Title:

Learning Designer

Location:

Milton Keynes

Salary:

GBP 30,000 to GBP 35,000 per year

Description:

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:The company continues to be recognised as a quality supplier of effective learning solutions, which use a range ofapproaches including blended solutions and make a difference to clients.They achieve this using their core values: Lifelong learning, Partnership working, Creativity, Quality, Integrity,Sustainability, Respect.Current status of Learning DesignThe companys learning designs make use of a wide range of human and media inputs. Increasingly their solutions involveblends of face-to-face training, coaching, multimedia, web or printed resources, and in-house support from peers andmanagers. Their in-house learning designers must be comfortable in putting together solutions that draw on a mix ofapproaches to form a cohesive whole.The companys current learning design team comprises two internal staff and eight associates. These have a range ofstrengths and approaches to learning design. They do not want to create clones; but want to make best use of existingexpertise, with internal staff adding value to the suggested approaches of associates by applying a central clarity tosolution design, especially in programme design (i.e. design of a major programme of work that might contain manyseparate learning interventions and experiences, for example, a graduate development programme as opposed to a CD Rom andworkshop on Time Management).The appointment of a learning designer will enhance the companys ability to provide a consistent high standard oflearning design across an ever-increasing range of projects and programmes and develop their capacity to provideeffective and attractive learning solutions to meet current and future client needs. It will also contribute to theirinternal education programme in the area of learning design.Success criteria for 2005-6Improved bid ratios (won/lost)Increased client satisfaction with design elements of solution, as measured by their client ratings.Increased gathering and use of formative and summative evaluation data to demonstrate impact on learners, and improveboth their products and the learning environment in which these are usedProfiling of current learning design associates to identify strengths, weaknesses and range of experienceDevelopment of internal staff understanding of learning designROLE.Developing learning solutions and writing winning proposalsAnalyse their client needs, audience and learning environment and advise their clients of possible learning solutions andapproaches to achieve their goalsContribute to the winning of new business through proposals, presentations and other promotional activitiesDevise, agree and develop learning solutions to achieve their client goals bearing in mind the opportunities andconstraints of the situation and the companys business requirements.Review learning solutions proposed by associate colleagues to ensure optimal fit to the their clients need andspecification whilst also bearing in mind the opportunities and constraints of the situation and the companys businessrequirements.Finalise learning design specifications with their clientsDevelop and maintain good working relationships with their clients to their benefit and that of the company, with a viewto improving current work and identifying future work.Delivering learning solutions that exceed client expectationsWork closely with other learning designers (training, instructional, visual, interface, technical) to produce coherent,effective and attractive solutions that wow their clientsWork closely with colleagues to ensure that solutions are delivered effectively to the continued satisfaction of theirclients, to identify areas where changes/ improvements are needed, and deliver these within agreed budget/time/qualitystandardsManage the input of colleagues into the development and delivery of cohesive learning solutions that meet their clientneedsHold responsibility for learning solutions from start to finish (e from initial scoping in a bid through to evaluation ofoutputs) and lead design teams through the development stages of projects.Identify, discuss and agree ways of verifying the effectiveness of the learning solution with their client and identifysuitable roles for the companyQuality control the learning design input of colleagues to ensure it meets the companys standard/brand and addressestheir client needs regarding learning effectiveness and expectations of style, tone, language, visual design, interactionand assessmentsUse assessment for a range of purposes (e.g., diagnosis, learning gains, satisfaction etc)Business Development roleContribute to the development of colleagues understanding of learning designContribute to the spread of consistent and systematic approaches to solution design and delivery across the businessContribute to the helping maintain the companys values, in particular creativity and qualityContribute to the identification, design and implementation of processes for delivering highly-rated learning solutionsAssess the ability of other designers and advise on their future use and development needsTraining and Development roleContinuously update own knowledge of effective learning design theory and practiceProvide input into the development of staff and associates regarding learning designContribute to the knowledge and practice of the companys learning designers through CPD and knowledge-sharing activitiesSupport for the roleThe role will have administrative support for:bid document and budget creationidentifying suitable associates for projectscompilation of evaluation reports for programmesbuilding knowledge base from lessons learntCANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:Essential requirementsKnowledge, skills and experienceMinimum 5 years successful learning designFormal qualification in a relevant discipline (education, psychology, cognitive sciences) to first degree levelUnderstanding of learning theory and its application to adult learning in the workplace, largely at management levelExperience of designing and developing solutions in all formats, and of blended solutionsProven client management skillsEvidence of basic business skills (devising budgets, designing to a price/margin)Excellent communication, organisational, and team-player skillsProactive commitment to self development, with an ability to learn fast and the skill to apply this learning in theirworkTechnology savvy, with good IT skills (i.e., use of relevant software for design and communication)Personal qualitiesA self-starting, self-stopping individual who is enthusiastic with clients, colleagues and suppliers, who has a life andcan see others points of viewSense of humour and of perspectiveAssertive and professional attitude towards clients and colleaguesPassionate about good design in all its formsDesire to make a differenceDesirable requirementsExperience of designing and developing blended learning solutions for a wide range of clients, in both public and privatesector (i.e., solutions involving a mix of delivery mechanisms and approaches)Project management experienceMCIPD or membership of other relevant professional bodyIn line with the requirements of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be eligible to live and work inthe UK and EU. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.