Director of Education & Research

Job Description

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in education, psychology or related field; Master's degree is an added advantage
• At least 7 years proven experience in teaching, innovative curriculum development, or educational product development
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in managing teams, timelines, and strategy setting
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Fluent in written and spoken English; Kiswahili proficiency preferred but not essential
• Knowledge in Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) or results-based management
• Strong research and analytical skills including human-centered design, prototyping, and research design
• Ability to put educational theory into practice with educational media development
• Strong team management, leadership, and strategic thinking capabilities
• Passion for Ubongo's vision of bringing localized edutainment to learners across Africa

Responsibilities

• Lead and set long and short-term strategy for education, research and monitoring, evaluation and learning across Ubongo
• Translate learning science and curriculum insights into strategic direction for all teams and product ecosystems
• Implement user testing principles in prototyping of new educational content and products
• Lead Ubongo's research and MEL agenda in partnership with internal teams and external research partners
• Set education metrics and learning objectives across Ubongo and ensure they are met
• Translate research findings into actionable product, content, and curriculum improvements
• Communicate learning impact insights to internal leadership, funders, and external stakeholders
• Champion a culture of experimentation, curiosity, and evidence-driven creativity across Ubongo
• Own and evolve Ubongo's Child Learning Journey Curriculum, ensuring pedagogical coherence across all learning products and platforms
• Ensure educational quality and integrity across all content, distribution channels, and product ecosystems including shows, decodable books, apps, digital tools, and social media
• Define and align clear, age-appropriate learning objectives across pre-production, creative, publishing, and digital product teams
• Manage 5 direct reports: Education Outreach Manager, User Research Manager, Education and Curriculum Manager, M&E Manager, and Disability and Inclusion Specialist