Senior Academic Designer: Learning and Teaching

Application close date: 07 July 2026

The Position 

The position of Senior Academic Designer is to Lead the development and implementation of innovative learning and teaching strategies aligned with Milpark’s vision for educational quality and learning journeys.

Responsibilities 

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative learning and teaching strategies aligned with Milpark’s vision for educational quality and learning journeys.
• Collaborate with faculty from the Milpark schools, learning/instructional designers, and other learning specialists to lead the design and development of academic programmes and qualifications that incorporate innovative teaching methodologies and address the evolving needs of students.
• Lead robust conversations with faculty and school leadership, drawing from business experience and commerce-related qualifications to facilitate change in delivery to align with the Milpark learning and teaching philosophy.
• Design and lead the implementation of experiential learning opportunities, including research projects, community engagement and collaborative initiatives with industry partners.
• Establish metrics to measure the effectiveness of innovative learning initiatives and ensure continuous improvement in academic offerings. Analyse data to inform continuous improvement and ensure that innovations align with learning objectives and graduate attributes.
• Collaborate through workshops with faculty to enhance capabilities to adopt innovative learning approaches aligned with Milpark’s values and mission, teaching philosophy and graduate attributes.
• Build strong relationships with schools, academic operations teams and key business stakeholders.
• Support Milpark Schools in conducting comprehensive reviews of programme offerings and advising on curriculum design and development through supporting a team of learning/instructional designers to implement relevant changes, align with students' evolving needs, and align with Milpark’s vision and mission.
• Encourage faculty engagement in research activities that will enhance teaching and learning and the experience of the students at Milpark.
• Manage and mentor a team of learning/instructional designers focusing on developing Milpark best practices for a specific portfolio*.
• Create, review, and revise resources and documentation used to inform our approach to the delivery of learning and teaching align with Milpark’s overall philosophy towards learning journeys.
• Review and provide feedback on the work of all instructional designers in the unit.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and pedagogical approaches to enhance the learning experience.
• Collaborate with the Chief Commercial Officer to propose solutions to corporate partners.
• Act as the custodian of Milpark learning and teaching philosophy.
• Proposed portfolios may include:
• Visuals and Data.
• Research projects, pilots and learning activities.
• Business processes and efficiency.

Education, Skills & Experience Requirements 

• A Master's or Doctorate in a Commerce-related field with several years of practical experience working in a corporate environment in a commerce-related field combined with several years of experience working in a higher education institution developing and delivering/lecturing in a commerce-related field, or
• A Master's or Doctorate in Education with several years of practical experience working in a corporate environment in a commerce-related field combined with several years of experience working in a higher education institution developing and delivering/lecturing in a commerce-related field.
• Demonstrated success in developing and/or implementing innovative learning and teaching strategies.
• Deep understanding of business principles and commerce-related qualifications to effectively collaborate with faculty and school leadership.
• Ability to lead robust conversations with faculty and facilitate change in delivery methods aligned with the institution's learning and teaching philosophy.
• Proven leadership and management skills to lead a team, mentor them, and establish best practices.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with faculty through workshops and enhance capabilities for innovative approaches to learning.
• Ability to communicate with business stakeholders and corporate partners.
• Ability to effectively communicate Milpark’s values, mission, and teaching philosophy.
• Active engagement in research activities and the intention to promote a culture of research in learning and teaching. Academic research output will be beneficial.
• Ability to establish collaborative initiatives with industry partners.

Interview candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in the following abilities and skills:

• Align behaviours to Milpark’s Values
• Able to work under pressure
• Committed Team player
• Passionate about education
• Persuasive & Assertive
• Professional & Reliable
• Quality orientated
• Service orientated/ Customer service focused
• Strong Business Ethics and Ethos
• Ability to listen and talk in a good manner
• Ability to plan
• High Level of attention to accuracy and quality

By submitting your personal information and application, you hereby confirm: 

• That you have read and understood our Privacy Policy/Notice. To access, copy and paste the link into your web browser:  

https://resource.milpark.ac.za/public/downloads/Milpark%20Education%20Applicant%20and%20Employee%20Privacy%20Notice.pdf  

• That you have no objection to us reviewing and processing any personal information provided in the course of your application, as well as any information that you have provided in support of your application.  
• That you have no objection to us retaining your personal information in our database for future employment opportunities that might arise. 

Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups, and appointments will be made in line with our EE requirements.