Lead, Learning Design

About the Role - Lead, Learning Design  At ATÖLYE, every project is an opportunity to grow—both personally and also as a community— to refine our values, adopt novel mindsets, and practice new skills. People who collaborate under ATÖLYE’s roof often testify that building individual and organizational capabilities of creative leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and design thinking is the most significant impact ATÖLYE delivers. ATÖLYE Academy is our learning design arm with the mission of scaling ATÖLYE’s impact far and beyond; to become a source of inspiration and transformation. The Academy aims to unlock the potential within individuals, teams and organizations, empowering transformational leaders and developing cultures that drive regenerative growth. It empowers cohorts of pioneers to become creative and future-fit leaders while working on design-driven, systemic solutions to address complex challenges.  The Learning Design Lead role is a pivotal position designed to drive transformative learning experiences and outcomes. This leader will oversee the design and execution of cutting-edge learning design projects, directly contributing to the development of design-driven capabilities and creative leadership competencies within client organizations. As a central figure, the Lead will manage a dynamic team of designers, facilitators, and program managers, ensuring excellence in project delivery. This role requires a strategic thinker with a passion for learning and development, a proven track record in managing complex projects and teams, and the ability to navigate and connect diverse ecosystems for sustained impact. As the nature of leadership and work evolves—shaped by AI, remote collaboration, and the demand for continuous innovation—this role also requires a forward-thinking approach to designing learning that equips individuals and organizations to thrive in the future of work. If you're driven by the challenge of shaping future leaders and fostering organizational transformation, the Lead, Learning Design role offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a difference. Main Responsibilities Project & Account Leadership  Lead the design and delivery of transformative learning programs, journeys, and experiences that build design-driven capabilities and creative leadership competencies, while managing a high-performing team of designers, facilitators, and program managers to ensure excellence in execution. Lead end-to-end client engagement—from initial conversations and proposal development to delivery and relationship growth—while managing and deepening high-level client and stakeholder partnerships to expand strategic accounts. Conduct presentations and discussions with clients, eloquently justifying design decisions. Coordinate a network of freelance collaborators for projects as needed. Serve as lead facilitator in key moments—workshops or co-design sessions—bringing professionalism, energy, clarity, and design-driven structure to the experience. Business Development Support Support the growth of the ATÖLYE Academy brand and business in the Middle East, shaping new opportunities and engaging with clients across private and public sectors. Collaborate with ATÖLYE Academy leaders and kyu Collective members to secure new projects, overseeing proposal development and budgeting. Stay abreast of industry shifts—including the evolving nature of work, the rise of AI, and emerging workforce capabilities—and translate these into actionable insights for our go-to-market strategy and offering design, together with the Director & Head of Academy. Thought & Craft Leadership  Enhance ATÖLYE Academy’s thought leadership in design-driven innovation, leadership development, and cultural transformation—especially in the context of the future of work. Collaborate on thought leadership content with the Director & Head of Academy and the Communications team, including podcasts, videos, social media posts, articles, etc. Develop and share insights that help our clients and the wider ecosystem navigate complexity, embrace technological change, and build cultures of continuous learning, adaptability, and innovation. Requirements Requirements: 8+ years of full-time work experience, with at least 2+ years in a leadership role, ideally within a client services organization in fields such as leadership development, creative consultancy, strategic design, organizational development, or education. Skilled in at least 2-3 of these areas: leadership development, design thinking, learning experience design, innovation methodologies, organizational transformation, and facilitation. Proven ability to design and deliver transformative learning journeys for senior leaders or executives, and facilitate strategy, innovation, and design workshops. Demonstrated success in leading complex projects to satisfy both team and client expectations. Proven ability to manage high-performing teams and achieve impactful results. Advanced proficiency in English; fluency in Arabic is preferred. Experience in the Gulf Region is preferred. Candidates in the UAE or Gulf Region are preferred. Ability to travel for 1-4 week-long project assignments.