BDD Academy is looking for a Product Designer to lead the design and development of a platform, related to a 16-month project, funded by a major international organization. The project will bring together the public sector, private sector, key digital technology players, educational institutions, and vulnerable young people. It aims to develop a more equitable, systematic and empowering bridge from skills training to employment opportunities in the digital economy, while enhancing the labor intermediation between supply, demand, educational providers and policy-makers. The Product Designer will be responsible for the design and development of the online platform, whilst liaising with various local and international key suppliers and partners. She/he will be responsible for leading the successful design and implementation of the platform to achieve the intended objective and will be the primary point of contact with the donors in that regard.
Role and Responsibilities:
Responsible for the design of the platform, using co-creation workshops with key stakeholders in order to define a product vision and roadmap. The exercise will end with an RFP to source an implementation partner.
Ecosystem Research & Input Gathering
Map existing platforms (local, regional and international) supported by a researcher
Map stakeholders and users, and gather input over co-creation workshops to build user personas
Identify problems and gaps in terms of platforms & solutions
Stay up to date on current industry trends and market conditions
Reach out to identified players to assess partnership appetite
Raise the bar for product quality by advocating new interface guidelines and design patterns, investments in refinement and insights driven by user research and customer feedback
Product Vision & Strategy Definition
Define the product Vision
Define its unique value proposition
Map the user journey
Ideate on potential solutions
Define the leverage vs. build approach (build vs. partner)
Develop the sustainability plan for the product, beyond the grant
Product Roadmap & RFP Development
Define the product roadmap with outcomes, broad timeframes and themes
Work with a consulting company to develop and manage an RFP to source a UX, Design & Engineering provider
Develop partnerships (with support from the program’s Partnerships & Growth Manager)
Stakeholder Management
Analyze how the new product satisfies stakeholder’s needs
Coordinate with other team members to ensure consistent and accurate communication
Modify and revise existing designs to meet changing preferences
Present product design ideas to cross-functional teams and senior leadership
Collect and interpret both qualitative and quantitative feedback
Effectively communicate and persuade design concepts with senior leaders
Qualifications:
Master’s in Business Administration/IT or related field
6 - 8 years of experience in comparable roles
Demonstrated success designing and launching excellent products
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience with Design thinking and agile approaches
UX and UI experience (full stack designer)
Technical background
Proficiency in MS Office
Fluent in English and Arabic
Skills:
Flexible and able to multitask in an ambiguous and fast-moving environment
Strategic thinking, problem-solving and results-driven mindset
Dynamic, creative personality, effective at engaging and influencing a variety of audiences
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written
Effective report writing, presentation, and documentation skills
Proven experience in all phases of the design process including user research, copywriting, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, interaction design, and usability testing
An intuitive eye for customer needs beyond the obvious
Excellent attention to detail
A well-rounded portfolio of client work, demonstrating a strong understanding of client objectives
Passion for design; not satisfied with the status quo and always thinking of ways to improve
Creative problem-solving skills
Dynamic, creative personality, effective at engaging and influencing a variety of audiences
Abreast of the latest trends and techniques to recommend new tools and technologies
Duration:
The duration of this project is a total of 16 months. The duration of this contract is ~6 months. Remuneration will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and the project budget. Based on program needs, budget availability and consultant performance, the contract may be extended.
Forward Mena is a non for profit organization aiming to develop the skillset of people from all backgrounds to fulfill the digital jobs of today and tomorrow. It has partnered with the World Bank Group to design and implement the Skilling Up Mashreq (SUM) initiative across Lebanon. It supports the new generation of educational programs in testing and developing their curriculum, sourcing participants and scaling. The BDD Academy is an incubator of educational programs at the intersection of design, technology and leadership targeting Kids, University Students and Continuous Learners
https://beirutdigitaldistrict.com/bdd-academy
(961) 1660941
info@forwardmena.org