Please Note: This is a remote full-time employment opportunity with SweetRush.
The successful candidate will be located anywhere in the Americas.
The Virtual Reality Solution Architect (VR SA) is a key member of both the Client Solutions team, the team within SweetRush tasked with designing brilliant solutions for our client’s challenges and converting client inquiries to closed business, and the Spark team (the team within SweetRush tasked with bringing XR technologies into the learning space).
VR SAs partner with the client and internal stakeholders to co-create a learning solution, budget, and project plan that addresses the client’s goals, challenges, and constraints.
This role focuses specifically on the use of XR technologies in the learning space, though may be asked to support client projects within the Custom Learning team as well.
This individual embodies the SweetRush culture and serves as a key partner to SweetRush clients throughout their experience.
This individual must love to craft solutions and to strategize and ‘win’ in competitive bidding situations.
This individual is also great at building individual and organizational trust quickly by providing client-centered consultation that includes facilitating connections between the client and various SweetRush team members.
This individual is also a great presenter who, by their voice, presence and intelligence, immediately engenders trust with clients on the phone or in-person.
This individual must enjoy this work and bring a sense of humor and a calm demeanor in the face of timeline-driven challenges.
The VR SA is involved in the beginning, crafting solutions, and in this capacity will affect a significant number of projects.
However, at some point you will hand off the project to the project team, so you will not be hands-on in further development.
Being consultative and impacting a lot of projects, but not doing the actual development must be appealing to you.
Responding to RFPs (Requests for Proposals) and crafting client solutions can be a demanding job that often is timeline-driven and exists within the context of ‘competition.’ Does this energize you or stress you out?
If it energizes, read on!
The Virtual Reality Solution Architect’s responsibilities and activities include:
VR Technologies Expertise
Experience developing curriculum that incorporates VR/AR technologies Experience using Virtual Reality applications from WebVR, Standalone VR to PC based VR Understanding of different types of 360 content for Virtual Reality Knowledge about the different types of hmds used in Virtual Reality applications
Consulting and Solution Design
Apply understanding of VR instructional design approaches combined with SweetRush’s capabilities and expertise to create and define solutions to clients’ training challenges and needs Leading scoping meetings with clients to ascertain their needs; asking appropriate questions in order to gather information to propose a solution and documenting responses Providing real-time recommendations and consulting to clients to engage them, fuel discussions and build trust and rapport Leading internal discussions regarding new projects and defining the solution with assistance from internal team members Embodying and representing SweetRush’s values of partnership, fairness, creativity and customer service Participating in scope, price and timeline negotiations by revisiting any of these areas at the client’s request and providing consultation on what might be altered within the solution while still keeping it feasible and effective; consulting with other team members on various aspects of the solution if needed to make these judgments
Work Effort / Timeline Estimation / Planning, Presentations and Documents
Estimating work effort for the solution using sophisticated SweetRush developed calculator tools combined with input from team members Co-designing solutions with SweetRush functional experts in instructional design, creative design, and engineering.
This involves synchronous collaboration and comfort with group co-creation and brainstorming as opposed to a more individually-centered creative process. Writing comprehensive proposals outlining proposed solutions and tying back to SweetRush’s unique value proposition Leading the development of and participating in capabilities presentations, which are customized to accompany proposals or to move client conversations forward; identifying the most relevant portfolio pieces to share with clients while keeping privacy needs in mind Leading RFP response efforts which typically embrace all of the above activities on a larger scale and often with shorter timelines Consulting on appropriate resource assignments based on project and client needs
Transition and On-boarding
On-boarding (or handing off to) project managers, instructional designers, creative directors and technical leads assigned to projects on the project details, including any observations to date on key client players Attending initial meetings with clients as appropriate to provide continuity in the transition from scoping phase to project kick-off Ensuring that the appropriate SweetRush team leader is engaged and informed at all stages as appropriate, and that they have the high-level solution information packaged in a way that he/she can easily make decisions about pricing and price negotiations
Project Management for Business Development
Participating in weekly internal business development meeting and ensuring the CRM is up to date Delegating work to the solutions enablement team (a subset of the Client Solutions team), such as the creation of detailed project schedules, demo decks, proposals, or statements of work Determining next steps and deadlines at every stage and ensuring both you and other team members meet those requirements
Account Management for Business Development
Work closely with other business development professionals and project managers to develop and manage accounts, including implementing client pursuit and re-engagement strategies Proactively (time permitting!) identify and qualify sales opportunities with existing clients Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients Develop strategies that support existing clients and that identify, educate, and capture new points of contact within existing clients Meet with key decision makers and develop networks at all levels within existing clients
Key Attributes:
Understanding of instructional design approaches applied within an XR environment and innovative ways to translate a client’s business needs to a tangible and effective learning solution Project management expertise, particularly the ability to engage team members and keep them on task in their contributions to deliverables and the ability to follow a standard process and make modifications as needed to achieve the best results Thrive in ambiguity and the “gray”
– often this work is not black/white and our culture is to be agile and flexible to the client’s unique needs and constraints Ability to create a solid proposed solution from which a contract can be created, without needing to do a comprehensive content analysis, for which there is often not enough time or information Comfortable recommending solutions to clients when there are often still many unknowns Affection for the creative process Ability to present capabilities demonstrations and training solutions using appropriate technology in group and virtual settings Highly professional demeanor in all communications; ability to speak in a clear, concise manner on client calls and in presentations A sense of humor and a calm demeanor in the face of challenges others might find stressful Excellent written and verbal communication skills Excellent time management skills; ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritize effectively Resourcefulness in times of resource limitations and ability to wear multiple hats Joy in developing long-term relationships with team and clients.
Requirements (minimum):
Bachelor’s Degree in Instructional Design or related field 7+ years experience in training/learning field – with a strong understanding of all aspects of blended learning solutions, and intimate understanding of eLearning 5+ years experience working in a consulting environment 5+ years experience working in a client-facing capacity.
Experience in or orientation towards business development Experience creating content for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality applications Ability to travel between 10-25% with international travel a definite possibility