Learning Design Manager — Sciences

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Learning Design Manager — Sciences

Company: Noon Academy

Location: Riyadh, Mauritania

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Learning & Development Operations / Content Operations

Date Posted: July 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the operational excellence within the Learning Design team, specifically for Sciences (Biology and Chemistry) content across National and International tracks for Grades 7-12.

• Manage and grow a team of four Design Leads and additional content creators/contractors, focusing on their performance, development, and hiring needs.

• Oversee the end-to-end content roadmap and delivery plan, ensuring timely and high-quality production of educational materials under pressure.

• Establish and refine operational cadences, including capacity planning, production scheduling, prioritization, and unblocking processes to prevent constant firefighting.

• Define and enforce quality standards through collaboration with Learning Excellence and Head Teachers, implementing review gates and QA workflows for repeatable quality.

• Leverage data from various feedback loops (Exit Tickets, Diagnostics, etc.) to iteratively improve content in partnership with Data and Learning Excellence teams.

• Facilitate seamless cross-functional delivery by managing handoffs and collaborations with Head Teachers, Product, Engineering, Data, CX, and School Operations.

• Develop scalable processes, templates, trackers, playbooks, and review rituals to enable content volume growth efficiently, incorporating AI-assisted content production.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Learning Design Manager," the description strongly emphasizes operational management, delivery, and team leadership rather than individual curriculum design. The role is positioned within the "Learning Team" which "owns that engine" of content creation, indicating a strong focus on operational efficiency and output for educational content. The location "Riyadh, Mauritania" appears to be a data anomaly; Noon Academy's primary operations are in Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh is its headquarters. For the purpose of this description, we will assume the primary location is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, given the context of Saudi national assessments and the company's stated focus on reinventing schools in Saudi Arabia.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development:

  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of four Design Leads (Biology/Tahsili, Chemistry/Tahsili, Science/Middle School & Nafes, Bio & Chem/International) and associated content creators/QA contractors.
  • Conduct regular 1:1s, provide constructive feedback, support professional growth, and manage performance reviews for direct reports.
  • Identify hiring needs and participate actively in the recruitment process to build a high-performing team.

• Content Roadmap & Delivery Management:

  • Own and execute the science content roadmap from inception to delivery, defining priorities, timelines, and resource allocation across multiple grades and tracks.
  • Proactively monitor project status, identify potential risks and delays, and implement effective mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure all science curriculum content (for Tahsili, Qudrat, Nafes, National Curriculum, and International tracks) meets defined quality standards and delivery deadlines.

• Operational Cadence & Process Optimization:

  • Design, implement, and manage a robust operating system for content production, including capacity planning, production scheduling, and regular prioritization meetings.
  • Streamline workflows to minimize weekly firefighting and ensure a consistent, predictable content delivery pipeline.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and scalability of content creation processes.

• Quality Assurance & Standards Enforcement:

  • Collaborate with Learning Excellence and Head Teachers to establish and uphold rigorous design standards and quality assurance protocols.
  • Implement effective review gates and QA workflows to ensure content accuracy, pedagogical soundness, and engagement.
  • Oversee the quality control process for all science-related learning materials.

• Data-Driven Content Improvement:

  • Establish and manage feedback loops using data from student assessments, exit tickets, and diagnostic tests.
  • Partner with Data and Learning Excellence teams to analyze performance metrics and translate insights into actionable improvements for future content development cycles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:

  • Act as the primary point of contact for science content delivery, liaising effectively with Head Teachers, Learning Excellence, Product, Engineering, Data, Customer Experience, and School Operations teams.
  • Ensure smooth handoffs and clear communication across departments to support the integrated learning experience.

• Scalability & AI Integration:

  • Develop and refine scalable tools, templates, trackers, playbooks, and review rituals to support increased content volume without proportional headcount growth.

  • Champion and integrate AI-assisted content production workflows to enhance efficiency and innovation in content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong operational focus, emphasizing delivery, process management, and team leadership over direct instructional design. The mention of "Scale" and "AI-assisted content production" points to a strategic role in building future-ready content operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Science, Business, or a related field.

• Professional certification in Instructional Design or E-Learning is a strong plus. Experience:

• 3-5+ years of proven people management experience, with 5+ years being preferred. This includes experience in leading teams, performance management, and professional development.

• Experience within the EdTech sector or a fast-paced technology startup environment is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex projects reliably in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments.

• Experience with educational content development, curriculum design, or learning operations within a formal education setting. Required Skills:

• People Management: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team of specialized professionals. Expertise in performance management, coaching, and talent acquisition.

• Operations Management: Strong understanding of capacity planning, production planning, workflow optimization, and project delivery in a high-volume content environment.

• Curriculum & Instructional Design Principles: Solid grasp of effective pedagogical approaches and instructional design methodologies, even if not directly designing content. Ability to set and enforce quality standards.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with diverse stakeholders across departments.

• Problem-Solving & Decision Making: Decisive and self-driven, comfortable making informed decisions with incomplete information and taking ownership of outcomes.

• Fluent Arabic and Professional English: Essential for communication within the Saudi market and international teams.

• Riyadh-Based: Ability to work full-time from the Riyadh office.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Saudi national assessments such as Tahsili, Qudrat, and Nafes.

• Experience managing distributed teams, contractors, or freelance production pools to achieve project goals.

• Comfort and proficiency with data tooling, dashboard creation (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), and AI-assisted content workflows.

• Experience working within international or multicultural teams.

• Agile project management methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize management experience and delivery capabilities over deep subject matter expertise in science, aligning with the role's operational focus. Fluency in both Arabic and English is a critical requirement for this role in the Saudi market.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Team Management Case Studies: Examples demonstrating successful leadership of teams, including team growth, performance improvements, and conflict resolution within a project delivery context.

• Delivery Plan & Execution Examples: Showcase of how you've managed complex project timelines, prioritized tasks, and ensured on-time delivery of significant outputs, ideally in a content or product development setting.

• Process Improvement Initiatives: Documented examples of implementing new workflows, optimizing existing processes, or introducing operational cadences that led to measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, or scale.

• Quality Assurance Frameworks: Evidence of establishing or improving quality control mechanisms, review processes, or QA standards that resulted in a higher quality output.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you've mapped, analyzed, and redesigned workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in a production environment.

• Implementation & Automation: Demonstrations of successfully implementing new processes, tools, or automation solutions to improve operational throughput and consistency.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Showcase of how you use data and metrics to track operational performance, identify areas for improvement, and report on success against defined goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a management and delivery role, the portfolio should focus on demonstrating leadership, process management, and operational impact rather than individual content creation. Emphasis should be on how the candidate has enabled teams and systems to deliver high-quality output consistently and at scale.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Learning Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the estimated annual salary range is SAR 200,000 - SAR 350,000 (approximately USD 53,000 - USD 93,000). This estimate accounts for the management responsibilities, the fast-paced EdTech environment, and the strategic importance of the role within Noon Academy's expansion. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.

• Performance Bonuses: Potential for annual bonuses tied to individual and company performance metrics.

• Professional Development Budget: Allowance for training, certifications, conferences, and continuous learning opportunities relevant to operations and leadership.

• Stock Options/Equity: Potential for equity in a rapidly growing and well-funded EdTech company.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Relocation Assistance: Support for candidates relocating to Riyadh, if applicable.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services.

• Modern Office Environment: Access to a well-equipped office space in a prime Riyadh location.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• While core hours are expected for team collaboration and operational cadence, there may be an expectation for flexibility to meet critical deadlines or address urgent operational needs, especially in a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on market research for similar roles in Riyadh. Benefits are typical for a well-funded tech company in the region and aligned with the focus on professional growth and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology (EdTech)

Company Size: 201-500 employees (as per LinkedIn data, though the description suggests significant growth and investment, potentially indicating a larger or rapidly expanding team). Noon Academy is a prominent player in the Middle East EdTech market, aiming to transform traditional schooling.

Founded: Noon Academy was founded with a mission to make learning fun and improve learning efficacy through innovative technology. The company's recent Series B funding highlights its ambitious growth trajectory and commitment to expanding its impact.

Team Structure:

• The Learning Team is responsible for the "content engine" of Noon Academy, encompassing term plans, session design, question banks, and assessments across various educational tracks.

• This role manages a sub-team within the Learning Team, directly overseeing four Design Leads and additional content creators/contractors.

• The role reports to the Head of Learning Operations and works closely with the Chief Learning Officer, indicating a direct line to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.

• Collaboration is a key aspect, involving frequent interaction with Head Teachers, Learning Excellence, Product, Engineering, Data, Customer Experience, and School Operations. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Improvement: Emphasis on using learning gain, exam outcomes, and feedback data to inform and iterate on content development.

• Process-Oriented Delivery: Focus on establishing repeatable processes, operational cadences, and quality standards rather than relying on heroic individual efforts.

• Scalable Operations: Developing systems, templates, and playbooks to enable growth in content volume and complexity efficiently, including leveraging AI.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: Operating within a dynamic startup environment that requires agility, decisiveness, and the ability to manage ambiguity.

Company Website: https://careers.learnatnoon.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes innovation, rapid growth, and a data-driven approach to educational content. The emphasis on "reinventing schools" and "radically changing the way people learn" suggests an ambitious and forward-thinking environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a mid-to-senior level management position. It requires significant experience in managing teams and operational processes within a demanding environment. It's a crucial role for building and scaling the core educational content delivery function.

Reporting Structure: The Learning Design Manager — Sciences reports directly to the Head of Learning Operations and collaborates closely with the Chief Learning Officer. This structure provides visibility to senior leadership and a direct impact on strategic learning initiatives.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and measurable impact on Noon Academy's core offering: the quality and effectiveness of its educational content. Success in this role contributes to student learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and the overall scalability of the platform. The operational efficiency achieved will directly influence the company's ability to expand its reach and maintain its competitive edge in the EdTech market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a more senior leadership role within Learning Operations or Content Management, overseeing larger teams or broader functional areas as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of content operations at Noon Academy, including defining new methodologies, implementing advanced technologies (like AI), and influencing the overall learning product strategy.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in EdTech operations, curriculum scaling, and data-driven learning design within the unique context of the Middle East market.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain extensive experience working across various departments (Product, Engineering, Data, etc.), broadening understanding of the full EdTech product lifecycle.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor Design Leads and content creators, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for career advancement within a high-growth EdTech company, particularly for those interested in operational leadership and strategic impact within the education sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, full-time. The company has a "sweet office near the Boulevard" in Riyadh.

Office Location(s): Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The specific location is described as being near "the Boulevard," indicating a modern and potentially vibrant business district.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires extensive interaction with various teams, suggesting an open and collaborative workspace designed to facilitate cross-functional communication and teamwork.

• Technology-Rich: As an EdTech company, expect access to modern technology, tools, and infrastructure necessary for managing digital content development and operations.

• Dynamic Pace: The startup environment implies a fast-paced, energetic workplace where innovation and rapid execution are valued.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with potential for flexibility to meet critical deadlines. The emphasis on "operating cadence" and "delivery plan" suggests a structured approach to work, balanced with the agility needed in a growing tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Riyadh, coupled with the description of a modern office and collaborative culture, points to a typical tech company work environment focused on team synergy and efficient operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and Noon Academy.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Head of Learning Operations to delve deeper into management experience, operational philosophy, delivery track record, and team leadership approach. Expect scenario-based questions related to managing teams under pressure and optimizing content workflows.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Design Leads, potentially other managers (e.g., Head Teachers, Product Managers), to assess collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and ability to integrate with existing teams.

• Case Study/Presentation: A common step in operations roles. You might be asked to prepare a presentation or work through a problem related to content delivery, team management, or process optimization for a specific educational track. This is where your portfolio will be crucial.

• Final Interview: Potentially with the Chief Learning Officer or another senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and final fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Operations & Leadership: Highlight your experience in managing teams, optimizing processes, ensuring delivery, and driving quality. Use case studies that demonstrate your ability to solve operational challenges.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to showcase the results of your work. For example, "Reduced content delivery time by 15% through process optimization," or "Improved team performance by implementing a structured feedback system, leading to a 20% increase in on-time delivery."

• Showcase Scalability: Include examples of how you've built scalable systems or processes that allowed for increased output without a proportional increase in resources.

• Demonstrate Cross-Functional Skills: Provide examples of successful collaboration with diverse teams, highlighting your ability to manage dependencies and stakeholder expectations.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or functional area (e.g., Team Management, Process Improvement, Delivery Excellence). Use clear headings, concise descriptions, and visual aids where appropriate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Be ready to discuss how you would handle common operational challenges, such as a team member underperforming, a critical project slipping, or conflicting priorities from different stakeholders.

• Process Design Exercise: Practice outlining how you would approach building or improving a content delivery pipeline, considering factors like capacity planning, quality gates, and feedback loops.

• Team Management Scenarios: Prepare to discuss your management philosophy, how you motivate teams, and how you handle difficult conversations or performance issues.

• Understand Noon Academy's Context: Research their mission, their target audience, and their focus on Saudi education. Be prepared to articulate how your operational skills will directly contribute to their goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess both your operational management capabilities and your ability to integrate into Noon Academy's specific culture and mission. A strong, relevant portfolio is key to demonstrating your impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or Trello for managing workflows, tracking tasks, and monitoring project progress.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency in Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for real-time communication and team coordination.

• Document Management & Sharing: Expertise in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) or Microsoft Office Suite for creating and sharing documentation, plans, and reports.

• Learning Management Systems (LMS) / Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with platforms used for delivering or managing educational content is a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards to monitor content delivery metrics, team performance, and learning outcomes.

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced skills in Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis, tracking, and reporting.

• Data Analysis Concepts: Understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to content production and educational impact.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a sales role, familiarity with CRM principles for understanding student data and learning pathways can be beneficial.

• Workflow Automation Tools: Experience with tools or concepts related to automating repetitive tasks in content production or team management workflows.

• AI Tools: Comfort with or experience in leveraging AI tools for content generation, editing, or analysis will be highly advantageous, as mentioned in the job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires proficiency in standard project and operations management tools, with a growing emphasis on data analytics and AI-assisted workflows within the EdTech context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Execution Excellence: A strong commitment to delivering high-quality educational content reliably and on time, under pressure.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing the use of performance metrics and feedback to inform strategic choices and continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work together effectively, and communication is open and honest.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on identifying opportunities to optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and elevate quality.

• Student-Centricity: Ultimately, all efforts are aimed at improving the learning experience and outcomes for students.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Partnership: Actively engaging with stakeholders across departments to ensure alignment, manage dependencies, and achieve shared goals.

• Clear Communication: Emphasizing clear, concise, and timely communication to prevent misunderstandings and keep projects on track.

• Feedback Integration: Cultivating a culture where constructive feedback is welcomed, shared, and acted upon to drive improvements in both content and processes.

• Process Alignment: Ensuring that operational processes are integrated and understood across teams to create a seamless end-to-end experience for learners.

📝 Enhancement Note: Noon Academy's culture appears to value results, data, and collaborative problem-solving within a dynamic, growth-oriented environment focused on educational impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Ambiguity: Navigating a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities and potentially incomplete information requires strong decision-making skills and adaptability.

• Scaling Content Production: Balancing the need for rapid content expansion with maintaining high quality and operational efficiency across multiple subjects and grade levels.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and shared understanding across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Data, Academics) with potentially different priorities.

• Integrating AI: Successfully implementing and optimizing AI-assisted content production workflows, which may involve training, process adjustments, and managing team adoption.

• Team Development: Motivating and developing a team of specialized Design Leads and content creators to consistently deliver exceptional results.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal opportunities to hone management skills, strategic thinking, and operational leadership within a high-growth company.

• EdTech Industry Insights: Gaining deep exposure to the K-12 EdTech landscape, particularly within the Middle East market, and understanding the nuances of curriculum development and delivery.

• Operational Innovation: Opportunities to experiment with and implement cutting-edge operational strategies, including AI integration and advanced process optimization techniques.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Broadening expertise by working closely with product, engineering, and data teams, offering a holistic view of EdTech product development.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential to be mentored by senior leaders or to mentor emerging talent within the operations and learning design functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a rapidly scaling EdTech company, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development in operational leadership and innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Team Management: "Describe a time you had to significantly improve the performance of a underperforming team member or your entire team. What steps did you take, and what was the outcome?" "How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within your team?"

• Operational Delivery: "Walk me through how you would build and manage a content roadmap for a new educational track, considering competing priorities and limited resources." "What are your key strategies for ensuring on-time delivery of complex projects in a fast-paced environment?"

• Process Optimization: "Describe a process you identified as inefficient and how you redesigned it to improve throughput or quality. What metrics did you use to measure success?" "How would you approach integrating AI into a content production workflow to enhance efficiency while maintaining quality?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Noon Academy's mission to transform education in Saudi Arabia?"

• "How do you approach cross-functional collaboration, especially when dealing with teams that have different priorities or working styles?"

• "Describe a situation where you had to make a critical decision with incomplete information. How did you approach it, and what was the result?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each portfolio item, clearly articulate the problem, your role/actions, and the measurable impact or outcome. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) as a framework.

• Highlight Operational Leadership: Showcase your ability to manage teams, optimize processes, and ensure delivery. For example, present a case study on how you improved the efficiency of a content pipeline or scaled a team's output.

• Demonstrate Data Usage: Show how you've used data to drive decisions, measure success, and iterate on processes or content.

• Tell a Story: Frame your experiences as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills, leadership capabilities, and operational acumen.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodologies, challenges encountered, and how you would apply your experience to Noon Academy's specific context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strong operational management, team leadership, problem-solving skills, and a clear understanding of how to drive efficiency and quality in a content production environment, especially within the EdTech sector.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Learning Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the Noon Academy careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor your resume to highlight your people management experience, operational delivery successes, process optimization achievements, and any experience in EdTech or fast-paced environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio with case studies focusing on team leadership, operational efficiency, project delivery, and quality improvement. Quantify your achievements with data.

• Research Noon Academy thoroughly: understand their mission, values, recent funding, and focus on transforming education in Saudi Arabia.

• Practice articulating your operational philosophy and how you would approach managing a team and content pipeline within their specific context, especially regarding the Sciences curriculum. Be ready to discuss your experience with data analysis and AI integration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Noon Academy through their official application process before making application decisions. The location data anomaly (Riyadh, Mauritania) should be disregarded in favor of the company's documented focus on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.