Learning Design Associate Manager

Nova Pioneer is looking for a Learning Design Associate Manager to lead the curriculum and learning design that will power our vision. This is an opportunity to create a transformative school model with the future of Africa’s youth at stake. About Nova Pioneer

A school that focuses more on developing skills than on memorizing content. At Nova Pioneer, we have done more than just imagine this future, we are bringing it to life. Nova Pioneer is a pan-African, independent network of schools offering high quality, accessible education from pre-primary through secondary school. Nova Pioneer uses a unique, enquiry-based learning approach that encourages students to ask “why” instead of telling them the “what”. It allows them to form their own thinking through exploration, investigation and collaboration. Nova Pioneer currently has 16 schools in South Africa and Kenya with a vision to launch 100 schools and reach tens of thousands of students across the African continent in the next decade. To learn more visit www.novapioneer.com.

Curriculum Leadership Responsibilities: In partnership with the Director of Schools 

• Reviews core LD materials and provides designers with consistent feedback, including schemes of work and assessments. 

• Ensures Cambridge alignment and rigour for the centralised schemes and assessments developed 

• Consistently deepens own understanding of best instructional design practices. 

• Builds relationships and works closely with SA school teams to ensure buy-in and smooth roll-out of all learning design systems, including schemes, assessments, and moderation processes. 

• Works with the SA Primary Deans and Teachers to ensure quality planning and alignment to the Nova Pioneer learning model 

• In partnership with Director of Schools and Regional Data Analyst, analyses student academic data regularly, identifies gaps in understanding, and proposes action steps to address gaps both within Learning Design and in the schools. 

• Anticipates challenges and proactively proposes solutions to learning design and school systems and processes. 

• Ensures the systems are in place for the designers to receive regular feedback from schools 

• Work with Director of Schools to establish regional priorities and deliver within those priorities with learning designers 

LD Team Management Responsibilities: 

• Manages the hiring of the designers 

• Holds monthly team meetings and professional development with SA-based designers. 

• Ensures the team receives regular feedback on their work through review systems such as review buddies 

• Ensures timely delivery of all LD materials to schools from in-country designers through weekly Google Drive checks and follow-up with designers (and their managers, where applicable). 

• Monitors LD teammate adherence to the weekly schedule and reminds teammates of expectations

• Along with DOS and/or COO, join and lead the bi-weekly primary Deans meeting to support alignment and consistency 

Design Responsibilities: In partnership with the Director of Schools 

• Works with key stakeholders to design schemes of work and lesson plans for an area of expertise and need 

• Works with key stakeholders to design Hallmark schemes of work and lesson plans for primary grades,: This can include but is not limited to exploration day, robotics, coding, SEL/Character Development, Community Contemplation,  and Innovation & Leadership

Qualifications: 

• Ideal is an internal candidate at the Associate Dean/Dean or Associate Manager/Manager level with a track record of effectiveness in delivering and supporting our academic model 

• This would be a Central Academic Team role. 

Role Based: 

● This role will be based in schools, rotating to all primary school campuses 

Reporting Lines: 

• This role will report directly to the Director of Schools, with some parallel work with the Chief Operating Officer as needed.

How to Apply:

Does working at Nova Pioneer excite you? If so, then apply now!

To apply, please complete the form on the right hand side of this page. We cannot process applications that are emailed to us.

Please note: Where a copy of your resume is required, copying and pasting from a formatted document e.g. Microsoft Word may not result in the formatting transferring correctly to the final resume. You are encouraged to attach your resume in Microsoft Word® or PDF format to protect formatting.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the right candidate is identified. Only qualified candidates will be invited for interviews. 

Working at Nova Pioneer

Nova Pioneer is committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment. Nova Pioneer is a place where our people experience tremendous growth, fast! We invest heavily in the growth of our people because it leads to greater mastery in both us and our students. “Novaneers” work harder and work longer hours than most schools but as a result, the growth they experience is extraordinary. We offer consistent and ongoing personal development and provide clear career pathways that ensure that our people are always achieving their personal and professional best. Nova Pioneer has a highly energetic, entrepreneurial environment where our people get to bring their creative and innovative ideas to life. We look for people who are flexible and who are able to adapt and respond quickly to adversity with a positive, can-do attitude (there are no problems, only solutions!). We welcome challenges and roll with the punches because it makes us, and our students, better. There is no problem too big for us! We work hard but we also have a lot of fun together. We bring infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything we do because joy fuels the hardest work and learning. Read more about our culture principles here.

Please Note:

• Nova Pioneer may appoint and/or expire the posting of this advertisement at their own discretion.

• If you have not been contacted within 30 days of the closing date of this advertisement please consider your application as unsuccessful. 

Nova Pioneer, in line with the POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) will attempt to ensure the confidentiality of all applicants for this role. All reasonable measurements will be in place to protect personal information but it will be used for recruitment and employment purposes. By submitting your application with Nova Pioneer, you are recognising and accepting this disclaimer. 

Nova Pioneer will never request an application fee from candidates. If you are contacted with a request to pay a fee from someone claiming to be a Nova Pioneer Talent or Recruitment representative, please do not pay them and report it to us immediately on talent.ke@novapioneer.com or talent.sa@novapioneer.com.