Senior Manager, Learning Design

Job Description

• Employment Type: Full-time, continuing position
• Remuneration: Level 9 – from $148,012 + 17% superannuation and leave loading
• Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid working model – based on-site primarily in Sydney. Remote working not available for this role)

About UNSW

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work. We aspire to be Australia’s global university, improving and transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society.

UNSW’s Lifelong Learning Unit (LLL) is a newly created business unit designed to help working professionals, alumni, and organisations upskill and reskill throughout their careers. LLL offers flexible and practical programs aligned with rapidly evolving workforce needs. Led by the inaugural Dean of Lifelong Learning, Professor Nick Wailes, the unit is central to UNSW’s strategy of enabling lifelong employability, driving inclusive access, and strengthening long‑term engagement with graduates and industry partners.

Why your role matters

Reporting to the Director, Learning Experience, the Senior Manager, Learning Design leads a high-performing team to develop scalable, high-quality online portfolios. This outcomes-focused leader will ensure strict adherence to processes and deadlines while embedding AI-enabled approaches to enhance learning, streamline development, and uplift team capability.

The successful candidate must have a deep understanding of adult learning principles and a proven track record of managing teams to deliver exceptional results. Exceptional stakeholder collaboration skills are essential to align LLL offerings with strategic goals and ensure a best-in-class learner experience.

About the Role

Accountabilities for this role include:

• Lead a high-performing learning design team, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration while building team capability and fluency in safe, ethical, and effective AI practices.
• Manage resource allocation and outcomes for development squads, contractors, and subject matter experts to design and deliver high-quality, scalable online lifelong learning programs.
• Identify and implement opportunities for innovation, including the evaluation, scaling, and proactive adoption of AI-enabled tools to optimize and streamline learning design workflows.
• Manage end-to-end course design processes, documentation, and quality assurance, utilizing data-driven insights and AI analytics to ensure academic integrity and a best-in-class learner experience.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, product teams, and the Quality Coordinator to meet strict criteria across project quality, budgets, timelines, and technology requirements.
• Build strong institutional partnerships to align educational development with UNSW strategy, supporting the Director in driving the evolution of learning design through horizon scanning of emerging edtech.

About You

• Relevant tertiary qualification combined with extensive experience in learning design, educational development, and a strong portfolio of successful online programs within higher education.
• Proven track record of managing and enhancing the capability of high-performing teams, with an emphasis on building group fluency in AI tools for content development and operational efficiency.
• Strong consultation, negotiation, and influencing skills to build productive institutional networks and manage diverse stakeholder expectations effectively.
• Demonstrated project management expertise, utilizing structured methodologies to manage project lifecycles, resource allocation, and strict delivery timelines in uncertain environments.
• Deep understanding of education quality assurance frameworks and international trends in online learning, particularly the integration of emerging educational technologies.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a self-motivated approach to using independent judgment, solving complex problems, and proactively applying AI to improve outcomes.