Fresh Jobs at Code For Africa

About the Role:

• The successful candidate will join CfA’s TechLab. TechLab is the innovative engine of CfA, driving the design, development, and maintenance of impactful, human-centred digital services and infrastructure. In partnership with human rights-defending organisations, TechLab creates transformative technology solutions that empower communities, enhance civic engagement, and promote transparency and accountability in governance across Africa. By embracing human-centred principles, TechLab ensures that our digital platforms are not only user-friendly but also deeply resonant with the diverse needs and contexts of the communities we serve.
• In the role of Design Lead, you will guide and mentor a dedicated design team, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and excellence. You will work alongside multidisciplinary teams, synthesising project goals, user research, and stakeholder inputs to create intuitive, effective digital interfaces. You will champion the adoption of cutting-edge Generative AI and no-code/low-code tools to accelerate design workflows and empower team members to rapidly prototype and iterate on solutions. Your strategic approach to human-centred design will ensure our platforms not only meet user needs but also are both interoperable and scalable.

Responsibilities: 

• Drive and optimise the overall UI/UX design strategy for CfA’s digital products, ensuring seamless, high-quality interfaces and interactions across mobile and desktop platforms.
• Lead the strategic adoption and integration of no-code/low-code tools within CfA, streamlining design and development processes to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Shape the Design team’s playbook, documenting advanced team structures, workflows, and best practices to enhance collaboration and design efficiency across departments.
• Lead the gathering and evaluation of user requirements, working closely with CfA’s product managers and stakeholders to inform design decisions, minimise iterations, and improve efficiency through thorough research and prototyping.
• Oversee the conceptualisation of design ideas through storyboards, process flows, and sitemaps, ensuring alignment with project goals and maintaining clarity in the design process.
• Direct the creation of graphic user interface elements, such as menus, footers, sidebars, tabs, and widgets, ensuring they enhance user experience and meet high-quality standards.
• Ensure timely delivery of projects, maintaining a focus on continuous improvement of the design and overall user experience across CfA’s products.
• Lead proactive design enhancements, collaborating with data and design teams to elevate the quality of tools and visual narratives

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Design, Graphic Design or a related field.
• Five years of experience in UI/UX design with a focus on service design.
• At least one year of experience in a leadership role.
• Knowledge of service design principles, user research methodologies, and experience in applying them in designing web applications and digital platforms.
• Expertise in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, and no-code/low-code development platforms such as Webflow, and Retool.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional collaboration with technical teams, writers, developers, and product managers to strategise and implement innovative, user-centric solutions.
• Extensive experience collaborating with Engineering and Product teams to deliver engaging digital products.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing innovative design solutions and leadership impact.

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About this role

• The successful candidate will join CfA’s Communities team as the continental champion for CfA’s africanDRONE and sensors.AFRICA networks pioneering the use of drones and sensors for climate change and deforestation monitoring, water and air quality detection, and pollution detection in African cities, as well as open data collection and mapping. africanDRONE is a community of African drone pilots who use drone imagery and maps for social justice and environmental security. sensors.AFRICA is a citizen science initiative that involves monitoring of environmental challenges such as air quality and noise pollution, and water quality to empower citizens in African cities.

Responsibilities: 

• Community Management: Lead and expand geographically dispersed professional networks, that is, africanDRONE (drone pilots) and sensors.AFRICA (sensor practitioners) communities across Africa. Ensure members are engaged, active, and supported.
• Event Coordination: Organize online, offline, and hybrid community events (workshops, webinars, meetups) to promote knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and collaboration within the networks.
• Programme Development: Identify gaps within the africanDRONE and sensors.AFRICA communities and design programs that address these needs, ensuring they align with community goals and partner expectations.
• Project Oversight: Manage multiple donor-funded projects, including fellowships and micro-grants, ensuring milestones are achieved on time, within scope, and to the highest standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including IoT practitioners, community members, partners, and donors.
• Mentorship & Training: Facilitate training, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives for community members to ensure they are equipped to drive impact in their respective fields.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of programs and community engagement strategies through member feedback, performance metrics, and data-driven insights.
• Reporting & Communication: Produce detailed reports on community activities, milestones, and outcomes. Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, producing presentations, briefings, and other communications materials to keep partners and stakeholders informed.
• Community Engagement Planning: Develop and execute weekly and monthly engagement plans, ensuring consistent and proactive communication with community members.

Required: 

• At least 3 years of experience in community management, stakeholder engagement, or project management, with a focus on professional networks or Communities of Practice.
• Strong experience organising and coordinating local, international, and hybrid events (in-person and online).
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• A strong track record of stakeholder engagement, particularly with tech practitioners, professionals, and donors.
• In-depth understanding of civic technology applications, particularly in the context of drones, sensors, and IoT technologies for environmental monitoring.
• A passion for social justice, environmental sustainability, and international development.
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) for diverse audiences and settings (small groups, large meetings, and one-on-one interactions).
• Ability to work independently, think critically, and solve problems with a focus on achieving impactful outcomes.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).