Organizational Overview

Smile Train is the world’s leading cleft focused organization. Our goal is to transform the lives of every person impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support doctors and medical professionals to provide our patients with free, life-changing, comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to reach more than 2 million children in 90+ countries in the past 25 years, and we still feel like we’ve just started. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time!

Make a Difference!

The Education and Training (E&T) Director for Latin America is a senior leadership role responsible for organizing, professionalizing, and scaling Smile Train’s Education & Training function across the region. Education and training are recognized strategic advantages and high-value offerings for partners; this role ensures that value is delivered through strong governance, consistent execution, and measurable impact.

The Director builds and oversees the education operating model, translating regional priorities into structured learning journeys for surgeons, multidisciplinary cleft teams, and early-career professionals, in partnership with universities, medical societies, and training institutions.

The role leads the design and deployment of scalable education systems, including standardized curricula frameworks, digital and blended learning solutions, faculty and trainer development models, and quality assurance mechanisms. The Director ensures alignment with global standards, innovation, and research, while adapting implementation to regional and country contexts.

The Director also owns performance management and impact measurement for education and training, defining KPIs, building dashboards, and establishing monitoring processes to track delivery, adoption, learning outcomes, and real-world impact. Through data-driven management, the Director elevates the partner experience by establishing a high-performing regional capability, reinforcing Smile Train’s leadership in high-quality, safe, and comprehensive cleft care across Latin America.

Key Responsibilities

1. Departmental Leadership & Strategy
   • Bring an entrepreneurial attitude to building the department from scratch, with a focus on scalability, innovation, sustainability, and cost-efficiency.
   • Lead the development of the regional E&T department, including future staffing needs, infrastructure, and budgeting, aligned with Smile Train’s global and regional goals.
   • Establish efficient operational structures, processes, tools, and performance metrics to guide all education and training activities.
   • Ensure training initiatives and topics are aligned with global and regional E&T strategies, partner needs, and data-driven evidence (e.g., outcomes, quality indicators, surveys).
   • Act as a strategic connector between partner data, Program Managers, and Smile Train HQ.Content

2. Content Coordination & Standardization

• • Support the creation of tailored learning journeys for partners based on their maturity stage and service model.
  • Support the maintenance, distribution, and implementation of standardized multidisciplinary curricula for cleft care, including topics in surgery, anesthesia, speech therapy, nursing, nutrition, and orthodontics.
  • Work closely with Smile Train global and regional clinical advisors to solicit and review training content.
  • Ensure all materials are translated, localized, and adapted for adult learners across Spanish and Portuguese-speaking contexts.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• • Collaborate with Program Managers to identify training needs across the region; integrate education into partner strategies and learning curves; facilitate consistent regional E&T data collection; and support local and regional execution.
  • Work closely with the HQ E&T team to advise on regional nuances, gaps, successes, and best practices, driving alignment and efficiency across global E&T processes.
  • Support HQ E&T with resource mobilization and donor engagement by providing the Development Team with data, reports, and impact narratives on E&T initiatives as needed.
  • Represent Smile Train Latin America in global Smile Train E&T forums, contributing to thought leadership and ensuring regional alignment.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact

1. • Contribute to continued improvements of global systems to measure training participation, satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, and impact on clinical outcomes, advising HQ on regional nuances, gaps, and best practices.
   • Use data insights to improve training programs and demonstrate the value of E&T initiatives.
   • Ensure consistent E&T data collection across the region and integrate Latin America’s training data into global centralized monitoring systems and guidelines.
   • Translate insights from monitoring systems into actionable priorities, identifying emerging gaps and recommending high-impact training areas to address.

5. Regional & Global Conferences & Initiatives

• • Support the coordination and planning of regional conferences, as well as Latin America’s presence at global conferences, as needed.
  • Facilitate LATAM partner participation and engagement in global fellowships, conferences, and training initiatives (i.e., ACPA Visiting Scholar, MAGS).
  • Lead te coordination of cross-regional education and training activities in multiple formats-virtual, in-person, hybrid-using standardized platforme, events, and onferences.

6. Learning Technology & Innovation

• • In coordination with HQ E&T, evaluate scalable, tech-enabled, and cost-effective learning solutions including LMS platforms, hybrid courses, and VR simulation tools.
  • Design and manage digital content that supports asynchronous, blended, and self-paced learning.
  • Track learner engagement and outcomes to drive continuous improvement and personalization.
  • Support HQ in implementing a Learning Management System (LMS) that supports multilingual, asynchronous learning and live virtual sessions.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a results-driven self-starter with a proven track record of building and leading education and training initiatives at scale in complex, matrix, multi-country environments. They are technologically savvy, with strong project management and educational technical skills, and consistently translate strategy into execution through disciplined planning, clear prioritization, and effective use of data and systems. They build trust across stakeholders and regional and global teams, and make sound decisions that advance quality, safety, and measurable impact.

Required Education and Experience

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in Education, Administration, Public Health, Organizational Development, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree, particularly in Education, Instructional Design, Organizational Development, Healthcare Management, or related discipline.
• Formal training or certifications in adult education, instructional design, change management, and/or learning technologies.
• Fluency in English, Portuguese and/or Spanish.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in healthcare or global health, applying education and training expertise in complex clinical or professional environments.
• Fluency in Portuguese and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
  

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in education & training, instructional design, workforce development, or learning systems
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and scaling standardized curricula and learning programs across multiple countries or regions, with a strong focus on measurable results.
• Deep technical expertise in adult learning methodologies, curriculum development, competency-based education, and professional specialization pathways.
• Hands-on experience implementing and managing Learning Management Systems (LMS), blended learning models, and digital education platforms, with strong attention to learner and user experience.
• Demonstrated ability to design end-to-end learning journeys that optimize engagement, accessibility, and outcomes for diverse adult learners.
• Strong experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including defining KPIs, tracking participation and satisfaction, measuring knowledge acquisition, and assessing impact on performance, quality, and safety outcomes.
• Proven success leading change management initiatives to support adoption of new standards, safety protocols, and quality improvement practices.

Compensation

USD 47,000–57,000/year

Travel

This position is based in São Paulo City, Brazil, and requires frequent domestic and international travel.

Accountability Expectations

• Ownership of Outcomes: Take full responsibility for one’s own performance, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s mission and objectives.
• Transparent Communication: Communicate openly and effectively with team members, fostering trust and a shared understanding of expectations and priorities.
• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrate empathy, understanding, and cultural sensitivity to contribute to an inclusive and supportive team environment.
  
• Empowerment: Effectively communicate with supervisors to ensure you are equipped with the resources, guidance, and autonomy you need to excel in your role.
• Team Cohesion: Contribute to a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared accountability, helping the team to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Application Process

Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.

To apply, please complete the application online. Include your CV and a cover letter explaining why you would be a good fit for Smile Train and this role. Only those who provide a cover letter as directed will be considered. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.