Learning Designer - AI & Data Science

Learning Sandbox; Cape Town; Remote; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Learning Sandbox, based in Cape Town, seeks a skilled learning designer for online learning in data science and AI. You will lead a cross-functional team, translate objectives into engaging experiences, and leverage AI tools while maintaining high pedagogical standards.

The role focuses on new content development, interactive formats, and educator resources for classroom integration, with remote work encouraged and a commitment to inclusive STEM education.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of work or teaching experience in relevant fields.
• 4–5 years of learning design or instructional design experience.
• Ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content with original pedagogical judgement.
• Willingness to work remotely and must be eligible to work in South Africa.
• Comfort with emerging technologies and how they reshape content development workflows.

Responsibilities

• Take ultimate ownership of projects from concept to final production-ready delivery.
• Brainstorm and develop proposals and scripts for interactive learning experiences on data literacy and AI.
• Direct a cross-functional team to deliver cohesive learning experiences.
• Design experiences grounded in learning science and pedagogy connecting data literacy and AI.
• Translate learning objectives into engaging experiences, scripts, and assessments.
• Leverage AI-powered tools to support ideation, scripting, and prototyping, with critical evaluation.
• Analyse user feedback and usage data to improve materials and design strategies.
• Collaborate with product design and engineering on new formats and content for data science learning.
• Stay current with developments in learning design, data science, and AI; contribute to internal practice.

Skills

Learning design

Pedagogical judgement

AI tools

Data literacy

Collaboration

Communication

Time management

Education

Post-secondary education in data science, analytics, statistics, engineering, or science

Tools

Generative AI

Job description

About the role

Learning Sandbox is an education technology consultancy based in Cape Town, South Africa. The heartbeat of our business is producing bespoke digital content while also offering strategic, pedagogical and digital asset research, design and production services. We're looking for an exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable and team-oriented learning designer for online learning in data science and AI.

You’ll join a multidisciplinary team of high-performance professionals - from subject experts to creatives - who are responsible for developing premium, free-to-use educational content for the digital sphere. You will be part of the team focusing on data science and AI literacy. We're looking for a proactive, forward-thinking individual who can help to unpack and communicate complex technical concepts in simple and accessible ways, keeping learner engagement and motivation front of mind.

This role calls for creativity, initiative, collaboration, and independent judgement. We are looking for someone who takes real ownership of the end product, is comfortable using AI tools to accelerate drafting while critically evaluating and refining outputs, and who can synthesise and evaluate feedback from multiple stakeholders across iterative rounds of review. You'll need to balance teamwork with self-directed execution, and bring a genuinely curious, evidence-based approach to how AI and technology can support (not replace) sound learning design judgement.

We’re looking for someone with a passion for STEM education and inspiring learners around the globe through meaningful educational experiences. Your primary focus will be new content development, particularly in interactive formats and supporting educator resources that help teachers integrate digital materials into the classroom.

Attributes we value

• High agency and initiative: You are proactive and comfortable taking ownership of the overall project outcome, not just your individual contribution, and stepping in to help unblock or move work forward when needed.
• Sound judgement: You critically evaluate and refine AI-assisted work, and are able to justify your choices through sharing your thought process.
• High personal standard of work: You review and check your own work critically before it is sent for stakeholder review.
• Adaptability and resilience: You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment and manage feedback constructively rather than defensively. You are comfortable applying your skills and expertise to new tools and scenarios.
• Collaboration: You are comfortable partnering with stakeholders and contributing constructively as part of a team.
• Conceptual thinking: You contribute meaningfully to the quality of ideas, not just their execution.
• Clarity of communication: You are able to clearly articulate your ideas, feedback, and reasoning to others.
• Excellent attention to detail: You execute accurately and consistently against a brief.
• Tool-agnostic: You are focused on outcomes rather than any particular software or process.

Key responsibilities

• Take ultimate ownership of projects from initial concept through to final, production-ready delivery, proactively managing deadlines, dependencies, and review cycles.
• Brainstorm, conceptualise, and develop proposals and scripts for interactive learning experiences focused on data literacy and AI.
• Direct a cross-functional team of subject matter experts, product designers, engineers, multimedia designers, and faculty to deliver cohesive and engaging learning experiences.
• Design learning experiences grounded in learning science and pedagogical best practices, connecting data literacy and AI concepts to meaningful, real-world challenges.
• Exercise sound, independent judgement when translating learning objectives into learning experiences, scripted content, and assessments.
• Responsibly leverage AI-powered tools to support ideation, scripting, and prototyping, while critically evaluating and refining AI-assisted outputs to ensure quality, accuracy, and original instructional thinking.
• Analyse user feedback and usage data to identify opportunities to improve learning materials, experiences, and design strategies.
• Collaborate with product design and engineering teams to research, prototype, and evaluate new approaches and content formats for data science learning.
• Stay current with emerging developments in learning design, learning science, data science, and AI, contributing to an internal community of practice.

Requirements: What you’ll bring

• Post‑secondary education in data science, analytics, statistics, engineering, or science with 3 or more years of work or teaching experience in relevant fields.
• 4–5 years of learning design or instructional design experience.
• Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content, including verifying claims and applying original pedagogical judgement rather than accepting output at face value.
• Comfort with emerging technologies and a genuine interest in how they reshape content development workflows.
• Strong problem‑solving and people skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner suitable for the target audience.
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively, with good organisation, time‑management skills, and a track record of meeting deadlines without compromising on quality.
• Willingness to work remotely, very important.
• MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Good to have

• Experience using generative AI capabilities for content development.
• Experience working with product managers and engineers, especially on learning products.
• Formal education in learning science, learning design, or teaching.
• Knowledge of the US education system with a focus on high school.
• Familiarity with relevant curriculum standards and frameworks, including those for data science and AI (e.g., DS4E and aiEDU).
• Experience creating content for online learning environments.
• Experience aligning content to established education standards.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace, where individual differences are respected, appreciated and supported. The next step is for shortlisted candidates to complete a skills assessment.