Overview
Learning and Development Specialist Jobs in Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa at MSU Residential and Hospitality Services
Title: Learning and Development Specialist
Company: MSU Residential and Hospitality Services
Location: Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa
Posting Details
Position Information
Job Description
RHS Job Title Learning and Development Specialist Job Description
The Learning and Development Specialist will support the Community and Engagement Unit within Residential and Hospitality Services (REHS) to co-create, activate, and continuously evolve transformative learning experiences for residential student leaders (RSLs). This role focuses on advancing a relational, student-centered learning ecosystem that integrates community, care, and leadership development. The L&D Specialist will translate adult learning theory and inclusive learning design into practice, equipping RSLs with the knowledge, skills, and capacity to enhance student success, well-being, and belonging within the MSU community. This role contributes to the development of a scalable model for learning and leadership within REHS, with the intention of informing future role design and neighborhood-based implementation.
This position is a one-year appointment designed to pilot and refine a scalable approach to learning and leadership development within REHS, with the goal of informing future permanent roles across residential neighborhoods.
Job Duties
Learning Design
- Design learning experiences that are immediately transferable to real-time community engagement and student interactions, increasing the capacity of RSLs to support student success, well-being, education, and inclusive communities
- Create dialogic, practice-based learning spaces that move participants from reflection to action on social issues, interpersonal relationships, mental health, well-being, and community-building strategies
- Refine frameworks for widening circles of student care and concern within residence education by growing the capacity of RSLs to act as community catalysts for learning, dialogue, connection, and campus resource referrals among students
- Apply universal design for learning, inclusive learning design principles, and adult-learning theory to create engaging learning materials for in-person delivery and self-serve virtual learning
- Facilitate team co-creation of student training and educational programs within the C&E unit while driving interconnectivity of curricular experiences and praxis
- Support the development of student leaders as inclusive facilitators and stewards of community, in addition to their role as participants within it
Curriculum Development
- Strategically develop a learning arc for coherence across topics, creating buildable sessions that amplify learning recall and application over time
- Regularly share globally-integrated and intersectional curriculum materials that are relevant for the evolving needs of today’s student leaders
- Ensure curriculum reflects the lived realities of students and evolves in response to emerging campus and societal contexts
- Align curriculum across student leadership roles to reinforce shared purpose(s) while allowing for functional specialization
- Maintain and organize content libraries (ex. LMS platforms such as D2L) to ensure accessibility and usability
Assessment, Evaluation & Continuous Learning
- Cultivate a culture of reflection, feedback, and continuous learning across the REHS ecosystem
- Refine existing metrics and contribute to the development of new indicators and systems that holistically capture learning, belonging, transferable skills, and community impact
- Provide solution-oriented recommendations to unit leadership and cross-functional partners to inform decision-making and role evolution
- Assist in the development of annual reports and the evaluation of learning outcomes related to leadership development, critical consciousness, and community engagement
Collaboration
- Collaborate across REHS units (e.g., Residence Education, Housing Assignments, Communication, Facilities, and others) to ensure learning is embedded within daily practice(s) and not siloed
- Support the development of shared learning frameworks that reinforce a unified purpose across distinct student roles
- Serve as a connector to campus and community partners to extend learning within and beyond residential spaces
- Act as a thought partner in shaping a learning-centered culture across residential communities
Required Qualifications
- Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in education, student affairs, social work, public policy, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 5-8 years of professional experience in learning design, student affairs, education, or curriculum development
- Demonstrated experience facilitating dialogue across differences and working within complex organizational systems
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Forms, Excel)
- Must have experience working with REHS.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in designing learning within residential or community-based environments
- Knowledge of adult learning theory, universal design for learning, and/or digital accessibility best practices
- Demonstrated collaborative orientation to professional environments and a growth mindset, not reliance on tenure
- Certification in trauma-informed care, mental health first aid, or related topics
- Experience managing LMS systems, including D2L
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Physical Demands Work Hours Work Location REHS Central Administration Admin (Loc)
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number 20161996P Open Date 05/12/2026 Close Date 05/13/2026 Open Until Filled No Special Instructions
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Documents Needed To Apply
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents