UX Researcher (AI & Human-Centered Design) – Kenya at WTS Energy

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct qualitative user research activities including ethnographic studies, contextual inquiries, interviews, focus groups, and observational research.
• Participate in community-based fieldwork to understand user behaviors, needs, challenges, and opportunities across diverse Kenyan contexts.
• Conduct remote and in-person usability testing of prototypes, products, and concepts, documenting findings and recommendations.
• Analyze qualitative research data and synthesize findings into actionable insights for product and design teams.
• Support quantitative research and data analysis activities where applicable.
• Plan and facilitate co-design, participatory design, and ideation workshops with users and community stakeholders.
• Translate research findings into design opportunities, user requirements, and strategic recommendations.
• Develop user journeys, service blueprints, concept maps, workflows, and interaction models.
• Create wireframes, low-fidelity prototypes, diagrams, and other design artifacts to communicate ideas and concepts.
• Collaborate closely with researchers, designers, engineers, and cross-functional teams throughout the research and design process.
• Present research findings, insights, and recommendations through reports, presentations, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
• Contribute to research initiatives exploring the design and application of Generative AI technologies within African contexts.
• Support the development of culturally relevant, inclusive, and accessible AI-driven user experiences.
• Ensure research activities are conducted ethically and in accordance with organizational and research best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience Design, Design, Psychology, Anthropology, Social Sciences, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
• Experience conducting qualitative research using methods such as interviews, ethnographic studies, contextual inquiry, usability testing, and participatory design.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into design artifacts, concepts, user journeys, workflows, wireframes, and recommendations.
• Experience facilitating workshops, co-design sessions, stakeholder engagements, and user research activities.
• Strong understanding of human-centered design principles and research-driven product development.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Fluency in both English and Kiswahili.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs within project timelines.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and engaging diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating UX research, design thinking, creative problem-solving, and human-centered product development.
• Experience working on AI, digital innovation, emerging technologies, community-centered design, or social impact projects will be an added advantage.
• Exposure to quantitative research methods and data analysis is desirable.