Learning Design Lead (Capetown/Johannesburg/Nairobi)

The African Management Initiative (AMI); Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

The African Management Initiative (AMI) is seeking a Learning Design Lead to manage the Learning Design team and operationalise the learning strategy. The role combines people management with strategic contribution to learning initiatives and AI-enabled production modalities.

You will oversee a team of Learning Designers, uphold design standards, and drive high-quality LD output while collaborating with the Head of Learning and other leaders across the organisation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in learning — design, facilitation, strategy, or related.
• 3+ years leading a team, including people management and quality assurance.
• Experience in management, leadership, or entrepreneurship learning in an African context.
• Exposure to or active experimentation with AI tools in a learning or professional context.
• Undergraduate degree required — Master's would be an asset
• Experience working across more than one function or industry is a plus
• Deep knowledge of adult learning theory and its application in blended learning contexts
• Strong people instincts — able to build trust, give honest feedback, and manage performance with care
• Confident and direct without being dismissive; willing to challenge and be challenged
• Highly attentive to detail in learning design quality, process integrity, and communication
• Self‑directed and proactive — does not wait to be told what to do
• Curious about AI and its implications for learning design; actively experimenting or open to doing so
• Solid interpersonal and written communication skills; comfortable in cross‑functional environments.

Responsibilities

• Line manage a team of 5 Learning Designers, including regular 1:1s, performance management, and development conversations.
• Invest in and sustain team culture, morale, and a high standard of professional practice.
• Support LDs in navigating complex projects, creative challenges, and cross-functional relationships.
• Own and uphold AMI’s learning design standards across all LD output.
• Conduct spot checks on learning design deliverables; ensure peer review processes are functioning well.
• Identify and address quality gaps; establish new standards where needed.
• Manage capacity across the LD team: tracking workload and flagging pressure points.
• Own the operationalisation of learning design processes and frameworks developed with and by the Head of Learning.
• Maintain and improve LD workflows, documentation, and ways of working.
• Contribute as a thought partner to the Head of Learning on learning strategy, programme design, and innovation.
• Provide LD-informed insight and challenge to strategic decisions, including AMI’s adoption of AI-enabled production modalities and learning models.

Skills

Learning design

Team leadership

Instructional design

AI in learning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (asset)

Tools

AI tools in learning

Job description

AMI is looking for an ambitious and talented Learning Design Lead to manage the day-to-day operations of the Learning Design team, ensuring high-quality LD output, a well-functioning team, and the smooth operationalisation of the learning strategy. This role is primarily a people management and operational role, with meaningful strategic contribution to the broader learning function.

The Learning Design lead reports to the Head of Learning and will work in close partnership with the Facilitation & Coaching Lead. The role supports the Head of Learning’s focus on learning strategy, AI-enablement, and building AMI’s learning infrastructure at scale.

People Management

• Line manage a team of 5 Learning Designers, including regular 1:1s, performance management, and development conversations.
• Invest in and sustain team culture, morale, and a high standard of professional practice.
• Support LDs in navigating complex projects, creative challenges, and cross-functional relationships.

Quality Assurance

• Own and uphold AMI’s learning design standards across all LD output.
• Conduct spot checks on learning design deliverables; ensure peer review processes are functioning well.
• Identify and address quality gaps; establish new standards where needed.

Operational Leadership

• Manage capacity across the LD team: tracking workload and flagging pressure points.
• Own the operationalisation of learning design processes and frameworks developed with and by the Head of Learning.
• Maintain and improve LD workflows, documentation, and ways of working.

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute as a thought partner to the Head of Learning on learning strategy, programme design, and innovation.
• Provide LD-informed insight and challenge to strategic decisions, including AMI’s adoption of AI-enabled production modalities and learning models.

Requirements

• 7+ years in learning — design, facilitation, strategy, or related — with meaningful hands‑on instructional design practice
• 3+ years leading a team, including people management and quality assurance
• Experience in management, leadership, or entrepreneurship learning in an African context
• Exposure to or active experimentation with AI tools in a learning or professional context
• Undergraduate degree required — Master's would be an asset
• Experience working across more than one function or industry is a plus
• Deep knowledge of adult learning theory and its application in blended learning contexts
• Strong people instincts — able to build trust, give honest feedback, and manage performance with care
• Confident and direct without being dismissive; willing to challenge and be challenged
• Highly attentive to detail in learning design quality, process integrity, and communication
• Self‑directed and proactive — does not wait to be told what to do
• Curious about AI and its implications for learning design; actively experimenting or open to doing so
• Solid interpersonal and written communication skills; comfortable in cross‑functional environments.

Benefits

Why join us

• A high-impact, diverse and ambitious team with common values:
  • Be the best: We work really hard, are proud of what we do, and love delighting our clients with quality.
  • Own it: We step up to the task, never pass the buck and hold ourselves accountable for delivering results.
  • Push the limits: We ask why, embrace failure and try new things. We never settle.
  • Do what’s right: We act with integrity, confront dishonesty, treat people fairly and strive to contribute to the greater good
  • Always care: We don’t have ego – it’s always ‘team before me’. We are kind, we celebrate each other’s success, and we care enough to give honest feedback.
• A dynamic office & team life:
  • Brand new offices in Westlands, Nairobi
  • Monthly team social events and yearly offsite
  • Regular learning and coaching opportunities
• A hybrid working model