Vacancies at SunCulture Kenya Ltd

About the Role

The UI/UX Product Designer for Maarifa Rollout will play a leading role in the planning and execution of the Maarifa initiative's user experience and interface design. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, this position will be crucial in ensuring the successful development, launch, and scaling of SunCulture's outgrower data platform. This role demands a dynamic leader with strong UI/UX design skills, a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, and a passion for creating impactful products for underserved communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead UI/UX Design for Maarifa: Provide comprehensive leadership and oversight for the user interface and user experience aspects of the Maarifa project rollout, from concept to full-scale deployment.
• Conduct End-User Research: Plan and execute thorough end-user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand the needs, pain points, and behaviors of smallholder farmers, outgrowers, and agricultural entrepreneurs in East Africa. Develop detailed user personas and journey maps10.
• Design and Prototype User Experiences: Create intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing designs for the Maarifa web and Android applications, as well as the WhatsApp bot and USSD/SMS interfaces11. Develop wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using Figma and Adobe tools.
• Collaborate with Technical and Commercial Teams: Work closely with the technical development team to ensure the feasibility of designs and with the business development and field support teams to align design solutions with market needs and user adoption strategies12121212.
• Iterate and Optimize Based on Feedback: Continuously gather user feedback and performance data, and iterate on designs to improve usability, engagement, and overall user satisfaction.
• Ensure Design System Consistency: Develop and maintain a consistent design system and component library to ensure brand coherence and efficient scaling of the platform.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.
• Proven experience (typically 3+ years) in UI/UX product design, with strong experience specifically in designing for high-traffic, consumer-facing digital products.
• Demonstrated mastery of design tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-user research methodologies, case studies, and interactive prototypes.
• Experience participating in the launch of new products with a new go-to-market strategy is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in East Africa, particularly with underserved populations or in rural contexts, is highly desirable.
• Understanding of agricultural value chains or financial inclusion products is a plus.

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About the Role

The Project Manager for Maarifa will play a leading role in the planning and execution of the Maarifa initiative. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, this position is crucial for the successful development, launch, and scaling of SunCulture's data platform. This role requires a dynamic leader with strong interpersonal and business building skills, project management skills, a technical understanding, and a passion for social impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Go-to-Market Strategy and Execution: Design and execute go-to-market plans, including pricing models, distribution channel mapping, and competitor benchmarking to enable the successful rollout of the platform. Manage partnership development associates and the field team to drive growth and market integration.
• Partnership Selection with Agribusinesses: Identify, assess, and select strategic partners, such as agribusinesses, global commodity traders, and government bodies, to secure pilot programs and align with Maarifa's goals.
• Field Activities and Quality Standards: Oversee all field operations, including user onboarding, training, and support, ensuring strict adherence to quality standards and operational efficiency.
• Operate as the product owner and guide product development: Provide comprehensive oversight and roadmapping for the rollout of the Maarifa platform from its initial phase to full-scale deployment. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Agricultural business,  Business Information Technology, or a closely related technical or business field.
• Proven experience (typically 7+ years) in project management, with strong experience specifically in go-to-market strategy and market expansion in agribusinesses.
• Strong experience in vendor selection and technical partnership management within the agriculture sectors
• Demonstrated experience in the technical assessment, design, and implementation of digital platforms, including an understanding of user experience, infrastructure, and data integration.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in rural contexts is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in project management software (e.g., Jira) and relevant engineering design tools is a strong plus.