Director of New Program Development

at  Sand Tech Holdings Limited

ABOUT US

Africa has an untapped talent pool that is increasing exponentially, with a projected workforce that will exceed India and China by 2035. Fuelled by this, our mission is to create work opportunities for millions of Africa’s youth and solve the world’s shortage of technology talent.

Our company has 450+ staff members from 48+ countries and we have 2 brands represented in our ecosystem:

• Through Sand Technologies we support enterprises and scale-ups around the world to develop world class technology products, build great technology teams, generate more revenue, and deliver outstanding customer experience.
• With ALX, we’re cultivating the fastest-growing pool of technology talent globally, training aspiring professionals in software engineering, cloud computing, data science, and Salesforce across over 60 countries. ALX fosters a vibrant community for top tech talent, igniting transformative careers by connecting top technology talent with extraordinary opportunities for impact.

ALX is the next big evolution in learning. This is the first time in the world that learning is high quality, high scale, high speed, and low cost. We are one of the most innovative learning programs in the world, training 250,000 learners in software engineering, data science, cloud computing, leadership, entrepreneurship and applied AI.
Our training is delivered as a mixture of online-only or blended learning programs. Our learners have access to 33 hubs across Africa and growing, where they can meet peers, have access to wide ranging support, or take part in engaging community events. Join the team and come and see our incredible physical spaces across the content for yourself.
This is an opportunity to be a part of our next chapter in talent development
The mission is to build a small, agile team dedicated to identifying, collaborating, and piloting short-term, 3-6 months, training programs in dynamic fields such as digital entertainment arts, product design, user experience design, game design, and cybersecurity to name a few. Successful pilots will then later form part of our more standard training programs, embedded into successful delivery rhythms.

REQUIREMENTS:

Background

• Background in Education, Instructional Design, Project Management, or a related field.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams and managing projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrable expertise in learning experience design, human-centred and customer-centred design with clear examples of starting with a client’s needs and desires and then working backwards to design the learning activities, modules, content, assessment and projects that deliver on those outcomes.

Skills

• Strong project management skills, including setting timelines, milestones, and budgets to ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to convey complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, make informed decisions, and solve issues effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and leverage technology to optimize workflows and reduce manual tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to align program development strategies with broader business objectives.
• Experience using data and analytics to inform decision-making and drive program improvements.

Mindsets and Attributes

• High standards: You know what excellence looks like and strive to deliver consistent quality.
• Adventurous: You are excited about new challenges and building structure out of uncertainty.
• Learning mindset: You seek and receive feedback as an opportunity for growth.
• Critical thinker: You always evaluate if the current approach is the best way of doing things.
• Humble, service-oriented: You see how seemingly low-level tasks contribute to the organization’s bold mission.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you ready to lead the charge in creating groundbreaking training programs that shape the future? As the Director for New Program Development, you will architect and execute a strategic vision to develop and deploy innovative, job-ready training programs.
You will spearhead research and development efforts, working as a business consultant within our learning team to identify key strategies and interventions that drive our ambitious goals. Your oversight, planning, and execution will ensure your team swiftly and effectively expands our training offerings at ALX.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

New Program Research and Development:

• Conduct comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research to identify key trends, job requirements, and stakeholder needs across various industries and geographies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover strategic opportunities and interventions that drive significant success in our aim to drive real, meaningful jobs at scale.
• Lead the design, development, and launch of cutting-edge training programs, partnering with industry experts and both internal and external stakeholders.
• Pilot and iterate on new programs, using feedback and data to enhance their relevance and effectiveness.
• Ensure all programs are focused, practical, and optimized for rapid deployment and highly efficient scalability

Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with industry leaders, educational institutions, and technology providers to enrich our program offerings.
• Work closely with the learning experience, creative production, training delivery, operational and technical teams to integrate innovative teaching methods and materials.
• Facilitate ongoing collaboration to ensure the seamless execution of training programs and the adoption of best practices.

Project Management:

• Develop comprehensive project plans, including detailed timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
• Monitor and manage project progress, proactively addressing risks and challenges to ensure timely delivery of program components.
• Align with stakeholders on key success metrics, establish robust data tracking systems, and create feedback loops from learners, partners, and trainers.
• Implement effective mechanisms for collecting and analyzing the feedback received to drive continuous improvement in program quality and effectiveness.

Team Leadership:

• Recruit, develop, and lead a small, agile, high-performing learning design team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Perform functional scoping, operational design, budgeting, and resource allocation to support team and project needs.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to team members, ensuring their professional growth and development.
• Conduct performance management and conversations to maintain a capable, dynamic team.
• Inspire and lead your team to achieve ambitious goals, setting a standard for excellence in program development and execution.