L&D Manager (Swibit Academy)
Location: Iraq (Hybrid)
Company: Swibit
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports To: CPO (Chief People Officer)
About Swibit
Swibit is an AI solutions company operating in the MENA region, the UK, and the US. We specialise in delivering high-end consulting and building scalable digital platforms, AI-powered products, and strategic solutions across sectors such as real estate, marketplaces, logistics, education, and public services.
Our model is global design and local execution — combining international expertise with deep local market understanding to deliver impactful, future-ready solutions.
About the Swibit Academy
The Swibit Academy is our internal talent development engine. It runs structured training cohorts — taking fresh graduates and junior talent through intensive programmes in software engineering, AI, and product development — and graduates them into junior positions within Swibit's engineering and delivery teams.
The Academy also serves existing staff through continuous learning programmes, upskilling tracks, and professional development. It partners with Bayan University and other Iraqi institutions to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the Iraqi tech industry.
Role Overview
We are looking for an L&D Manager to lead the Swibit Academy in Iraq. You will own curriculum development, cohort management, university partnerships, training programmes for existing staff, and the quality standards that determine whether Academy graduates are ready for production work.
This is a leadership role that sits at the intersection of education, engineering, and business. You will work with Swibit's engineering Functional Leads to ensure the curriculum reflects real production needs — not textbook theory — and with the CPO to ensure the Academy is a core pillar of Swibit's people strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Curriculum Development & Quality
Design, build, and maintain the Academy curriculum — covering software engineering, AI/ML, product design, and professional skills
Work with CTO and Functional Leads (Backend, Frontend, AI, Platform) to ensure curriculum reflects real production standards and Swibit Engine quality expectations
Define learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and graduation standards
Develop hands-on projects and capstone assignments based on real Swibit product challenges
Continuously update curriculum based on industry trends, new technologies, and team feedback
Ensure curriculum includes Swibit-specific standards — Dual Quality Gates, code review practices, Swibit Engine processes
Cohort Management
Plan, launch, and manage training cohorts — enrollment, scheduling, progress tracking, graduation
Monitor student performance and intervene where needed — mentoring, additional support, or exit decisions
Manage the transition from Academy to engineering teams — ensuring graduates are matched to appropriate roles
Track post-graduation performance — are Academy graduates succeeding in their first roles?
Manage cohort sizes and timing based on Swibit's headcount plans and hiring pipeline
University Partnerships
Own and grow the partnership with Bayan University — internships, guest lectures, curriculum input
Develop relationships with other Iraqi universities and technical institutions
Represent Swibit at university events, career days, and academic conferences
Build a reputation for the Swibit Academy as a premier talent development programme in Iraq
Staff Development & Continuous Learning
Design and deliver upskilling programmes for existing Swibit staff across all functions
Coordinate instructor scheduling — senior engineers who teach Academy sessions
Develop leadership development tracks for Functional Leads and team leads
Build onboarding training programmes in collaboration with the CPO and HR Coordinator
Manage external training budgets and vendor relationships (courses, certifications, conferences)
Operations & Reporting
Manage Academy budgets, resources, and logistics
Produce regular reports on Academy performance — enrollment, graduation rates, quality metrics, post-grad success
Coordinate with the Academy Coordinator on day-to-day operations — scheduling, facilities, materials
Maintain the Academy's content library and learning management system
Requirements
Essential
Based in Iraq (able to work from the office on a hybrid schedule)
4–6 years of experience in learning & development, training management, curriculum design, or education programme management
Experience designing and delivering technical training programmes (software, IT, or engineering)
Strong curriculum design skills — learning outcomes, assessment design, progressive skill building
Experience managing cohorts or programmes end-to-end (enrollment through graduation/certification)
Strong project management skills — able to coordinate multiple programmes, instructors, and timelines
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering leaders, HR, and business teams
Understanding of adult learning principles and instructional design
Fluency in Arabic and English (spoken and written)
Preferred
Background in computer science, software engineering, or a technical field
Experience in a bootcamp, coding academy, or technical training institution
Experience building university partnerships or academic collaboration programmes
Familiarity with the Iraqi higher education landscape
Experience with learning management systems (LMS)
Knowledge of Agile methodologies and software development lifecycle
CIPD L&D qualification, ATD certification, or equivalent
Experience in a technology company or startup environment
Experience measuring training effectiveness and ROI
What You'll Gain
Lead a talent development programme that is shaping the next generation of Iraqi tech talent
Build the Academy from the ground up — curriculum, partnerships, processes, culture
Direct impact on Swibit's growth — every engineer starts in your programme
Work with senior engineering leaders to define what "production-ready" means
Clear career growth path (L&D Manager → Head of Academy → Director of Learning)
Contribute to Iraq's emerging tech ecosystem through university partnerships
A fast-paced, ambitious environment where talent development is a strategic priority
Competitive compensation with performance-based incentives
How to Apply
Send your CV and a brief description of a training programme you've designed or managed to [email protected] with the subject line: L&D Manager — Swibit Academy (Iraq)