Delivered expert-led advanced training workshops, utilizing extensive industry knowledge to improve participant learning experiences.
  • Optimized ops as COO for strategic growth
  • Enhanced team collaboration by implementing effective communication strategies and regular meetings.
  • Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for maximum impact.
  • Utilized technology tools effectively to automate tasks where appropriate, freeing up time for higher-value activities.
  • Mentored junior staff members to support their professional development and encourage career progression.
  • Maintained up-to-date knowledge on industry trends and competitors'' offerings, ensuring strategic advantage in the market.
  • Contributed expertise in strategic planning sessions at the executive level leading to well-informed decision making.
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing favorable terms that benefitted the organization''s bottom line.
  • Streamlined operations for increased efficiency by identifying areas of improvement and implementing necessary changes.
  • Fostered an inclusive environment that valued diversity of thought, experience, and background among team members.
  • Reason for leaving: business sold.
  • Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
  • Championed a culture of continuous improvement, fostering collaboration between departments for optimal operational results.

Senior Law Lecturer

IIE Varsity College
01.2019 - 12.2021
  • Spearheaded legal education for first and second-year LLB students, focusing on core subjects including Legal Diversity (Customary Law) and Work Integrated Learning (WIL).
  • Pioneered practical legal training through drafting exercises such as Heads of Argument and Legal Memoranda.
  • Innovated and developed the compulsory final year LLB Jurisprudence module, enhancing academic rigor.
  • Orchestrated and led the annual first-year Moot Court competitions, fostering advocacy skills and legal acumen.
  • Taught core LLB subjects, enhancing legal understanding
  • Led practical Work Integrated Learning with drafting exercises
  • Developed final year compulsory Jurisprudence module
  • Designed and presided over annual first-year Moot competitions
  • Collaborated with faculty and staff to create meaningful learning experiences.
  • Mentored and advised students to explore career pathways based and amplify knowledge, skills and strengths.
  • Used PowerPoint and Google Classroom technology to give presentations to student classrooms.
  • Selected and designed lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
  • Contributed to departmental meetings by sharing insights on effective teaching strategies and proposing solutions for addressing common challenges faced by faculty members.
  • Participated in conferences and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with latest trends in field.
  • Implemented differentiated instruction methods to accommodate diverse student learning styles.
  • Implemented instructional technologies in course delivery to engage and educate students.
  • Led seminars and workshops to facilitate student learning and engagement and increase memory retention.
  • Adapted quickly to shifting educational landscapes during remote learning periods, leveraging digital tools to engage students via virtual platforms while maintaining a high level of academic rigor.
  • Utilized distance learning technology to instruct students remotely.
  • Arranged syllabus, developed schedule, and determined reading list for varied courses simultaneously, giving students appropriate time to complete assignments and absorb information.
  • Maintained open lines of communication with parents through conferences, email correspondence, and phone calls to provide ongoing updates on student progress.
  • Pioneered use of multimedia resources in lectures, enriching learning environment.
  • Streamlined grading process with digital tools, reducing turnaround time for assignment feedback.
  • Taught diverse student population by employing various learning styles and abilities.
  • Reason for leaving: Seeking a more challenging environment and career growth opportunities.

Parliamentary Monitor

Parliament of South Africa
01.2019 - 12.2019
  • Spearheaded transparency in legislative processes by diligently attending and reporting on over 45 committee meetings in both the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces for the Parliamentary Monitoring Group.
  • Enhanced participatory democracy by ensuring public accessibility to detailed accounts of parliamentary proceedings.
  • Monitored 45+ committees
  • Facilitated open democracy
  • Crafted detailed reports
  • Kept public well-informed
  • Reason for leaving: end of temporary employment.

Guest Lecturer: Cybercrime Law/ Law of Evidence

Faculty of Law, UCT
01.2017 - 12.2017
  • Delivered a Guest Lecture on Cybercrime Law in South Africa to final-year LLB students in 2017, leveraging my comprehensive understanding of emerging legal challenges post-LLB degree completion.
  • Translated complex concepts from an Independent Research Paper into an engaging educational experience, demonstrating expertise in the Law of Evidence
  • Reason for leaving: end of "guest lecturer" status.

Vacation Assistant

Department of Student Housing and Residence, UCT
11.2014 - 02.2015
  • Delivered exceptional customer service to guests at high-profile conferences, often associated with the University of Cape Town (UCT).
  • Ensured strict adherence to policies and procedures, maintaining a professional environment.
  • Upheld compliance with event protocols
  • Provided prompt, professional guest support
  • Contributed to a positive work environment with strong interpersonal skills and proactive teamwork attitude.
  • Collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals in a timely manner.
  • Performed wide-ranging administrative, financial and service-related functions.
  • Reason for leaving: end of contractual period.

Administrative Assistant

Faculty of Law, UCT
01.2013 - 12.2013
  • Spearheaded the annual registration process for the Faculty of Law, ensuring seamless operations during peak periods.
  • Enforced compliance with university and faculty policies through diligent supervision and oversight.
  • Served as a key liaison between faculty administrative staff and external parties, facilitating effective communication.
  • Provided outstanding customer service at prestigious university-affiliated conferences, enhancing guest experience
  • Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
  • Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by adhering to strict privacy policies and implementing secure filing systems.
  • Promoted a positive work environment through effective communication skills and fostering professional relationships among colleagues.
  • Improved document organization with thorough file maintenance, archiving outdated records as necessary for efficient retrieval when needed.
  • Delivered excellent customer service through prompt responses to client inquiries, addressing concerns effectively, and building strong relationships.
  • Ensured accurate record-keeping with diligent data entry and database management for vital company information.
  • Coordinated office supply inventory management, proactively ordering necessary items before depletion to avoid workflow disruptions.
  • Supported executive staff through scheduling meetings, coordinating travel arrangements, and preparing crucial documents.
  • Assisted with human resources tasks such as updating employee files or submitting time-off requests per company policy guidelines.
  • Assisted in onboarding new employees, providing training materials, and coordinating orientation schedules to ensure a smooth integration into the team.
  • Boosted team productivity by managing communication channels and ensuring timely responses to inquiries.
  • Facilitated collaboration within team by organizing regular meetings and tracking project progress.
  • Managed expense reports for executive staff members, ensuring accurate documentation of spending for budgeting purposes.
  • Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information, adhering strictly to data protection regulations.
  • Developed filing system for historical documents, preserving important company records and improving access to information.
  • Implemented new CRM system to track client interactions, improving response times and client satisfaction.
  • Reason for leaving: end of contractual employment.

Assistant Program Coordinator

SHAWCO International Project
01.2011 - 12.2011
  • Spearheaded SHAWCO's International Project, delivering a dynamic educational and cultural exchange for foreign university students, with a focus on American academia.
  • Ensured stringent programme compliance and monitored participants' academic progression, aligning with curriculum requirements.
  • Oversaw academic progress of students
  • Facilitated US students' cultural immersion
  • Facilitated open lines of communication between team members for efficient decision-making processes during project implementation stages.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to maximize program effectiveness and reach broader audiences.
  • Increased participant satisfaction through attentive communication and timely resolution of concerns.
  • Provided ongoing support to Program Coordinator in planning, execution, and evaluation of various initiatives within the department.
  • Maintained accurate records of program activities, results, and participant progress for future reference and analysis.
  • Managed budgets, tracked expenses, and ensured cost-effective use of resources within the program.
  • Acted as a liaison between the organization and external partners to ensure smooth collaboration and execution of joint initiatives.
  • Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders.
  • Reason for leaving: end of contractual employment.

Policy, Research and Communications Officer

Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
01.2010 - 12.2010
  • Served as Policy, Research, and Communications Officer at TAC, aligning policy responses with organizational objectives.
  • Conducted comprehensive research to keep the organization at the forefront of HIV/AIDS developments, focusing on women and children's impact.
  • Conducted HIV/AIDS trend research
  • Focused on women & children's health impact
  • Managed comms for policy & research
  • Conducted thorough market research to inform strategic communication decisions aligned with organizational goals.
  • Monitored media coverage of the organization closely to identify opportunities for proactive outreach.
  • Managed crisis communications, effectively mitigating potential reputational damage.
  • Reason for leaving: end of contractual employment.

Executive Committee Member (Evaluations and Monitoring)

SHAWCO Holiday Project
01.2009 - 12.2010
  • Spearheaded the strategic monitoring and evaluation of annual objectives aligned with secondary education system parameters.
  • Enhanced township school curriculums by providing superior, above-grade educational facilitation to supplement public education programs.
  • Monitored annual educational goals
  • Evaluated program success
  • Boosted township school education
  • Enhanced above-grade learning
  • Evaluated operational efficiency through regular performance reviews, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing appropriate solutions.
  • Leveraged data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making processes and drive targeted, impactful results.
  • Cultivated an environment that prioritized professional development opportunities for employees at all levels within the organization.
  • Communicated business performance, forecasts and strategies to investors and shareholders.
  • Reason for leaving: end of employment contract.

Education

LLM -

University of The Western Cape

LLB - Law

University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa

Medical Negligence and Health-Sector Mediation Training - Alternative Dispute Resolution

University of Cape Town

BSocSci - Public Policy & Administration

University of Cape Town

Skills

    Team leadership

    Analytical thinking

    Strong communication

    Stakeholder engagement

    Operations management

    Strategic planning

    Crisis management

    Data analysis

    Regulatory compliance

    Team collaboration

    Report writing

    Emergency response coordination

    Report preparation

    Operational efficiency

    Relationship building

    Attention to detail

Affiliations

Enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court (non-practicing. LPC member number: 109399

Education

true

Software

4,5,

Microsoft Office Suite

Website Management

Languages

6,6

Professionalmembershipaffiliation


  • Enrolled as Legal Representative (Advocate: non-practicing) with the South African Legal Practice Council
  • Member of the Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration
  • United Nations Volunteer (online)

Timeline

Faculty Officer (Acting)

University Of Cape Town
01.2025 - Current

Co-Director and Operations & Compliance Manager

Keynes Business Academy
01.2021 - 11.2024

Senior Law Lecturer

IIE Varsity College
01.2019 - 12.2021

Parliamentary Monitor

Parliament of South Africa
01.2019 - 12.2019

Guest Lecturer: Cybercrime Law/ Law of Evidence

Faculty of Law, UCT
01.2017 - 12.2017

Vacation Assistant

Department of Student Housing and Residence, UCT
11.2014 - 02.2015

Administrative Assistant

Faculty of Law, UCT
01.2013 - 12.2013

Assistant Program Coordinator

SHAWCO International Project
01.2011 - 12.2011

Policy, Research and Communications Officer

Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
01.2010 - 12.2010

Executive Committee Member (Evaluations and Monitoring)

SHAWCO Holiday Project
01.2009 - 12.2010

LLM -

University of The Western Cape

LLB - Law

University of Cape Town

Medical Negligence and Health-Sector Mediation Training - Alternative Dispute Resolution

University of Cape Town

BSocSci - Public Policy & Administration

University of Cape Town

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Damion JacobsLegal Professional