Short Course Development Manager – Wits Plus at University of the Witwatersrand

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage the full course development lifecycle, including new course setup, kick-off meetings with the instructional design team, and milestone tracking. 
• Identify and lead targeted course updates and redesigns for existing short courses, with a focus on improving the learning journey of all students. 
• Oversee the review, update, and quality optimisation of short courses 
• Develop and implement minimum criteria, templates, and onboarding frameworks for all short courses across every mode of delivery. 
• Conduct final quality assurance reviews, in collaboration with the University academics, to ensure alignment with approved course Motivation documents. 
• Maintain a robust tracking system for all short courses from approval through development to evaluation, including proactive escalation of challenges. 
• Provide internal LMS setup support as needed. 
• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and University academic leadership to address issues identified through Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) processes. 
• Drive innovation by identifying and advocating for the implementation of new pedagogical approaches and design methodologies for short courses. 
• Contribute to cross-functional planning and portfolio management. 

Minimum Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Education, Curriculum Development, or a closely related field (a Master’s degree will be an advantage). 
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in instructional design or course development, with experience in as a team leader, senior specialist, or management role. 
• Demonstrated expertise in managing end-to-end course development projects. 
• Strong practical experience with Learning Management Systems, preferably Canvas but not essential. 
• Proven ability to develop quality standards, templates, playbooks, and onboarding frameworks. 
• Excellent project management, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills. 
• Sound knowledge of adult learning principles, learning experience design, and quality assurance in higher education.

 Desirable Requirements

• Experience in university short courses, continuing professional development (CPD), or executive education. 
• Experience leading or coordinating instructional design teams or external specialists.

Closing Date: 30 June 2026