Job Description
Short Description
You will lead AO’s Learning Technology & Operations team — a group of 4–6 specialists responsible for running, improving, and progressively modernizing the digital platform ecosystem that delivers education to 80,000+ surgeons annually. You set the direction for two workstreams: steady-state platform operations (LMS, video, adaptive learning, evaluation systems) and forward-looking AI and data architecture. You don’t do this alone — AO IT owns infrastructure, security, and enterprise architecture. Your job is to build a productive partnership with IT that balances governance with speed, and to turn your team into a high-performing unit that bridges education and technology.
Main Responsibilities
Lead and develop the team
- Hire, coach, and grow 4–6 specialists across platform operations, AI/data, and evaluation & assessment
- Set priorities, distribute work, and manage dependencies across concurrent projects and vendor engagements
- Conduct performance management, career development planning, and foster a culture of technical excellence
Shape the learning technology ecosystem
- Oversee operations across AO’s platform stack: Totara LMS, Kaltura, Area9, Bynder, Sitecore, Salesforce E&A, and AO Companion
- Build and maintain a strong working interface with AO IT — co-owning platform decisions while ensuring compliance with IT governance and security standards
- Manage vendor relationships: contracts, SLAs, sprint coordination, release management, and technical evaluation of new tools
- Own the evaluation & assessment data pipeline — ensuring data from 1,000+ annual events is structured and turned into actionable insights
Drive AI and data strategy
- Set the direction for AI-powered education tools: knowledge systems, intelligent content, personalized learning pathways
- Guide the development of structured data assets: ontologies, knowledge graphs, and content metadata schemas
- Evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into practical roadmap decisions
Represent learning technology in governance forums
- Serve as the primary interface between Education Design and IT on all learning technology matters
- Ensure the team operates within IT governance frameworks, security policies, and AI/data privacy standards set by the IT Steering Committee
- Contribute to budget planning, technology investment decisions, and cross-functional governance reviews
Main Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in learning technology, digital platforms, AI/data systems, or enterprise integration — with at least 2 years leading a team. A relevant degree (e.g., computer science, information systems, educational technology) is valued but not required; equivalent practical experience is equally accepted
- Track record managing complex digital ecosystems with multiple SaaS platforms, integrations, and vendor relationships
- Technical depth: you understand APIs, data architectures, and AI/ML concepts well enough to guide your team and challenge vendor proposals
- Hands-on coding or scripting capability (Python, JavaScript, SQL) for prototyping and technical validation
- Experience building productive working relationships with IT departments — influencing without full ownership
- Strong project management skills: agile, sprint planning, portfolio prioritization
- Comfortable in an international, matrix-organized environment with multiple stakeholders
- English fluency required; German is an advantage
Personal Attributes
- You lead by setting direction and removing obstacles, not by micromanaging
- You’re technically curious — you want to understand how things work, not just that they work
- You’re comfortable with ambiguity: this team is being rebuilt, and you’ll shape its identity
- You balance pragmatism with vision — keeping the lights on while building for the future
- You communicate clearly across technical and non-technical audiences
- You care about developing people and building team capability, not just delivering projects