Education and Exhibits Manager (AD.08) (AD.08.4) at University of the Witwatersrand

Job Summary:

• The Faculty of Science seeks to appoint an Education and Exhibits Manager to manage the educational and exhibits activities at the Wits Sterkfontein Caves.
• The employee will be an integral member of the Wits Sterkfontein management team, working to create a leading, inclusive, integrative, and dynamic educational environment that encompasses the Sterkfontein and Swartkrans properties in particular, but the broader Cradle environment as well.  
• The employee will work at the Wits Sterkfontein Caves daily, managing the tour guide team schedules, training, performance, and development.
• The employee will be responsible for ensuring a seamless and engaging visitor experience that caters to the diverse clientele, from school learners to international tourists.
• The employee will work closely with the head of the centre, the research team, and the Operations Manager to implement educational programs, develop and implement temporary exhibits, and upgrades to the permanent exhibit.
• The employee will be responsible for the development of additional education and permanent and temporary exhibition initiatives to consistently augment the Sterkfontein visitor experience and scientific narratives.  
• The Education and Exhibits Manager position is a five-year, full-time appointment, renewable subject to performance and funding.

Brief Description        

Responsibilities will include: 

• Work with the head of centre, research team, Operations Manager, stakeholders, the local community, Wits departments, and science communications specialists to develop educational and science communications programs and events based at the Wits Sterkfontein Caves.
• Develop short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategic goals for the education and exhibits program that incorporate a wide variety of stakeholders and communities.
• Cultivate long-term collaborative relationships with local and international museums to augment the education and exhibit program.
• Develop regular temporary exhibits that support the educational goals of the enterprise.
• Plan, with a broad range of relevant stakeholders, and implement the rejuvenation of the Sterkfontein museum space.
• Develop online and physical educational content for the Sterkfontein and Swartkrans media platforms.
• Engage with Wits Archaeology and Origins Centre to integrate formal science communication/heritage management course content at the Sterkfontein Caves.
• Develop workshops and targeted educational programs and resources for school learners, school teachers, and students.
• Fundraise for exhibits and education events with local and international donors/bodies.
• Cultivate philanthropic relationships relating to the exhibits and education program.
• Facilitate and encourage education and science communication research at the site and across the Cradle.
• Provide additional support for the visitor experience by providing specialist tours, augmenting the tour guide complement when needed.
• Recruit, train and deploy visiting students to augment tour guide numbers.
• Engage with visiting researchers to augment the visitor experience.
• Design and manage education and exhibit events.
• Schedule tour guide shifts to cater to the visitor volumes and timing.
• Develop (with the research team) the tour guide storylines for different audiences and consistently update them with new research.
• Manage tour guide development and training.
• Audit and monitor tour guide performance.
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary training with visiting researchers and the broader Wits research community (e.g., GAES, Geosciences, APES, ESI).

Desirable Requirements: 

• MA or MSc in heritage/paleoscience/archaeology/museology/ or related field.
• Educational experience (curriculum/ teaching/ resources).
• Experience in project management, including proposal/report writing and fundraising.
• Science communication experience (including media & websites skills).
• Understanding of Cradle of Humankind, Human Evolution, southern African Archaeology, Palaeontology, and Geology.
• Experience in public relations work, or working within public-facing organisations.
• Some Museum work experience would be advantageous. 
• Work-related experience, with some management of teams an advantage.  

Key Competencies: 

• High level of competency in developing educational and exhibition materials and programs.
• Thorough and updated relevant science content knowledge in paleosciences.
• Knowledge of content in South Africa’s school curricula.
• High-level computer literacy with respect to Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in communication, including digital communication technology such as websites, newsletters, policy briefs, infographics etc.
• Knowledge of site health and safety practices.
• Proficiency in English and preferably other local languages.
• Leadership skills and abilities.
• Good writing skills.
• Experience- of running successful fund-raising programmes is highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Closing date: 12 December 2025