Job Description

Responsibilities will include:

o Work with the head of centre, research team, Operations Manager, stakeholders, the local community, Wits departments, and science communications specialists to develop educational and science communications programs and events based at the Wits Sterkfontein Caves.
o Develop short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategic goals for the education and exhibits program that incorporate a wide variety of stakeholders and communities.
o Cultivate long-term collaborative relationships with local and international museums to augment the education and exhibit program.
o Develop regular temporary exhibits that support the educational goals of the enterprise.
o Plan, with a broad range of relevant stakeholders, and implement the rejuvenation of the Sterkfontein museum space.
o Develop online and physical educational content for the Sterkfontein and Swartkrans media platforms.
o Engage with Wits Archaeology and Origins Centre to integrate formal science communication/heritage management course content at the Sterkfontein Caves.
o Develop workshops and targeted educational programs and resources for school learners, school teachers, and students.
o Fundraise for exhibits and education events with local and international donors/bodies.
o Cultivate philanthropic relationships relating to the exhibits and education program.
o Facilitate and encourage education and science communication research at the site and across the Cradle.
o Provide additional support for the visitor experience by providing specialist tours, augmenting the tour guide complement when needed.
o Recruit, train and deploy visiting students to augment tour guide numbers.
o Engage with visiting researchers to augment the visitor experience.
o Design and manage education and exhibit events.
o Schedule tour guide shifts to cater to the visitor volumes and timing.
o Develop (with the research team) the tour guide storylines for different audiences and consistently update them with new research.
o Manage tour guide development and training.
o Audit and monitor tour guide performance.
o Coordinate cross-disciplinary training with visiting researchers and the broader Wits research community (e.g., GAES, Geosciences, APES, ESI).

Desirable Requirements:

o MA or MSc in heritage/paleoscience/archaeology/museology/ or related field.
o Educational experience (curriculum/ teaching/ resources).
o Experience in project management, including proposal/report writing and fundraising.
o Science communication experience (including media & websites skills).
o Understanding of Cradle of Humankind, Human Evolution, southern African Archaeology, Palaeontology, and Geology.
o Experience in public relations work, or working within public-facing organisations.
o Some Museum work experience would be advantageous.
o Work-related experience, with some management of teams an advantage.

Key Competencies:

o High level of competency in developing educational and exhibition materials and programs.
o Thorough and updated relevant science content knowledge in paleosciences.
o Knowledge of content in South Africa's school curricula.
o High-level computer literacy with respect to Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, and Access.
o Excellent communication skills and proficiency in communication, including digital communication technology such as websites, newsletters, policy briefs, infographics etc.
o Knowledge of site health and safety practices.
o Proficiency in English and preferably other local languages.
o Leadership skills and abilities.
o Good writing skills.
o Experience- of running successful fund-raising programmes is highly desirable.
o Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Remuneration:

A competitive package is oered that is commensurate with the level of appointment.

Amount of Travel:

Travel required.

Shortlisted candidates may be subjected to a competency assessment.

Detailed Description

Job Requirements

Additional Details

How To Apply

Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements should apply by submitting their cover letter, detailed CV, certified copies of all educational qualifications and identity document with names and e-mail addresses of three referees.

External applicants are invited to apply by registering their profile on the Wits i-Recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting applications. Internal employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/"Apply for a job.

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment and continue searching after the closing date and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

By applying for this post the applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant, by their conduct in proceeding with an application for this position, gives their consent to the processing of their personal information as required by the University's Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy. Such processing includes logging their information on the University's recruitment systems, conducting necessary background and reference checks including disciplinary and/or criminal records, and disclosing their personal information to university employees identified to take part in the selection and recruitment process. The Applicant consents to any processing of their personal information as may be required. The confidentiality of the Applicant's personal information will be maintained.

Closing date: 12 December 2025

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Committed to excellence and equity

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates.

Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.





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Work At Home