Human-Centered Design & Innovation Specialist at Rhizome Consulting

Job Summary

• The Human-Centered Design & Innovation Specialist will lead the application of design thinking, user-centred research, systems thinking, and innovation methodologies to develop solutions that address complex challenges across multiple sectors. The successful candidate will work closely with programme teams, stakeholders, communities, government institutions, and private sector partners to identify user needs, generate insights, co-create solutions, and support the design and testing of innovative products, services, policies, and interventions.

Key Responsibilities
Human-Centered Design & User Research

• Lead user research activities including interviews, observations, focus group discussions, journey mapping, and ethnographic studies
• Identify user needs, behaviours, pain points, motivations, and opportunities for innovation
• Translate research findings into actionable insights that inform programme, product, and service design
• Develop user personas, customer journeys, experience maps, and design frameworks

Innovation & Solution Development

• Facilitate innovation processes to generate creative and practical solutions to complex challenges
• Lead ideation workshops, design sprints, co-creation sessions, and innovation labs
• Support the development of innovative products, services, systems, and programme models
• Apply systems thinking approaches to identify root causes and design sustainable solutions

Prototyping, Testing & Iteration

• Design and coordinate prototyping and pilot-testing activities
• Gather user feedback and analyse performance data to improve solution effectiveness
• Support iterative learning and continuous improvement throughout project implementation
• Ensure solutions remain responsive to evolving user and stakeholder needs

Stakeholder Engagement & Co-Creation

• Facilitate participatory design processes involving communities, clients, beneficiaries, and partners
• Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups
• Build relationships with government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, and community representatives
• Promote inclusive and equitable participation throughout the design process

Knowledge Management & Capacity Building

• Develop design toolkits, frameworks, methodologies, and guidance materials
• Deliver training and mentoring on human-centered design, innovation, and design thinking approaches
• Document lessons learned, innovation outcomes, and best practices
• Support organisational learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives

Educational Qualifications

• Master s degree in Design, Innovation Management, Social Innovation, Development Studies, Public Policy, Business Administration, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, Sociology, Engineering, or a related discipline

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years experience in human-centered design, innovation, service design, product development, programme design, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience conducting user research and applying design thinking methodologies
• Strong understanding of co-creation, participatory design, systems thinking, and innovation frameworks
• Experience designing, testing, and scaling products, services, programmes, or policy solutions
• Proven ability to facilitate workshops, design sprints, innovation labs, and stakeholder engagement processes
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams across development, public, private, or social impact sectors
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and facilitation skills
• Excellent report writing, presentation, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results in dynamic environments