Data & Product Strategist
You will report to the
Director of WRI Africa Cities and work with the global manager of Cities Data
and Tools and the Global Network Lead for WRI’s Data Lab.
Responsibilities
Guide Strategic Direction
of Data Products and Programs (40%):
Develop
a cohesive strategy for urban data and associated tooling in partnership with
managers and technical teams
Contribute
to the design of new data applications and products, ensuring they stay true to
a cohesive overall strategic direction and are responsive to user needs
Manage small, matrixed teams of analysts, coordinators, and specialists, both internal and external resources, to achieve projects with oversight from managers
Stay
up to date with developments and changes in the landscape of data for African
sustainable development, and ensure WRI’s strategy remains aligned. This will
involve conducting market research for new tools and programs
Work
with senior staff from the Cities and Data teams on the strategic development
and management of urban data work in Africa
Support
fundraising, including encouraging new project opportunities and prospective
donors and preparing proposals
Partner
with internal staff to coordinate fundraising opportunities within the Africa
Cities team related to urban data
Project and Product management
(30%):
Initiate
new projects, creating initial work plans, budgets, and organizational
structures designed to align the project to goals and main success criteria
Guide
the delivery of large-scale products through the whole product lifecycle through
best practices in technical delivery.
Maintain
clear and comprehensive project documentation
Communicate
work to non-technical, senior audiences internally and externally to ensure
clarity and understanding
Work
with Monitoring and Evaluation teams to define methods and metrics for
measuring product success. This can include product analytics and Indicators
Oversee
vendor procurement and relationship management, including contracts, creating
work plans, and managing deadlines and budget
Relationship Management,
User Research (20%):
Develop
relationships with stakeholders and current and prospective product users
Collaborate
with communications colleagues to lead outreach to reach target audiences and
initiate opportunities for collaboration and engagement with partners
Work
with the Data Lab’s User Research Lead to organize and run events for user
research and engagement, such as interviews, training or workshops
Design
and manage user research activities, with User Research Lead, to support the
development and testing of products and services
Monitor
user engagement throughout the lifecycle of a product or service. Use these
findings to inform ongoing development, engagement, continuous improvement, and
measurement, evaluation, and learning
Communications (10% of the
time):
Communicate
to internal and external audiences using clear writing, data visualization, and
presentation skills
Guide
analysts in developing analyses and data communications materials required to
meet project needs
Lead
the drafting of blogs, technical notes, and papers
Apply
basic knowledge of frontend frameworks for data visualization
Apply
basic knowledge of cartographic principles and map design tools and practices
Qualifications
Education: A BA or BS degree in a
relevant field
Experience: Minimum 5 years of
full-time work experience. Implement user
research best practices.
Experience
Lead technology product development, working with external vendors
Coordinate
partnerships of partners, donors, and governments
Facilitate
vendor procurement processes
Experience
with project management practices.
Past
work in an urban policy or planning context or with urban data.
Languages: You have verbal and
written proficiency in English and additional fluency in more or more
languages spoken in WRI Africa focus countries
Requirements: Existing work
authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to
authorize visa work authorization
How To Apply
