97 Learning development specialist Jobs and Work in Cape Town Western Cape

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is the largest higher education institution and the only University of Technology in the Western Cape. With over 40,000 students distributed across five campuses and six academic Faculties, it offers over 70 academic programmes. CPUT is One Smart University striving to be a formidable and futuristic institution. Central to this vision are institutional characteristics of Oneness and Smartness, demonstrated through a culture of ethics and integrity, restoration, unity, passion, accountability, and technological astuteness. CPUT’s focus is on excellence, which is articulated through its Strategic Plan, Vision 2030, of One Smart CPUT across dimensions of Oneness (human-centricity, shared identity and values, and a smart society that values unity in diversity) and Smartness (smart people, technological developments and innovations). Vision 2030 articulates our ambition to be a Smart institution through our offerings and operations, and calls for a pragmatic, strategic visionary, inclusive and ethical leader to sustain and preserve the University’s incredible legacy, and the drive towards a One Smart CPUT.

To this end, CPUT seeks to appoint a reputable, values-led, and a strategic visionary who is passionate about a student-centred approach to academic leadership. The successful candidate will have a commitment to deepening and expanding the University’s academic and research agenda, the contribution of their role to its success, and the uniqueness; and importance of CPUT in the socioeconomic, technological, and digital landscape of South Africa’s Higher Education.

The Faculty of Education (FEd), based on two campuses, Mowbray and Wellington, is the largest teacher education provider in the Western Cape, with a wider catchment area from which its students are drawn. The Faculty prides itself in growing what is known as a ‘noble profession’ – a service-oriented profession critical to future generations. The Faculty’s core business is teacher education, through undergraduate, postgraduate, and further education and training qualifications. The FEd hosts a research entity, namely, Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society; and also, two NRF Research Chairs, namely, Research Chair in Teacher Education, and Research Chair in Transformative Education, Social Justice, and Innovation. It focuses, amongst others, on science and mathematics, early-childhood development, language in the curriculum, education policy and implementation, educational technology innovation, and inclusive education, all within the diverse social contexts and realities in South African education. This hub of excellence impacts current and future education paradigms and practices in the country, as well as the wider African continent, and globally.

The successful candidate for the Dean: FEd, will be an established, ethical, strategic, student-centred academic leader bearing a scholarship profile at the full Professor/ Associate Professor level, and in alignment with CPUT’s Academic Staff Promotion Policy. The incumbent will have a commitment to the University’s academic and research agenda, and the uniqueness and importance of CPUT’s socio-economic and technological advancement in South Africa.

The ideal candidate will, amongst others, drive the following:

The University’s strategy, mission, and vision, and the associated values of ethical, sound, strategic and operational leadership, as well as effective administrative management;
Quality teaching through our Smart Learning and Teaching agenda;
Smart Research, Technology/technological Innovation and Partnerships;
Incorporating the University’s smart engagement agenda, technological development and innovation in meaningful ways;
Sustaining and advancing a vibrant, high-quality and expanding postgraduate programme environment; and
Transformation and employment equity imperatives.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Experience

A Doctoral degree in the field of Education in one of the disciplines offered at the Education Faculty at CPUT.
At least 8 years of proven experience in academic management and administration at senior faculty management level (e.g. Assistant/Deputy Dean, Head of Department/ School, etc.) or equivalent academic structure.
Experience in learning and teaching, research, technology innovation and creative scholarship, community engagement and partnerships, leadership management and administration commensurate with the CPUT professorial level (Full Professor/ Associate Professor).
Proven track record in successful postgraduate supervision.
Proven track record of research excellence inclusive of fundraising experience.
Demonstrable track record of DHET-accredited publications in recognized peer reviewed journals.
A track record of developing and maintaining relationships with the industry, professional bodies/ associations, national and international communities.
A thorough understanding of the South African Public Higher Education landscape.

Key Performance Areas / Principal Accountabilities

1. MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Plans, organises, co-ordinates and controls the human and physical resources of departments, faculty office and programmes offered within the faculty.

Determines staff needs and requirements resulting from strategies objectives and priorities.
Provides, allocates and monitors the effective utilisation of the physical resources of the Faculty.
Manages the resources of the faculty in such a manner that the mission, aims and objectives are achieved; uses surveys and analyses of the external and internal environment as well as the setting/utilisation of resources, (space and equipment).
Deploys resources to achieve faculty goals and institutional goals.
Provides leadership in monitoring and administration the operations of the faculty office in respect of student applications, registrations, record keeping, examinations and application of results and in-service-training.
Suggests, develops, recommends and promotes new programmes as circumstances change or in anticipation of changes in demand, the environment (social, political, economic, geographical), competition and regulations and government policies.
Makes strategic decisions regarding continuation/deployment of resources and programmes.

2. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
Demonstrates as an acknowledged specialist in recognised field, academic and professional leadership in the faculty, institution and higher education field

Actively serves on bodies representative of/ relating to the relevant field of study, preferably in an executive capacity in recognition of expertise.
Participates in conferences, inter alia as guest/key note speaker to present/ address contemporary academic issues.
Contributes to recognised academic journals.
Lectures and/or provides research guidance at the higher academic levels in a relevant specialist field, demonstrating subject mastery and teaching/research expertise.
Keeps abreast of current trends in curriculum design, NQF/SAQA developments, etc., motivating staff by acting as role model.
Sets examples in lifelong learning and keeps abreast of developments in relevant fields of expertise.
Imposes on the academic staff the need and drive for creating, obtaining and maintaining high academic standards and achievements in teaching, research and cooperative education and enforcement of policies and procedures of the University and the faculty in terms of the vision and mission of the University and the faculty.

3. PROFESSIONAL LIAISON AND COMMITTEE WORK
Represents the faculty and the University and participates in professional bodies and internally in various committees including the Senate and chairs the Faculty Board.

Represents the faculty’s interest on committees and outside bodies and contributes to particular specialist knowledge.
Liaises regularly with the business sector (commerce and industry) to keep abreast of the latest market trends, development in environment, competition, technology development, information technology and regulatory measures.
Liaises with institutions, higher education committees/representatives, commerce and industry to project and promote the University image, status and services and contributes to symposia and conferences. Serves on executives of professional bodies.
Chairs the Faculty Board, serves on the Senate to represent the interest of the faculty. Serves on institutional committees.

4. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Accountable for strategic planning related to institutional rolling plan in terms of the vision and mission of the University. Ensures the success of the faculty measured in terms of survival, growth, profitability and stature by setting priorities and standards such as reliability, adaptability, quality, cost effectiveness and productivity.

Creates organisational, faculty/functional strategies.
Translates corporate objectives into faculty objectives.
Establishes priorities for various dimensions and evaluates effectiveness of developed strategies.
Exercises control in conjunction with management team of the faculty, develops aims and objectives, goals and strategies and action plans for the faculty.
Initiates, coordinates, controls and identifies trends influencing the faculty informed by SWOT analysis.
Analyses the different courses offered in terms of the contribution of each to the realisation of the mission, aims and objectives.
Ensures by means of the overall product strategy continued growth of the faculty a guaranteed high return on investment maintenance of sales growth and capture the largest possible relative market share.
Creates alternative scenarios and tests these in relation to planned budgeted achievements and the three year rolling plan.
Produces a three year rolling plan taking all strategic influences and factors into consideration, making the necessary adjustments as the year progresses.

5. FACULTY MANAGEMENT
Accountable for general administration, human resources, financial, marketing and the strategic planning functions of the faculty.

Collates reports from all the faculty departments
Compile one comprehensive report for the faculty.
Presents reports to the Executive Management and the Senate on regular basis.

6. ADMINISTRATION

Ultimately is responsible for the integrated faculty office and academic administration requiring records, reports, statistics, management information, research and research finance reports.

7. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Monitors, directs and leads staff affairs of the faculty by means of staff support, motivating staff to achieve higher levels of performance by providing advanced studies.
Serves on selection panels for new appointments and promotions, confirmation of permanent appointments, staff evaluations, career development, training and succession planning.
Draws up faculty Employment Equity plans.
Ensure implementation of EE plans.
Ensures effective management of a diverse staff and student compliment.
Takes responsibility for the performance management agreements for the faculty.
Complies with the ethics governing rules, policies and employment regulations regarding interviewing, screening, testing, placing, training and development and discipline of personnel.

8. PHYSICAL RESOURCES

Manages the physical resources by strategic direction in the application of such resources and providing appropriate guidelines to the users of the physical resources such as space, buildings, equipment and furniture, information technology, management information systems and educational aids in such a manner that the most effective and maximum utilisation is obtained to achieve the planned objectives and accompanying results.

9. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Responsible for the Faculty budget, all income and expenditure, for all departments and programmes falling within the Faculty to operate on business principles.
Managing the Faculty on sound business principles, costing for a surplus, generating funds, upgrading physical resources, etc.
Applies University guidelines for compiling the budget.
Compiles, observes and monitors the financial budget for the Faculty.
Reviews class fees, formulae for allocation of University’s subsidies in terms of the financial strategy for the year as well as other financial income generated.
Controls all variances and expenses for the departments and the Faculty as measured against their budgets.
Advises on, viability/feasibility of subjects, courses and training programmes.
Recommends the cancellation and withdrawal of subjects, courses and training programmes that are no longer viable.

10. MARKETING
Decides on specific marketing strategies for the courses under the Faculty’s control.

Concurrently determines the market’s needs, evaluates marketing possibilities, market share and target markets.
Participates in developing strategies for products/services (programmes), advertising promotion, prices of “products”, marketing channels.
Determines the best marketing mix (programmes and courses) to achieve set goals.
Evaluates the effectiveness of existing/developed programmes in terms of changing needs and demands.
Develops, creates awareness of values, qualification requirements, expertise required, changes in labour market, programmes, strategies, competition and regulations.
Makes recommendations on any adjustments to programmes, analysing programmes in detail with regard to market demand, student numbers, income and expenditure.
Markets programmes in a wider sphere. Initiates amalgamation with other programmes where appropriate.
Undertakes market-research to detect early unsatisfactory trends.

11. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Directs and managed the strategic planning process by providing guidelines and criteria and creating an environment of change within the strategic objectives of the University to ensure the necessary re-direction and effective leadership.

Applies guidelines and criteria to the departments within the University strategic objectives to create a faculty that will generate income that will exceed cost and capital expenditure to provide a surplus as contribution of the faculty to the University’s business objectives.

12. STUDENT MATTERS
Deals with student matters and makes ultimate decisions on for example discipline, exclusions and graduation of students.

Interacts with all student support services in order to ensure that the necessary provision and direction are given to the student body of the faculty.
Ensures a fair distribution in respect of class groups.
Ensures a fair allocation of lecturing load and duties.
Analyses and decides on information provided in respect of identified problems related to student issues such as behaviour, attitude, academic progress, finances, accommodation, discipline, exclusions and graduation of students.

Competencies

Ethical, dynamic, transformational, innovative, and student-centred leader;
Strategic and academic leadership;
Practical knowledge and experience of quality assurance processes;
A thorough understanding of the South African Higher Education landscape;
Excellent financial and administrative management in an organisational setting, preferably in Higher Education; and
Proficiency in Policy development and implementation.

General Information

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

Total Cost of Employment: R2,280,877.00* (negotiable), inclusive of the following:
Relocation and Resettlement in line with CPUT policy;
Pension Fund: Employer Contribution between 14,8% and 16%;
Group Life: Spouse life cover, funeral plan, education benefit for school-going children, disability income cover;
Medical Aid: Discovery Medical Aid subsidy (sliding scale, depending on family size);
Employee Assistance Programme: Including support of family members;
Generous Annual Leave provisions: 47 days (annual leave) per annum;
Tuition rebate for studies: For the employee, spouse, and dependent children, in line with CPUT policies and other universities in South Africa, in line with existing agreements.

Council approved rate for 2025

Closing date: 06 September 2026

For enquiries, contact Mr Mcacisi Mrwetyana, email: [email protected] or Tel 021 959 6486
For detailed advertisements, please visit our website at: www.cput.ac.za/jobs
To apply, please forward your application to: [email protected] (Do not apply via the Web-site)

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology is committed to Employment Equity and aims to attract and retain talented individuals to achieve our equity objectives and therefore, people from the designated groups, including those with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants whose appointment contributes towards the achievement of demographic representation. We reserve the right not to make an appointment.

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