Job Openings at Global Designing Cities Initiative

What you’ll do 

• The Program Associate will report directly to a GDCI Program Manager and will coordinate closely with other members of the GDCI team (design, research, communications) to support various projects within the region by reviewing or producing technical written and visual content (specifically street designs) and publications. This role will also support the development and coordination of capacity-building sessions and workshops, and may at times represent GDCI at external meetings, presentations, and events that support GDCI's projects in select cities in the region. 

Example activities for the GDCI Program Associate may include: 

• Supporting City Technical Assistance 
• Produce technical drawings and sketches for city street design projects. 
• Review local, regional, and national regulations, codes, and design guidance documents to identify existing impediments and opportunities for street design improvements. 
• Research and recommend case studies, content, or visual/technical approaches for projects, publications, or presentations, incorporating real-world examples (that consider local African contexts) and global best practices into draft content. 
• Summarize and convey complex information in written, verbal, and visual formats for various purposes, utilizing Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or other 2D or 3D software. 
• Assist with project documentation, data collection, and observational studies. 
• Set the stage to implement site transformations, support site analysis, and collect metrics for project impact evaluation. 
• Prepare project proposals, reports, and presentations related to regional projects. 
• Capacity Building & Engagement 
• Support workshops and training sessions using GDCI and Global Street Design Guide core materials. 
• Support the preparation and delivery of capacity-building efforts and presentations for local authorities, government staff, or local partners. 
• Help organize community engagement events, including preparing support materials and handling production/printing coordination. 
• Co-facilitate training and briefings for designers, engineers, consultants, students, traffic police, journalists, and other local stakeholders. 
• Project Administration & Programmatic Support 
• Own the coordination of multiple project demands, working closely with GDCI Program 
• Managers and Regional Leads for priority setting. 
• Support the preparation of internal reports, filing all documents in accordance with prescribed filing conventions and internal processes. 
• Participate and contribute to internal cross-cutting efforts to improve GDCI’s overall technical 
• assistance expertise and internal sharing of knowledge 
• Participate in program-related local meetings with city staff as needed 

Who you are 

• GDCI is looking for a highly collaborative individual who is well-organized and passionate about designing streets, and has a background in transportation, urban design, and planning, with exceptional street design skills.
• You are comfortable working across countries and teams within GDCI, partners, and government agencies. 
• Given our globally based team and frequent external meetings that align with varied working hours, this role will require a schedule that is adjusted to coordinate asynchronously and synchronously across time zones.
• You are a self-motivated individual who can operate independently, but recognize when and how to ask for assistance if needed. This role may occasionally travel to support programmatic work at the discretion of program managers and available budget resources, typically not exceeding more than one week at a time. 

To be successful in this job, you will excel in five key areas: 
Experience in Urban Design and Mobility:

You have worked within the transportation or urban design space and can speak confidently about the role streets play in the livelihood of cities. 

• Excellent Communication Skills: You have experience communicating technical concepts to a diverse audience through verbal, visual, and written means. You effectively communicate with teammates to clarify project scopes and provide timely updates on progress. 
• Proficiency in Design: You can create site plans, sketches, sections, and other materials to communicate street design concepts using AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and other 2D and 3D visualization software. 
• Organized and Accountable: You can work on and stay organized with multiple projects simultaneously, taking personal ownership of timelines and team deadlines. 
• Values Alignment: Aligned with GDCI’s values of leading with imagination, striving for positive impact, acting with empathy, promoting collaboration and accountability, and celebrating diversity and inclusion. 

Baseline Experience 

• GDCI does not have minimum requirements for education or professional experience. We look for diversity in relevant and differing experiences and professional backgrounds. 

Generally, we expect that employees will have the following baseline experience for an Associate:  

• Four years of relevant professional experience; OR 
• Two years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate degree; OR No years of relevant professional experience with a master's degree 
• Candidates must have working proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Office, Google 
• Workspace, and Slack. This role also requires proficiency in technical software including the 
• Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with AutoCAD and Sketchup are also desirable. 

Working Conditions, Physical Requirements 

• This role is performed remotely within the country of hire, at an average of 40 hours a week. 
• There may be routine expectations of participation in non-standard work hours (i.e., 9:30-17:30 local time). 
• This role may occasionally travel to support programmatic work at the discretion of program managers and available budget resources, not exceeding more than one week at a time. 
• Supervision Responsibilities  
• May supervise consultants or interns/fellows when available, with supervisor oversight. 

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What You’ll Do

• The Program Manager will work closely with local stakeholders in select African cities alongside the full global GDCI team, reporting directly to the Regional Program Lead, and work very closely with the Regional Design Lead. This role will lead technical assistance in up to three cities in the Africa region. You will be expected to develop strong relationships with city staff, ensure the technical accuracy of street design recommendations, develop visual and written content, organize capacity-building sessions, and represent GDCI in external regional forums.

Program and Project Management

• Manage and oversee city-level technical assistance projects in alignment with global road safety goals.
• Manage budgets and resources associated with program delivery in select countries
• Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, reporting, and internal communications with senior staff and funders.
• Understand, manage, and foster relationships with various stakeholders, including city officials, government agencies, local embedded staff, and vendors to secure project buy-in and permits.
• Represent GDCI in stakeholder engagements and ensure timely follow-up, tracking project budgets and consultant contracts.

Technical Assistance and Content Development

• In close coordination with relevant GDCI staff, oversee and review the development process and drafts of technical drawings, designs, and visual materials using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Support on-site analysis, street transformation implementation, data collection (e.g., observational studies), and post-implementation metrics collection for project impact evaluation.
• Research and interpret local, national, or international design codes to identify opportunities for street safety improvements.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize, facilitate, and manage workshops, trainings, and briefings based on GDCI’s technical resources (e.g., Global Street Design Guide, Streets for Kids).
• Adapt global best practices to the local African context in close coordination with regional partners.

Staff Supervision and Administrative Ownership

• Own time management, work plans, and prioritization of technical assistance work with minimal supervision.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the growth of GDCI staff and manage consultants assigned to the region.
• Support the preparation of contracts, funder reports, and filing all project documents in adherence to internal processes.

Baseline Experience

• GDCI does not have minimum requirements for education or professional experience.
• We look for diversity in relevant and differing experiences and professional backgrounds.
• Generally, we expect that employees will have the following baseline experience for a Manager:
• Six years of relevant professional experience; OR
• Four years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate degree; OR
• Two years of relevant professional experience with a master's degree
• Candidates must have working proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Slack
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, or SketchUp is preferred. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign may be needed for specific projects. Working Conditions,

Physical Requirements

• This role is performed remotely within the country of hire, at an average of 40 hours a week.
• There may be routine expectations of participation in non-standard work hours (i.e., 9:30 - 17:30 local time).
• This role may require frequent travel throughout the year. Not to exceed more than two weeks at a time.