Product Lead & Professional Development Facilitator (Primary & High School)

About SPARK Schools

SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provide transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.

The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.

SPARK Schools has a culture of collaboration, because getting South Africa to lead global education takes a team effort. We are innovators who strive for excellence through persistence and a sense of urgency to achieve SPARK Schools’ vision, mission and social transformational objectives. Our work environment is vibrant/cheerful, fast-paced/dynamic, engaging/stimulating, tech-enabled and data driven.

SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven, entrepreneurial organisation, operating 21 primary schools and 5 high schools and serving over 16, 000 families. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.

Reports to: Head of Product

Key Partners: Curriculum Officers, CALs, SAMs, PD leads, product managers  BI/LEE team, Head of Schools

Purpose of Role:

To ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of the SPARK Learning Model across Primary and High School by supporting product design, driving model fidelity, developing teacher capability, and delivering targeted professional development. This role sits at the centre of the Product–People–Practice value chain, acting as a bridge between product strategy and school-level execution.

The Product Lead & PD Facilitator ensures that:

• The learning model is standardised, inspectable, and repeatable
• Teachers and leaders understand and can execute the model
• Professional development is aligned to the PL Framework & Agility Model
• System fragilities are eliminated through strong training, coaching, and product clarity
• Schools move closer to Ideal State in preparation for the 2027 Growth Era

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Product Development & Model Fidelity (50%)

• Support the Head of Product, in designing, refining, and documenting the K–12 Product Strategy.
• Translate complex product features (LaunchPad, Catalyst, Nexus, Impact) into clear tools, templates, training, and playbooks.
• Conduct model fidelity reviews in schools and surface system-level insights.
• Support the creation of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) iterations focused on staffing and personalisation.
• Ensure alignment between curriculum, assessment, technology, and rotational models.
• Partner with BI teams to interpret LEE/SSC data to improve product quality.

Professional Development Design & Delivery (35%)

• Co-design the PD calendar and all PD modules for teachers and leaders.
• Deliver PD for PS + HS educators, CALs, SAMs, and leaders during onboarding, mid-year intensives, and Leadership Launch Day.
• Develop competency rubrics, training materials, videos, exemplars, and practical toolkits.
• Facilitate coaching cycles with school-based instructional teams (CALs, SAMs, EPLs).
• Build capability around personalised learning, character development, rotation execution, model fidelity, and instructional practices.

School Support & Implementation (15%)

• Provide direct implementation coaching to a cluster of schools.
• Identify and close performance or fidelity gaps through targeted support.
• Partner with Heads of Schools to ensure product implementation translates into improved scholar proficiency and model execution.
• Elevate and disseminate best practice from exemplar schools

Success Measure (KPIs)

• Product & Model KPIs
• 95%+ adherence to core model guardrails across supported schools
• Documented improvements in fidelity scoring (PS + HS)
• All product documentation updated and standardised by June 2026
• Successful rollout of MVP (staffing/personalisation) across identified schools
• PD & Capability KPIs
• PD satisfaction score: 85%+ (across teachers & leaders)
• Demonstrable skill uplift measured through competency rubrics
• Delivery of all PD modules on time and to standard
• Decrease in model-related operational escalations
• School Impact KPIs
• Improvement in LEE/SSC indicators for coached schools
• Increase in scholar proficiency (60%+) in focus schools
• Reduction in performance variability between schools
• Clear handover reports to HoP + Heads of Schools after each cycle

Qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education (required)
• Postgraduate qualification or Honours in Education, Curriculum, or Leadership (advantageous)
• 5+ years teaching experience
• 2+ years leadership experience (AP, SAM, Principal or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience with personalised learning, blended learning, or competency-based frameworks
• Experience in designing and delivering professional development (required)
• Strong data literacy and ability to interpret learning/operational data
• Experience in multi-school model implementation (advantageous)

Core Competencies:

• Professional Competencies
• Instructional leadership & teacher development
• Curriculum, assessment, and model integration
• Facilitation & adult learning
• Data-driven decision making
• Product thinking & system design
• Strong communication and writing ability
• Behavioral Competencies
• High ownership and accountability
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Ability to influence without authority
• Growth mindset with the ability to coach at all levels
• High EQ and relationship building
• Alignment to SPARK values and professional culture

Role Attributes:

• Network-wide travel required
• Ability to operate across both PS and HS simultaneously
• Works comfortably in ambiguity and emerging prototypes
• Champions the “One Truth. One Standard. One System.” philosophy

Qualities:

• Excellence: A track record of high expectations, personally and professionally.
• Mission and Vision Alignment: Understanding of and passion for the SPARK Schools mission to provide excellent education at an affordable cost.
• Self­ Reflection: Finding the capacity to bring your best self to challenges and opportunities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyse data and use it to inform decision-making.
• Proficient in fostering a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Demonstrated commitment to scholar success and well-being.

Values: Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness

SPARK offers:

• fair market linked remuneration

• performance-based annual bonuses and increases

• above average/good annual leave

• life, disability and funeral cover

• employee wellness support

• educational support & study leave

• individualised professional development, support and mentorship

• employee discount on school fees

• opportunities for career growth

Compensation: Market Related

Locations: Randburg, Gauteng

• SPARK Support Office

Position Type: Full Time

SPARK schools is an equal opportunities employer and preference will be given to candidates from designated groups with due consideration of the company’s Employment Equity goals and targets.

SPARK schools encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

SPARK Schools may expire the posting of this advertisement at their own discretion.

Kindly note that should you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.