Cape Town-based online education company GetSmarter is embarking on a major recruitment drive, hot on the heels of its R1,4-billion acquisition by US-based 2U.
“We are looking for talented people who have a passion for education, can-do attitudes, and are team players that are eager to learn, can work smart, and are prepared to challenge the status quo,” says Ryan Alcock, talent acquisition specialist at GetSmarter.
Applicants also need to be prepared to undertake purpose-driven work each and every day, thrive under pressure and adapt easily to change.
“We hire people who are passionate and eager to learn, and an understanding of how education can change lives is a bonus,” says Alcock.
GetSmarter provides short, competency based online courses to working professionals around the world in collaboration with leading universities.
“Online learning is the future of education and is a dynamic and fast-growing industry, which makes it a great career to pursue,” says Alcock. “As pioneers in the EdTech (Educational Technology) industry, we are making history.”
GetSmarter’s recruitment drive is in line with the steep growth curve the company has been on since 2014.
“With an increased portfolio of courses and university collaborators, it is important that we are adequately resourced to keep this momentum on track,” he says.
The global EdTech industry is currently estimated to be worth $8-billion, and is projected to grow to $252-billion by 2020.
According to the Online Learning Consortium, an estimated 5,8-million students are enrolled in online courses globally and the number is growing exponentially.
“GetSmarter is at the forefront of this rapid growth and is pioneering a people-mediated and highly supportive e-learning module in collaboration with the world’s leading universities,” says the company’s chief of talent, Thelmé Janse van Rensburg.
She says the company is looking to recruit talent in several departments including education, marketing and sales, customer services, systems and technology, operations, and creative studios.
“With our fast pace of growth, tight deadlines are often the biggest challenge. So, hiring additional people in some of our teams has become relatively urgent.”
She says the company currently has 329 staff members and is looking to increase this in line with its growth. “We are currently advertising 33 positions on our website, but our needs are growing daily.”
The skills the company is looking for are role dependent, but most positions require a tertiary qualification. Applicants must also be a good fit with the company culture, says Janse van Rensburg. The ability to work well in a team is vital.
She says most of the jobs are permanent, although they include some internships and contract positions. Some of the positions are newly created in order to keep up with the company’s growth and the need for more hands-on deck.
“Many of the positions we recruit for are aligned to our people-mediated model. As an example, we recruit specifically for Student Success Managers to support our students through their studies,” she says.
GetSmarter will be interviewing local applicants, but will also be looking for specific talent in other markets.
“As our head office is in Cape Town, the majority of positions will be based here, but we are also recruiting for select positions in the UK and the USA, to manage university relationships,” says Janse van Rensburg.
The company’s recent acquisition by 2U has also opened up a few opportunities to work closely with the 2U team.
She says successful applicants will have the opportunity to work with a purpose-driven team of great people in a fast-paced, innovative, fun campus environment.
“We improve the lives of our staff through better education and believe that a community of motivated, healthy and happy employees is key to a thriving team,” she adds. “This is why we place huge importance on the company culture and on creating an environment that brings out the best in our team.”
Key office perks include an in-house barrister, in-house catering service, and gym sessions in the ‘Sweat Box’ with qualified biokineticists.
Staff are also encouraged to continuously further their education and growth through courses and workshops.
“We care about our team members and make sure they feel valued, inspired and excited to come to work,” van Rensburg says.
Available positions can be viewed on GetSmarter’s careers page and will be advertised in Careers24, and on Indeed and LinkedIn. Potential candidates can apply directly through the links on the advertisements or on the company’s website.