Product Lead - Can’t Wait to Learn

Overview

Can’t Wait to Learn (CWTL) introduces new (cost-) effective solutions to the serious challenges facing education for children in emergencies. By utilising innovative technological solutions with a focus on serious gaming, CWTL builds on concepts, which have been implemented in Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Uganda and Ukraine. CWTL seeks to increase the number of children with access to quality education in mathematics and reading in areas affected by conflict globally. Developing fresh, interactive materials based on the national curricula, and creating effective partnership structures to distribute these, CWTL creates new opportunities for making education accessible to those children who have been excluded from education, increasing their resilience and preparing them for a positive future.

Can’t Wait to Learn is a digital, curriculum-based, context-specific learning application for education in emergency offering maths and reading curricula for primary grades 1, 2 and 3. Accessed on dedicated, preloaded, low-cost tablets and by application on personal iOS and Android devices played both on and offline, CWTL offers children a digital, self-guided education game adapted to context to support motivation and active self-paced learning. Children can access it at home, in the community or in school settings. It has been providing children in conflict-affected areas a high standard of education since 2012. Maths and reading curricula are in line with national standards and endorsed by the Ministries of Education. The programme also offers training and support tools for teachers and facilitators in all implementation settings, and diagnostics for every learner to track learning progress.

The role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product Lead to join our team. As the CWTL Product Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing the development and enhancement of the CWTL digital gaming applications. Your role will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing relationships with partners and suppliers, and ensuring innovative CWTL game development and updates. You will lead the technology aspect of game development, content production, and training to drive the success of the CWTL product with the support of education/content specialist and CWTL programme coordinator. As a product lead, you must be familiar with a variety of technology business concepts, experienced with technological trends, and align technology with CWTL goals in coordination with CWTL education/content specialist. You will act as a tech visionary for the CWTL and provide all the necessary tech leadership to the teams.

The Product Lead reports to the Programme Director CWTL, working closely with the CWTL team colleagues.

The role can be based in any location where War Child Alliance has an office.

Your Challenge

• Developing the technical aspects of the CWTL product vision and strategy and articulate it to the team and game developers (design thinking, user focus, user experience (UX), interface design, user journey design and user testing etc)
• Defining a technology roadmap and product requirements aligned with CWTL scaling ambition, envisioning the tech stack required to scale and deploy in humanitarian emergencies
• Experimenting and adopting new & relevant technologies to CWTL
• Leading the development of new CWTL games, including conceptualization, design, and execution, ensuring alignment with the product vision and goals
• Collaborating with the development team to define game features, mechanics, and gameplay experiences that engage and captivate learners
• Overseeing the quality assurance process to ensure that games meet defined standards and timelines
• In close collaboration with IT specialist, education/content specialist, overseeing the entire life cycle of CWTL games, from ideation to post-launch improvements and updates
• Continuously monitoring and analyzing CWTL game performance; user and partner feedback to identify opportunities for enhancements and adaptations to meet evolving learner's needs and requirements
• Developing and maintaining documentation related to product development processes and improvements including a detailed workplan and reporting on the product’s progress
• Developing and implementing comprehensive IT/technical training programs for WC teams and partners involved in CWTL game implementation and scaling.

Your Profile

• BSc/BA/MSC in Computer Science or game development or a related field.
• Experience of product development and user centered design.
• Proven experience as a product/technology lead or similar role.
• Knowledge of technological trends to build strategy.
• Understanding of budgets and business planning.
• Ability to conduct technological analyses and research.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Leadership and organizational abilities.
• Strategic thinking.
• Problem-solving aptitude.
• Understanding of primary school education and curricula.
• Demonstrated expertise in product ownership or management, particularly in education and/or serious gaming or coordinating Edtech product development would be a plus.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Fluent in English, French and Arabic an added advantage.

Our Offer

• The following offer is based on a Dutch employment contract, actual conditions depend on the local office
• Salary range from € 3, 898 – € 4, 847 gross per month, based on 40 hours per week (the exact step determined by the years of relevant working experience).
• An employment contact with War Child for 32-40 hours per week to start with a one-year contract
• until December 2024.
• 28 vacation days on full time basis (consisting of 26 vacation days plus 2 additional fixed free days, based on 40 hours work week).
• A pension scheme fully paid by War Child.
• Compensation for travel and work from home costs.
• Laptop to work from any location and monthly mobile phone contribution of € 25.
• Possibility to follow training and/or courses where relevant.
• Pleasant working conditions, good atmosphere, great colleagues and of course the meaningful purpose of our work!

Our Organisation

War Child is a young and dynamic organisation. We try to keep an informal ambiance within our office, with a lot of room for creativity, inspiration and self-initiative from employees. We practice what we preach: dynamic, innovative, integrity focused and a drive to reach the highest possible results against the lowest possible costs. War Child offers a challenging job in an inspiring workplace in Amsterdam.

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply by forwarding their CV and a short cover letter, in English, before 7 June 2024.

https://warchild.onlinevacatures.nl/job/304062/apply

The vacancy might close earlier should we have found the right candidate for the role. Is this not your dream job? Support War Child by sharing this job with your network!

By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.

War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, colour, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.

The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Disclaimer

• Only applications received via our website are processed.

• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.

• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.