Position Title:  Learning Design Partner

LEARNING DESIGN PARTNER (2 positions)

(Payclass 11; Permanent)

(South Africa: Cape Town or Gauteng based)

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (Business Development)

The UCT Graduate School of Business is a globally recognized institution and one of just four African business schools to have triple-crown accreditation with highly ranked Executive Education offerings. The GSB provides leadership and management development executive training programmes (customized and open) to corporates and individuals across Africa and the world. In supporting the GSB vision and mission, our Business Development Unit (BDU) is seeking to appoint two suitably qualified people to the position of Learning Design Partner (LDP).

Requirements for the position:

• Post graduate degree at NQF level 8 in adult learning or equivalent.
• At least 5 years’ experience in course / instructional design, including proposal writing and responding to complex Tenders /RFP’s.
• Project Management Certification.
• Background in Executive Education and/or corporate organisational training development.
• Proven experience in successfully fostering relationships with private/public sector leading to new business
• Proven experience in successfully managing and implementing complex projects (relating to Learning and Development / Training / Education).
• Strong networking and people skills, cross-cultural sensitivity and an ability to respond quickly to changing situations.
• The ability to work across different business disciplines and establish credibility with senior executives, faculty and participants.
• Strong people skills, cross cultural sensitivity and an ability to respond quickly to changing situations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, proposal writing and project management skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills supported by an in-depth understanding of customer relationship management / key account management and deal closure skills.
• Highly motivated self-starter with an ability to identify new business opportunities with a strong follow through to close business deals.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to multi-task and work with minimal supervision.
• Must be willing to travel locally, nationally and internationally and work evenings and weekends as required.

The following would be advantageous:

• Experience in a corporate learning and development environment.
• Internationally well-travelled in a professional working capacity.

Responsibilities Include:

• Serving as an ambassador of the GSB to the broader corporate learning and development markets.
• Developing and implementing an integrated business development and sales strategy.
• Translate client needs into programme design based on sound theoretical concepts and instructional design principles.
• Gathering, interpreting and disseminating market intelligence that enables informed decision-making.
• Revenue growth and sustainability from new and existing channels / clients / market segments.
• Developing and persuasively delivering winning proposals and pitches.
• Expand the GSB footprint into Africa, bring it closer to its clients and stakeholders throughout the continent and beyond.
• In collaborating with colleagues in the BDU, Executive Education and the greater GSB and UCT academic communities to deliver project success.
• Preparation, monitoring and managing of the programme budgets / costings.

For this position we seek to attract a highly competent and experienced person to the Business Development Unit. The successful candidate will be a skilled communicator, service-orientated and able to work independently to identify opportunities to develop mutually-beneficial relationships with all stakeholders.

Skills requirements:

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills supported by an in-depth understanding of customer relationship management.
• Highly motivated self-starter with an ability to identify new business opportunities with a strong follow through to close business deals.
• Proven ability to be creative, entrepreneurial & innovative in work role.
• Ability to work in a systematically, to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• The ability to work across different business disciplines to establish credibility with senior executives, faculty and participants.
• Possess an understanding of challenges faced at executive levels of an organization as well as strong business acumen.
• Strong people skills, cross cultural sensitivity and an ability to respond quickly to changing situations.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve the Business Development unit and GSB goals.

The annual cost of employment for 2026, including benefits, is between R812 303 - R955 647 p.a. commensurate with experience and skills-set (2026 salary range)

Please click the "apply" on the UCT Jobs site (View) button to create a candidate profile and submit your application.  Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• A letter of motivation (1-page)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Faculty website:                                   www.gsb.uct.ac.za  

Closing date for applications:                     9 April 2026

Any enquiries around the application process to be addressed to Ms Abigail Dixon at abigail.dixon@uct.ac.za or 021 650 1673

When you apply for a position at UCT, we collect your personal information to assess your application, communicate with you, and coordinate interview logistics. Information such as race, gender, nationality, and disability status is used to support our Employment Equity obligations. We also verify your references, qualifications, conduct criminal and, for certain roles, credit checks. For more information about how the University of Cape Town uses personal information and your rights, please email popia@uct.ac.za .

The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.