As the Design Lead, you will champion human-centered design (HCD) and systems change methodologies across our firm. You will be a driving force in experimenting with and implementing innovative methods for stakeholder engagement, particularly in the context of advocacy campaigns, including policy design and consultations. This includes leveraging technology and diverse engagement techniques to enhance understanding and participation, as well as testing advocacy messaging and building strong communities of support. You will play a crucial role in supporting our internal teams, servicing high-value clients, and driving the development of innovative new products and services. This is a high-impact position requiring a unique blend of design expertise, strategic thinking, client-facing skills, a strong understanding of change processes and advocacy strategies, and a passion for driving positive social impact in Africa. You will help to shape our methodologies, mentor our teams, and ensure we deliver exceptional value to our clients.
Key responsibilities
Methodology development & championing:
- Serve as the firm's expert on human-centered design and systems change methodologies.
- Develop and refine our firm's approach to complex problem-solving, incorporating best practices and innovative techniques, with a particular focus on stakeholder engagement, and advocacy campaigns to shift the narrative, rewrite the rules, and reimagine markets in the African context.
- Champion the use of HCD, systems thinking, diverse engagement methods, and evidence-based advocacy across all our projects and initiatives.
- Stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in design thinking, systems change, creative stakeholder engagement, and policy innovation.
- Contribute and refine in-house methodologies on an ongoing basis.
Internal team support & capacity building:
- Provide guidance and support to internal teams on the application of HCD, systems change methodologies, innovative stakeholder engagement techniques, and advocacy messaging development.
- Develop and deliver training programs to build internal capacity in these areas, including training on specific tools and techniques for policy engagement (e.g., policy simulations, visual communication methods, role-playing exercises), advocacy messaging testing, and community building.
- Mentor and coach junior staff members on design thinking principles and practices, effective stakeholder engagement strategies, and advocacy best practices.
- Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement within the firm.
Client service & project delivery:
- Work directly with high-value clients to understand their needs and challenges.
- Develop and deliver compelling and complex solution designs for clients, addressing a variety of social and other challenges, on the basis of rigorous design methodologies, agile project management, and inspirational visions.
- Oversee the implementation of design-led projects, including those involving complex stakeholder engagement processes and advocacy campaigns, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
- Lead and facilitate design workshops, co-creation sessions, and other innovative engagement activities (e.g., policy simulations, participatory budgeting exercises, community dialogues).
- Serve as a thought-partner to client-facing teams to deliver excellent value.
Stakeholder engagement & advocacy innovation:
- Lead the experimentation and development of new and innovative methods for stakeholder engagement, including the use of technology (e.g., interactive simulations, data visualisation tools, online collaboration platforms) to enhance participation and understanding.
- Design and implement creative engagement approaches, such as role-playing exercises, visual methods, and storytelling, to effectively gather diverse perspectives.
- Develop strategies for visualising policy impacts and communicating complex information in a clear and engaging manner to policymakers and other stakeholders.
- Develop and implement methodologies for testing advocacy messaging for resonance and effectiveness with target audiences, using techniques such as A/B testing, focus groups, and surveys.
- Design and implement creative strategies for community building and champion identification, fostering networks of support for key policy initiatives and advocacy campaigns.
Product development & innovation:
- Identify opportunities to develop new products and services based on client needs and market trends.
- Lead the design and development of new offerings, from ideation to prototyping to launch, including those that leverage technology and innovative engagement techniques.
- Collaborate with the data team and other internal stakeholders to integrate data-driven insights into product development.
- Assist with the pricing and packaging of new products and services.
Experience:
- Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in design thinking, human-centered design, and systems change; alongside stakeholder engagement, public policy consulting, or advocacy.
- Proven track record of successful solution design project management, developing and overseeing rigorous development and testing methodologies and processes with complex stakeholder engagement.
- Proven experience leading and facilitating design workshops, co-creation sessions, and other participatory engagement activities.
- A portfolio evidencing creative solutions, including creative community engagement methods.
- Experience working in a consulting environment or with external clients is highly desirable.
- Experience developing and launching new products or services is a plus.
- Proficiency in relevant design software and tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Miro, Figma).
- Strong understanding of public policy processes and the challenges of stakeholder engagement in policymaking is a plus.
- Familiarity with a range of stakeholder engagement techniques, including both traditional and innovative methods is a plus.
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Design, Social Innovation, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field is strongly preferred.
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