Director of Learning, Content & Training

Are you a strategic learning leader with a genuine passion for learning and the commercial instincts to turn great content into a thriving offering? We'd love to hear from you!About AcornAt Acorn PLMS, we are on a mission to transform the corporate learning experience. Our cutting-edge Performance Learning Management System (PLMS) software is powered by AI and designed to ensure that what people learn directly contributes to their exceptional performance in business. Corporate performance and learning needs a revolution, and Acorn PLMS is the antidote. We are the only solution that guides learners step by step to master the specific capabilities required for their roles, ultimately accelerating organisational performance.About Acorn. We are open to individuals based in Sydney — this is an in-office role.About the RoleWe’re looking for a Director to lead Acorn’s Learning, Content & Training practice and set the strategy for our existing content design capability, taking it into its next phase of growth. You’ll own the strategy, quality and commercial model behind our e-learning content, turning it into a scalable, subscription-based Content-as-a-Service offering, with a team of E-Learning Designers and our Content, Training and Delivery Lead reporting to you. You’ll also shape our accredited training standards, our key learning partnerships (Go1, OpenSesame and Articulate), and the roadmap for our proprietary AI e-learning authoring tool.Qualifications5 Key CapabilitiesThe best part… we use our Acorn software at Acorn. We believe in the power of our Managers and Staff being aligned on the 5 capabilities needed for each role, and the level that we expect for any given role, using our Acorn AI tool to streamline this consistently across our business. The 4 levels comprise Foundational, Developing, Proficient and Advanced.Here are the 5 key capabilities for the role and the level expected to give you an idea of what the role entails.Commercial Strategy & Recurring Revenue DesignBuilds and owns the commercial model that turns learning content and training services into a scalable, subscription-based revenue stream.Level — Proficient: Owns the full transition of e-learning and training services from project-based to a subscription-based recurring pricing model. Defines service tiers, packages and renewal frameworks, and sets ARR targets that are tracked and reported. Adjusts the commercial model in response to pipeline and delivery data rather than waiting for leadership direction.Instructional Design & Content Craft LeadershipSets and maintains the quality bar for instructional design and e-learning content across the team’s output.Level — Proficient: Establishes production standards, style guides and QA processes that the team applies consistently across client projects. Reviews and elevates content without needing to personally rework it. Balances craft quality against commercial constraints like scope, margin and turnaround time.Strategic Partnerships & AI-Enabled Content InnovationBuilds and manages Acorn’s strategic partnerships with third-party learning content and authoring platforms, and owns the roadmap for embedding AI across Acorn’s e-learning content practice.Level — Proficient: Owns partnership strategy and commercial terms for key content and authoring platforms (Go1, OpenSesame, Articulate), identifying where they extend or complement Acorn’s own offering. Sets the roadmap and prioritisation for Acorn’s proprietary AI e-learning authoring tool in partnership with Product and Engineering. Works intentionally with Acorn’s GTM team and the Customer Experience org to bring partnerships and AI-enabled content capability to market, without needing direction from leadership.Client Relationship & Commercial AcumenBuilds and manages direct client relationships, from scoping and quoting through to delivery and renewal.Level — Proficient: Leads commercial conversations with clients independently, including quoting and negotiating scope. Identifies upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing accounts and converts them in partnership with sales and client success. Is trusted by clients as the senior point of contact for the Learning Content practice.Team Leadership & Capability BuildingLeads and develops a multidisciplinary content and training team, building the structure and culture needed to scale.Level — Proficient: Manages a team spanning design, training delivery and client success, with clear roles, workflows and performance expectations. Coaches team members individually, closing capability gaps and building a pipeline of future leads. Makes resourcing recommendations grounded in capacity data and forward pipeline.Key responsibilitiesSet the strategic direction for Acorn’s Learning Content & Training practice, including the Content-as-a-Service commercial modelOwn the transition of e-learning content into a scalable, subscription-based offering: define service tiers, pricing, packaging and renewal frameworksSet and track ARR contribution targets for the practice, reporting progress to Acorn’s leadership on a regular cadenceBuild and manage strategic partnerships with third-party learning content and authoring platforms — Go1, OpenSesame and Articulate — identifying where they extend or complement Acorn’s own content offeringOwn the roadmap and strategic direction for Acorn’s proprietary AI e-learning authoring tool, partnering with Product and Engineering on prioritisationWork intentionally with Acorn’s GTM team, and with the broader Customer Experience organisation, to sell Content-as-a-Service into Acorn’s existing customer base and bring content partnerships to marketOwn strategic and enterprise-level client relationships, including scoping, quoting and commercial negotiation for major accounts and partnershipsSponsor and sign off Acorn’s accredited training strategy (Articulate ANZ certification, e-learning essentials programme), ensuring it aligns to the practice’s commercial model and quality barLead and develop the Learning Content & Training practice, establishing production standards, style guides and QA processes across content outputIdentify and embed AI tools and workflows across content creationUse frontline delivery and training insight from the team to keep refining the commercial modelContribute to Acorn’s broader product and growth strategy as a senior leader, participating in executive and leadership forums as requiredRequired experienceA genuine passion for learning and its power to drive business performanceSubstantial experience (typically 8+ years) in learning content, instructional design or ed tech, including experience leading learning teamsA track record building or transitioning a content or professional services offering into a subscription or retainer-based commercial modelExperience negotiating and managing strategic third-party partnerships (content platforms, authoring tool vendors, or similar)Strong commercial acumen, comfortable owning revenue targets, forecasting and reporting to senior leadershipExperience scoping and quoting service-based workWorking knowledge of Articulate 360 (Storyline/Rise) or comparable instructional design toolsExperience partnering closely with GTM and Customer Experience/Customer Success teams on packaging, positioning and selling into an existing customer baseA background in ed tech, PLMS/LMS or adjacent SaaS environments highly regardedAI fluencyAt Acorn, we use AI across everything we do, and are actively building our AI fluency across the business. In this role, that looks like:Using AI to sharpen partnership strategy, commercial proposals and content roadmap decisionsChampioning AI-assisted content production workflows across the E-Learning Designer team to scale output without compromising qualitySetting the strategic direction for embedding Acorn’s proprietary AI e-learning authoring tool across the content practiceWe are not looking for someone who can talk about AI in the abstract. During the interview process, we will ask you to talk us through what you have actually built, the tools you use daily, and the results you have seen — we love seeing how people are evolving and enhancing the ways they work with AI.Why join Acorn PLMS?The chance to set the strategic direction for an established, growing content design practice, with real commercial ownership from day oneA seat at the table shaping Content-as-a-Service, alongside our Customer Experience leadershipDirect influence over the roadmap for a proprietary AI e-learning authoring toolA team and culture that genuinely lives and breathes learning — including using our own Acorn software to grow our peopleThe scale and pace of a global SaaS platform, with the agility of a business still building its next phaseLocationWe are open to individuals based in Sydney, Australia. We are an office-first company, meaning we work from our local offices the majority (if not all) of the time. We want to create cool stuff with great people, and we know from experience that is best done through daily moments like the coffee run, walk to grab lunch, or quick huddles. Being able to capitalise on this is key to our ongoing success and a large part of the reason we can work at the pace we do. Please note candidates will need to be in commuting distance to our offices based in Sydney CBD.Applicants must have full working rights in Australia to be considered for this role. Unfortunately we are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.Our recruitment processAcorn is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We aim to ensure that our recruitment process is fair and accessible to everyone and encourage candidates to request any accommodations needed during the application or interview stages.