About Sandbox
Sandbox is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary research-to-product agency working at the intersection of design, technology and learning. We design and conduct research, advise our clients on how to increase their impact, and imagine, test and build innovative digital solutions that inform and educate audiences. Through our Barcelona-based Labs team, we create global partnerships in new areas of work, such as public-interest artificial intelligence. We are proud to serve incredible mission-driven organizations, ranging from UNICEF and the OECD, to government agencies, universities, trade unions and non-profit organizations.
What you can expect
- Join a small, collaborative team of researchers, learning specialists, designers, technologists, media experts and operational leads who share knowledge and solve problems together.
- Lead varied client work with meaningful conceptual and creative autonomy, while staying close to the strategy, people and details that shape strong delivery.
- Be challenged to stay at the edge of AI technology, helping internal and client teams leverage the benefits of AI while countering its risks
- Work in a flexible hybrid environment with four weeks of vacation, professional development support and opportunities to grow with the company.
The role
We are looking for a Digital Learning and Product Lead to guide our learning and digital product practice in close collaboration with our User Research & Service Design Lead. You will oversee and contribute to the development and delivery of projects ranging from instructional design and digital learning products to website and product development, in areas ranging from education, health, workforce development, research and public services, while providing key contributions to the company’s strategic initiatives and AI strategy. .
The right person is a big-picture thinker who’s also a technology enthusiast and has an entrepreneurial spirit. They combine a strong ability to build relationships with client teams and a diversity of collaborators with experience in education and instructional design. Fluency in UX and product development pipelines is a strong asset, and exposure and understanding of AI capabilities is a must.
What you will do
Lead projects and delivery
- Translate strategic client needs into clear project approaches, scopes, deliverables, work plans and timelines.
- Scope learning and digital product work based on the audience, objectives, budget, available content and technical environment.
- Estimate and coordinate resources across instructional design, writing, design, web development, media, accessibility and quality assurance.
- Manage dependencies, risks, review cycles, scope changes and delivery across a portfolio of projects, including work managed day to day by other team members.
- Maintain clear project communication and raise decisions or concerns early when they could affect scope, timing, quality or the client relationship.
Set the learning and product direction
- Collaborate with client and internal research teams to identify user challenges and needs
- Analyze client materials to determine what can be used, what needs to be restructured and where gaps must be addressed.
- Recommend appropriate formats, tech stacks and approaches for a wide range of learning experiences, websites and custom interactive products.
- Guide learning objectives, course structures, storyboards, scripts, activities, graphics, media and course builds.
- Help define product content, functionality, user experience, analytics, content management and technical requirements.
- Coordinate technical discussions involving content management systems, custom development, hosting, integrations and deployment.
- Ensure accessibility and quality assurance are built into the work from planning through launch.
Spearhead innovation
- Identify practical uses for AI, automation and other tools while maintaining strong editorial and quality controls.
- Spearhead the adoption and documentation of AI-driven workflows within the learning and product team
- Stay up to date with technology trends and share knowledge with the team
- Support new partnerships and business development through writing of project proposals within your area of expertise.
Manage clients and support business development
- Lead client meetings and written communications with clarity and sound judgment.
- Help clients understand their options and make informed choices about strategy, product scope and technology
- Provide strategic advice to the Sandbox leadership team on scope, timelines, resourcing, and risks
- Contribute to proposals, requests for proposals, terms of reference, work plans, technical approaches and estimates.
Lead the team
- Provide team members with clear project context, priorities and feedback
- Support individual contributor professional growth through coaching coaching and stretch opportunities.
- Plan internal and external resourcing with operations and other project leads, including the use of freelancers and specialized vendors.
What you bring to the table
- 5 to 7+ years of professional experience spanning digital learning, instructional design, education technology, digital product development or related client services. Experience in technology consulting and policy is also welcome.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary internal and external teams.
- Working knowledge of website and digital product development and the ability to collaborate confidently with product designers and developers.
- Proficiency using AI in research, analysis, design and development.
- Knowledge of learning design and core pedagogical principles, with the judgment to choose an approach that fits the audience, objectives and constraints.
- Demonstrated experience scoping and delivering complex work, including estimates, work plans, risks, review cycles and changing requirements.
- Strong client leadership and written communication skills, including the ability to organize ambiguous information and explain trade-offs clearly.
- Experience reviewing content and deliverables for structure, accuracy, usability, accessibility and overall quality.
- Sound judgment, follow-through and attention to detail, with the ability to move between team needs, project details and broader strategy.
- A university degree, college diploma, industry certification or other education and experience relevant to the role.
You do not need to meet every qualification to apply. We value relevant experience gained through different career paths and encourage applicants who are excited about the role to tell us how their background would translate.
Specific tools & technical skills
Experience with some of the following would be helpful, but no candidate is expected to bring every item:
- Articulate Rise and Storyline, SCORM packages and learning management systems
- WordPress or another content management system, with working familiarity with custom web development such as React or enterprise platforms such as Adobe Experience Manager
- Web analytics, tag management, user testing and accessibility testing tools
- Adobe Acrobat and document accessibility workflows
- Work in agency, consulting or other client-service environments
The hiring process
Our planned hiring process includes:
- Application review
- First interview with key team members
- Second interview with Sandbox leadership. A short case study assignment may be provided beforehand for discussion during the interview.
- Reference checks and offer
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only candidates invited to continue in the hiring process will be contacted. If you require accommodation during the process, please let us know and we will work with you to support your participation.
Thanks for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Sandbox team
