Learning Design Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for a Learning Design Manager (LDM) to join our existing Learning Design and Development (LD&D) Team. The primary aims of the role are to be:

• responsible for the creative approach to the project
• to manage the discovery and design phase in order to support the content analysis and design approach; and
• to work across all projects to maintain quality

Experience of working in a qualifications/skills/further education environment is desirable. Problem solving, strong organisational skills and experience of working with creative teams or the proven ability to use diplomacy and sensitivity would be highly advantageous for this role.

Who are we:

At Virtual College, we create inspiring learning so that people, organisations, and communities succeed and flourish. We do this by putting the learner first and sparking their enthusiasm for learning. We believe the most effective way to deliver great results is to make learning meaningful and engaging, using our experience of delivering training to more than 4.7 million learners and a wide range of organisations.

Virtual College is for those who think people first. We want people who are naturally collaborative, who thrive when faced with a challenge and who actively seek variety and responsibility. We are looking for individuals with a growth mindset, who are interested in trying new things and see the merit in redefining how things are done to make improvements. We pride ourselves on our people orientated culture, and it is these people that make Virtual College a great place to work.

Key Duties:

Reporting to the Senior Learning Design Manager, to demonstrate a growth mindset by treating every request as an opportunity to show flexibility and expert problem-solving skills. This includes, but is not limited to:

VC Strategic Vision

• Supports and delivers the priorities of the team in line with the company’s strategic vision and business plan priorities.
• Supports and delivers the priorities of the team in line with the overall priorities of the project.
• Consistently ‘most learner focused’, embedding Human-Centred Design principles.

Discovery and Design

• Responsible for leading the Discovery and Design process and producing a strategy and solution that meets the needs of the customers, whilst meeting agreed parameters of time, quality and budget. The solution should embed human-centred design principles.
• Content analysis – the LDM should analyse that the content is fit for purpose and work with the customer and/or Subject Matter Expert’s (SME’s) where required.
• Gap analysis of content – the LDM should analyse the existing content, identify gaps and plan strategies to work with the SME to complete this.
• Plan the learner journey – the LDM should outline the bigger picture as well as the detailed plan for the content for appropriate project.
• Responsible for communicating the content solution to the team, including the Chief Learning Officer (if required), the Project Manager (PM) and the Studio Manager.
• Responsible for supporting the creation of delivery plans in collaboration with the PM and Studio. Delivery plans should consider business priorities and customer requirements and should support the delivery of products to time, to quality and to budget.
• Bids – support in scoping for bids as and when required.
• Apply human-centred design principles across a range of technical, creative and learning design techniques, to develop high quality, engaging learning opportunities using a variety of media.
• Combine creativity and excellence to realise our vision for online and blended learning.

Resource Management

• Responsible for working collaboratively with the Studio to ensure the right resource is allocated to the project for Discovery and Design (where appropriate) and support the Studio with queries and SME liaison.
• Ensuring that the Studio Manager has the relevant information required to allocate resource i.e., access to relevant documents and information (i.e. Look and Feels, discovery reports, design guides).
• Must have a highly organised approach to meet the schedules and to reduce impact on delivery and on time, quality and budget.
• Highlighting to the Studio Manager when work does not meet our standards, whether this be internal or external resource. Work, collaboratively with the Studio and PM to find solutions that work for the customer and the learner whilst ensuring commercial targets are met.

Communication

• Responsible for communication with and management of SME’s. Responsible for ensuring that the relevant content is suitable to share with the Studio to be developed within project timescales.
• Responsible for ensuring that all actions are carried out to deliver the project to time, quality and budget are communicated effectively to the wider teams.
• Responsible for working collaboratively with the wider LD&D team, to create a ‘can do’ ethos for every project.
• Responsible for escalating all issues and risks to the PM and SPM.
• Responsible for reporting the status of each project on an agreed basis to the PM.
• Responsible for reporting on projects and escalating any concerns and issues relating to any project to the SLDM.
• Responsible for identifying any potential technical skills gaps or shortfalls in creative output and reporting this to the SLDM.

Performance

• Responsible for the delivery of products on time, to quality and to budget:
• Ensure that discover and design phase production targets are met, and associated documentation is produced within the agreed timescale.
• Responsible for ensuring that products are checked against the specifications laid out in the Discovery report and meet the agreed Design standards. They are responsible for ensuring that products meet and exceed the customer’s expectations.
• Responsible for reporting to agreed standards and highlight any risks identified to the PM.
• Be the gatekeeper for quality, if a product does not meet the required standards and the customer brief, challenge this and work collaboratively with the wider LD&D team to find solutions to ensure the best possible result for the customer.
• Be able to multi-task and manage multiple projects at once and be mature enough to recognise when additional support is needed from the wider team and the SLDM.

Teamwork

• Work collaboratively to ensure that processes are consistent and efficient across the LD&D team.
• Work collaboratively with PM/Studio/Solutions teams to ensure we are delivering high quality products that we are proud of and that we are working as effectively as possible.
• Create a team around every project, create opportunities to share ideas, to find the best solution for every customer. Ensure that everyone can play their part in delivering successful projects. 
• Attend internal meetings including Kick-Off meetings, project review meetings and proactively engage in these meetings to ensure positive outcomes are met.
• Working as part of the LD&D team by contributing to the development of a shared vision and strategy and enabling all team members work to Virtual College’s Values and Behaviours.
• Share knowledge and skills learned either from research or on projects you have worked on. The Learning Design team is a supportive and collaborative team, where knowledge and ideas should be shared to benefit the development of the team.
• Horizon scanning and research – maintain relevant and up-to-date knowledge of current and emerging online learning technologies and feeding these ideas into our solutions.

Continuous Improvement

• Responsible for identifying high points and low points within projects and feeding this back to the SLDM/PM.
• Responsible for proactivity engaging in end of project reviews and collaborating with the team to complete the lessons learnt spreadsheet.
• Responsible for proactively identifying any actions arising from lessons learnt and implementing them effectively to ensure continuous improvement.

Other

• To work within ISO frameworks and adhere to company policies and procedures.
• Supporting other Virtual College activities that fall within the role’s capabilities as directed by the Chief Learning Officer.
• Because of Virtual College’s dynamic approach to business opportunities, you will from time to time be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities. This may include supporting other areas within the function.

Key Skills/Experience:

• Experience in the e-learning industry (desirable).
• Experience converting face-to-face courses into online & blended learning (desirable).
• Knowledge of learning principals and how they apply to distance learning (desirable).
• Experience of agile development processes and lean development processes (desirable).
• Experience of working in further education (desirable).
• Problem solving skills (essential).
• Organisational skills (essential).
• Tenacity (essential).
• Experience of working with creative teams, or the proven ability to use diplomacy and sensitivity when required (essential).
• Experience of customer facing roles (desirable).
• Analytical with a high attention to detail (essential).
• Excellent prioritisation skills (essential).
• Excellent communication skills (essential).
• Experience of using different software applications to a good level – e.g. Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint and storyline and / or other e-learning authoring tools (desirable).

Attitude and Behaviours:

• To support and adhere to Virtual College’s Values and Behaviours (essential).

Package Includes:

• Hours of work covering 37.5 hours (Monday to Friday) including flexible working.
• 25 days holiday rising by 1 day each year up to 3 years plus bank holidays.
• Extensive induction programme and ongoing training and development.
• Regular charity and social events organised by our voluntary Sports and Social team for everyone.
• Contributory Pension Scheme, Simply Health Cash Plan, Life Assurance and MCard Corporate Discount Card for West Yorkshire travel.

Interested in the role of Learning Design Manager, then please apply by submitting your CV and covering letter detailing why you think you are suitable for the role and your current salary to careers@virtual-college.co.uk . We are an Equality & Diversity employer.