Learning Design Manager at Arifu

The Learning Team at Arifu designs content in partnership with industry experts and local and multilateral institutions and works closely with Arifu research and data teams to generate insights from field research, rapid A/B testing and learner data to drive the relevance and impact of Arifu’s content on end learners. The Learning Design Manager serves a critical role in helping us expand our content offering and will be responsible for testing new content models, improving content design based on research generated insights and best practices in instructional design, and ensuring all content published for learners meets high quality standards. To do this effectively, they should be able to apply expertise in all or most of the following competencies:

• Team management
• Instructional design and assessments 
• Rich media content, including images and video
• Gamification and personalization
• Human centered design research behavioral economics principles 

Delivering excellence at Arifu depends on efficient cross-team collaboration working with research analysts, computer scientists, and corporate partnership development teams. As such, the Learning Design Manager must love taking on new challenges, bring a problem-solving focus, and be willing to have fun under pressure while being uncompromising on quality delivery. Lastly, they should be driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, be able to write and communicate effectively to different audiences, and learn from the variety of skill-sets and experiences at Arifu and Arifu’s partners.

If you have many of these attributes, but not all, no worries! The most invaluable trait you can bring to Arifu is an ability to identify areas for growth and a deep willingness to learn, and let us invest in you.

This is a full-time position based at Arifu’s headquarters in Nairobi reporting to the Chief Learning Officer.

Job Description:

Working closely across teams at Arifu, the Learning Design Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Aligning with internal teams and partners on content objectives and expected outcomes.
• Communicating with partners to resolve content related issues.
• Managing learning designers and consultants to ensure a consistent professional-level quality of content.
• Training learning designers on best practices in instructional design for mobile learning. 
• Testing new models for adding content on the Arifu platform, including content generated from other sources.
• Collaborating with the research team to conduct problem diagnostics and identifying solutions for A/B testing.
• Designing and executing UX tests informed by research through a collaboration with the research team.
• Collaborating with research and product teams to design new features to improve the learner experience.
• Writing blogs, articles, and other publications in conjunction with the organizational strategy.
• Completing monthly check-ins and quarterly performance reviews for each learning designer;
• Managing time and holding oneself accountable to deliver on time and with quality. 
• Communicating challenges in a timely manner where unforeseen events have taken place.
• Contributing to team strategy for prioritizing new partnerships and content to add to the Arifu platform;
• Participating in regular check-ins with the Chief Learning Officer. 
• Participating in community events, trade meetups, and industry workshops in Nairobi and globally.

Qualifications:

A desire to impact lives, the ability to make a long term commitment to your team and the product, and exceptional problem solving abilities are all essential prerequisites on the Arifu team. For this role, we’re also looking for: 

• A minimum of 10 years work experience in content design, preferably in East Africa.
• Masters or Undergraduate degree with relevant experience in education or a related field. 
• Proven leadership skills, preferably with a minimum of 2-5 years of job experience managing content designers.
• Expertise in all or most of the following: instructional design and assessments, rich media content development, gamification and personalization, human centered design research, and behavioral economics principles.
• Strong willingness and motivation to help develop the skill and abilities of other designers on the team.
• Strong written communication and excellent attention to detail.
• Fluency in English required and fluency in Swahili preferred.
• Experience conducting and leading field research and willingness to spend long days in the sun, talking to people about their lives and observing them interacting with our products.
• Resourceful and proactive when generating solutions to the problems that stand in your way.
• Ability to enjoy (and survive) the chaos of a high-growth startup.

Compensation and Benefits:

First and foremost, we care about your success and will support you along your journey to achieving remarkable success. We offer competitive compensation packages with the opportunity to participate in the Arifu Rewards Program that rewards strong performance. We also offer a comprehensive health insurance package and will cover the cost of a work permit for foreign staff. Other benefits include monthly airtime allowance, extra leave, a stocked kitchen, and plenty of ping-pong and foosball.