Lead, Learning Design
About ATÖLYE
ATÖLYE is a community-powered creative services organization. Through strategy and design, we help organizations tackle complex challenges and create lasting impact.
Our teams of strategists, designers, and community builders work with a range of impact-focused partners including companies, academic institutions, NGOs, and governments.
At the same time, ATÖLYE identifies as a “community.” Our members, who are designers, thought leaders, and experts, get to collaborate with ATÖLYE on the projects we take on. Our community is also our source of inspiration and learning; aspiring to connect, learn, and grow around purpose-driven work.
Our work focuses on designing transformational journeys across scales and disciplines. For each challenge, we craft a unique approach that and lean on the power of co-design; aiming to uncover the needs and aspirations that drive change. ATÖLYE’s design offering spans the innovation cycle; igniting change, envisioning desirable futures, building transformative experiences, and growing through resilient teams and communities.
In 2019, ATÖLYE joined kyu (kyu.com), a collective of the leading creative organizations in the world whose purpose is to be a source of creativity that propels the economy and society forward. Also among the collective are leading organizations such as BEworks, C2, Gehl, Godfrey Dadich, IDEO, Kepler, Public Digital, RedPeak, Sid Lee, and SYPartners.
Our “Guiding Principles”
We curate diligently so we can better co-create.
We make informed decisions about the people we invite in, the projects we work on, and the organizations we collaborate with. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors but they share one important trait: An insatiable desire to better themselves and the communities that surround them.
We live, work, and learn in a constant state of flow.
Our system has ill-defined boundaries by design, which allows for a steady flow of people, ideas, and perspectives. Our processes expand and contract to adapt to situations as needed, meaning we are always pushing the limits of our permeability—across geographies, projects, and industries.
We grow individually to mature as a whole.
We are committed to nourishing the notion of a “growth mindset” in a holistic way. We are invested in the development of individuals and organizations by co-creating the necessary tools, methods, and environments that allow us to continuously shift and grow together.
About the ATÖLYE Community
We are a community-centric organization. This means that our approach spearheads community-centered thinking in design and gravitates around the notion of an individual’s journey in relation to a community.
Every ATÖLYE team member, by default, is an ATÖLYE community member. Once you are a team member, you will be part of the ATÖLYE Community that consists of creative individuals and teams who aspire to connect, learn, and grow around purpose-driven work while having the opportunity to participate in community events, rituals, and social activities.
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. 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
Oversee the design and delivery of ATÖLYE Academy’s learning design projects, including transformative programs, journeys and experiences for organizations that enhance design-driven capabilities and creative leadership competencies.
Lead a team of designers, facilitators, and program managers to ensure top-quality project delivery.
Manage and enhance high-level client and stakeholder relationships, and expand accounts.
Lead comprehensive client engagement from initial conversations through proposal development to delivery and relationship enhancement.
Conduct presentations and discussions with clients, eloquently justifying design decisions.
Coordinate a network of freelance collaborators for projects as needed.
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 trends, translating them into actionable insights for the go-to-market strategy.
Thought & Craft Leadership
Enhance ATÖLYE Academy’s thought leadership in design-driven innovation, leadership development, and cultural transformation.
Collaborate on thought leadership content with the Communications team, including podcasts, videos, social media posts, articles, etc.
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 leadership development, design thinking, learning experience design, innovation methodologies, 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 a plus.
Experience in the Gulf Region is preferred.
Candidates in the Gulf Region or willing to relocate to Dubai are preferred.
Ability to travel for 1-4 week-long project assignments.
Apply Form
A Note Regarding Job Location
ATÖLYE has two hubs in Istanbul and Dubai that houses its core team and its community. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATÖLYE has adopted a hybrid way of working where team members can choose to work remotely and visit the ATÖLYE spaces when their physical presence is necessary. Meanwhile, we regularly organize in-person events and gatherings for our team and community in order to foster physical interactions.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Throughout the entire job application process, ATÖLYE does not discriminate against individuals directly or indirectly based on language, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, parenthood, childcare, age, health status, disability, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or similar reasons. ATÖLYE provides suitable working conditions obligating employees to behave equally among teammates and complies with the principle of equality which is embedded in its organizational policy.