Program Officer – Civic Tech at Mzalendo Trust

• Thus, with anticipated growth and cognizant of the ever-changing technology landscape, Mzalendo wishes to recruit a Program Officer - Civic Tech.  The Program Officer will play a key role in developing, modifying, and providing maintenance support of Mzalendo’s digital platforms and evaluation of civic tech initiatives aimed at promoting civic engagement as well as identifying emerging technological advancements relevant to Mzalendo’s work. 
• The ideal candidate for this position is required to possess a strong background in Computer Science or Information Technology along with passion for civic engagement, enabling them to intersect technology and politics.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Designing and developing digital tools such as websites, mobile applications, or software solutions tailored to meet the identified needs of Mzalendo users. 
• Collaborating with staff and stakeholders to adapt and improve Mzalendo’s existing tools and software in reaction to changes in the ecosystem.
• Develop and execute a strategy around technical community engagement to grow the reach of Mzalendo’s open source platforms and tools.
• Ensuring that the digital tools are user-friendly, and accessible to a diverse range of users including persons living with disabilities. This includes incorporating user feedback to enhance the overall user experience.
• Implementing systems for collecting, storing, and managing data. This may involve integrating with existing databases, ensuring data security and privacy, and developing analytics tools for extracting insights from the data.
• Conducting thorough testing of the digital tools to identify and fix bugs, ensure compatibility across different platforms and devices, and verify that the tools meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Keeping abreast of advancements in technology, best practices in software development, and emerging trends in civic engagement. Actively seeking feedback and opportunities for improvement to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the digital tools.
• Coordinate with the programs and communications teams to ensure seamless execution of functionality of the tools and timely delivery of milestones.
• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact and effectiveness of Mzalendo’s digital tools, collect and analyze data to measure key performance indicators, identify areas for improvement, and inform strategic decision-making on the tools.
• Stay current on emerging digital and cyber trends and inform institutional programming and technology developments.
• Promote Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.
• Perform any other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: 

• Relevant academic qualifications from a recognised institution of higher learning.
• Have a broad knowledge of current software development technologies and design tools in the field, and in particular the development and maintenance of web applications. 
• At least five (5) years of experience with hands-on front- and backend development;
• Demonstrable experience in designing and/or managing digital tools;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders;
• Demonstrate commitment to civic engagement, social justice, and community empowerment;
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, and best practices in civic tech and digital democracy is desirable.
• An embodiment of Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.