Learning Specialist
Job Description
Description
The WBG Human Resource Vice Presidency (HRD) is focused on delivering high value HR services to drive organizational performance and help make the WBG the employer of choice in international development. In this regard, the HR Careers, Performance and Learning Department (HRDCL) delivers innovative solutions and strategies, and global programs and services across the talent management lifecycle for the World Bank and is hosting the WBG’s Open Learning Campus (OLC) within the Leadership and Staff Development Unit (HRDLS).
The OLC accelerates development solutions by transforming global knowledge into actionable learning. Learning is key to solving development challenges and to meeting the World Bank Group’s twin goals of ending poverty and building shared prosperity. By providing dynamic learning opportunities where diverse audiences can learn at their own pace and access the knowledge they need, the OLC equips individuals to tackle the toughest development challenges. The OLC helps scale development learning by offering comprehensive learning opportunities for WBG staff, clients, and partners through the latest learning practices and technologies.
Duties and Accountabilities
The OLC Team is seeking a dynamic, well-rounded learning professional with experience supporting LXP and/or LMS systems, adult learning program development, and strong client consulting skills to join the team as a learning specialist. This individual’s role will include advising, supporting, and training WBG teams to:
a) Adopt and utilize the WBG learning ecosystem to improve the learning experience.
b) Design, develop, and evaluate learning programs for WBG staff and clients using modern approaches and tools.
c) Creatively solve learning challenges related to needs assessment, pedagogy, and technology.
d) Champion an organization-wide culture of continuous learning.
The learning specialist will work closely with the WBG learning community, subject-matter experts, our Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) partners, and other OLC Team members to enhance the OLC learning ecosystem and provide timely service to clients.
1. Support the OLC Learning Ecosystem
- Create EdCast native content (Smartcards), pathways, journeys, and channels.
- Create Saba/SBX courses and classes.
- Advise clients on how to create content in the OLC.
- Advise clients on how to manage channels, pathways, and journeys.
- Guide implementation decisions in the OLC configuration.
- Train new OLC Curators and Creators on how to effectively use EdCast.
- Support the team on content design activities in the LXP.
2. Transform Knowledge to Learning
Analyze Business Problems and Needs
- Analyze business problems to evaluate the potential benefit or impact of learning experiences as a solution.
- Identify learning needs using a human-centered design approach to discover, synthesize and clearly articulate needs, with a deep understanding of the target audience.
- Assist clients in integrating the learning experience with the World Bank Group’s strategy, aligning it with the objectives outlined in the new Corporate Scorecard.
Design and Development
- Advise clients on available learning solutions for their programs, guiding them through various modalities to arrive at the best solution for their product, with particular attention and emphasis on the LXP and the role it can play.
- Translate needs into learning experiences using design and development expertise to create engaging and impactful learning solutions.
- Advise on the design and development of engaging learning experiences, offering clear direction to external providers.
- Update or develop representative “personas” to reflect various learner audiences, develop learning experience wireframes, design storyboards and prototypes in alignment with best practices in adult learning pedagogy and user experience design.
- Use learner-centric pedagogical principles and practices to craft key messages into accessible, structured learning (eLearning, instructor-led, and blended) and micro-learning (i.e., informal) products.
- Train and support the WBG learning community, including catalog builders (those tasked with entering learning programs into the OLC), on best practices related to learning programs, learner support, and the LXP.
3. Champion Innovations in Learning
- Incorporate insights from learning analytics and innovation research into learning experience designs.
- Actively track, research, and test new improvements to provide learning to global audiences.
- Research and recommend new and evolving technologies for learning, including AI-based learning, XR/VR/AR, game-based learning, etc.
- Support and champion the value of informal learning as a complement to, or replacement for, formal learning programs.
- Support the WBG learning governance as well as the learning communities of practice.
4. Project Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation
- Advise and guide learning teams through the process of procuring learning design and development services consistent with World Bank Group procurement guidelines.
- Apply project management principles throughout project life cycles to include time, budget, resource, and vendor management, as well as risk mitigation and escalation strategies.
- Provide timely and responsive project feedback to vendors, clients, and project participants.
- Review OLC usage and evaluation data to identify areas of learning gaps, interests, and opportunities.
- Stay updated with emerging technologies and AI, assessing their impact on learning and development, and their potential practical use in the WBG context.
- Identify innovative instructional design techniques and promote knowledge sharing around new technologies.
5. Relationship Management
- Work collaboratively with all members of a learning team (vendor partners, consultants, business partners and subject matter experts) throughout the end-to-end learning process that is service oriented and supportive.
- Foster meaningful relationships with the WBG learning community, OLC clients, and external vendors.
- Provide exceptional client services for those seeking advice, guidance, and support for the OLC and the OLC Team.
Selection Criteria
- Master’s degree in educational technology or related field, with a focus on adult learning pedagogy/andragogy
- Direct experience using, implementing, and supporting learning experience platforms (preferably EdCast) and learning management systems (preferably SabaCloud).
- Experience (minimum of 5 years) in designing, delivering, and evaluating learning experiences using a range of modern learning modalities.
- Advanced knowledge and practical application of learning design principles, user experience design, familiarity with modern instructional design concepts, and the ability to communicate clearly on pedagogical choices and the reasoning behind them.
- Practical experience in designing and implementing scalable learning programs.
- Proficiency in commonly used applications for digital and blended learning,
- Experience with human-centered design, design thinking, and Agile approaches.
- Demonstrated experience working across stakeholder and delivery teams to execute on requirements.
- Experience developing compelling business cases for presentation to stakeholders.
- Strong business acumen, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing a robust assessment strategy to measure results rapidly and regularly to identify performance issues and pain points, and to then take corrective actions.
- Strong project management skills to lead a concept from inception to execution, including managing budgets, timelines, resources, vendors, and consultants.
- Demonstrated ability to work across boundaries, with multiple stakeholders and excellent interpersonal skills.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
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