Job Title: Senior Innovation Associate (HCD, Prototyping & Insights)

Reports to: Manager – Innovation Consulting

Employment Type: Full-time, 2 year renewable contract

Location: Lusaka (Hybrid – Office/Remote)

Submission deadline:17:00hrs, Wednesday 20 November 2024

 

About the Opportunity

BongoHive Consult is seeking a skilled and creative Senior Innovation Associate with a strong focus on Human-Centered Design (HCD), prototyping, and insights-driven research to join our Innovation Unit. In this role, you will play a critical part in developing, testing, and refining solutions that address complex challenges for our clients. This position involves a mix of hands-on design work, user research, and collaboration, along with project leadership responsibilities to drive innovative projects forward.

What You Will Do

• Design & Prototyping
  • Lead and facilitate design sprints and workshops to ideate and develop user-centered solutions.
  • Create high-fidelity prototypes using tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision, and iteratively test these with end-users.
  • Experiment with rapid prototyping and user testing techniques to validate ideas and optimize solutions.
• Research & Insights
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights on user needs and pain points.
  • Develop personas, journey maps, and experience maps that inform the design process and guide project decisions.
  • Synthesize research findings into actionable insights, ensuring that projects remain user-focused and impactful.
• Project Leadership and Management
  • Manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables, ensuring projects remain on track and within budget.
  • Mentor and supervise junior Innovation Associates, providing guidance on design techniques, HCD methods, and project execution.
  • Collaborate across functional teams to integrate design insights and research findings into strategic recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Business Development
  • Engage with clients and stakeholders to understand project objectives and provide strategic design insights.
  • Assist in identifying new business opportunities and contribute to proposal development and presentations.
  • Act as a thought partner for clients by presenting innovative ideas, insights, and design solutions that address their specific challenges.
• Documentation & Reporting
  • Prepare and review project reports, presentations, and other documentation to ensure they meet BongoHive’s standards and provide clear, actionable insights.
  • Track project metrics and outcomes, contributing to impact reports and knowledge-sharing within the team.

Key Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Design, Innovation, Business, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred but not required.
• Design Skills: Expertise in Human-Centered Design (HCD), design thinking, and familiarity with prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or InVision.
• Research Skills: Strong background in user research, with the ability to translate findings into design solutions and strategic recommendations.
• AI & Prompting Skills: Experience with AI-driven tools, prompt engineering, and an understanding of how to leverage AI for design and research workflows.
• Project Management: Demonstrated experience managing innovation or design projects, including budgeting, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to clients, team members, and stakeholders.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and manage multiple projects with changing priorities.