We are looking for a new Director for the Consumer Insights team, leading a small, capable team of seasoned researchers to design and execute client solutions using human-centered design (HCD), UX/UI research, and rapid prototyping techniques. You would lead our vision of using these lean methodologies to help us maximize the value of financial services solutions for low-income people around the world. We want you to deeply understand how low-literate populations view products and services, how they think about technology, what mental models they bring, etc.
Responsibilities Identify, contract and direct projects
- Develop and identify new business for the CI team that aims to tackle product design problems and implement solutions by applying user-centered design processes
- Stay abreast of new trends and ideas in the fields of HCD, UX, and design, ensuring that BFA remains a top choice for thought leading work in design for financial services for low-income people
- Lead the design of and successfully manage the CI team to execute projects that may include:
- User interviews, user surveys, usability testing
- Creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes for products and service
- Producing user personas, use case scenarios, user journeys and storyboards
- Implementing products and features with engineers and business analysts on other BFA teams
- Think creatively about how to enable low-income people to solve problems and achieve goals in all areas of their lives, through new and improved financial services
- Review outputs, ensuring the highest standards of quality for BFA’s clients
- Effectively manage budgets and timelines and ensure profitability of Consumer Insights projects
- Communicate stage of the project process effectively, keeping clients updated throughout all phases of implementation
- Set expectations accurately and define scope of projects to ensure client satisfaction
Collaborate effectively across other practice areas of BFA
- Understanding the content areas of policy, supply-side analytics and financial to be able to identify and enhance the ability of the Consumer Insights team to collaborate across practice areas
Contribute to strategic direction of firm
- Serve as an active member of BFA’s Leadership Team, including review of pipeline and associate utilization. Contribute to discussions around strategic areas for growth for the firm
- Maintain focus on social impact and work to ensure that projects translate to measurable improvements in the lives of poor people (even if indirectly)
Manage associates
- Manage a team of five Consumer Insights associates with expertise in how low-income people manage their finances
- Ensure Consumer Insights team members have an appropriate work load
- Coach and mentor staff, particularly strengthening their design skills and the use of cutting-edge, lean tools and methodologies
Represent BFA
- Represent BFA at conferences and events, including public speaking engagements
- Maintain strong client relationships
Qualifications
- Bachelor Degree in anthropology, engineering, marketing, economics, journalism, or other similar area.
- Masters or other type of qualification in digital design, graphic design, human-computer interaction (HCI) is a plus
- A minimum of 10 years of work experience in design and its application for international development. Experience working in developing countries and a commitment to improving the lives of low-income people required
- Demonstrated expertise in design for poverty alleviation in developing countries
- Professional familiarity with different cultures and languages
- Intuitive understanding of the environments and conditions in which low-income people live their lives
- Demonstrated success in managing others and advocating for their professional advancement
- Strong communication skills and comfort with public speaking and ability to represent technical topics accurately
- Creative thinking and storytelling skills, and ability to connect individual stories with information needs of BFA’s clients
- Willingness to travel internationally up to 25% of the time
- Advanced English skills
Any of the following will be considered a plus:
- Proficiency in languages other than English
- Familiarity with financial inclusion, microfinance, digital financial services or other topics related to money management
- Knowledge of design and prototyping tools such as Balsamiq Mockups, Photoshop, Illustrator
- Understanding of HTML, Android Design Guidelines, CSS and JS
Application instructions
- This is a full-time position and can be based in any BFA office, i.e. Boston, New York, Medellin, Nairobi. Washington D.C., Accra, Ghana or Delhi, India would also be considered.
- Please submit a CV and cover letter to Rebecca Soulliere (rsoulliere@bfaglobal.com) by 30 March 2017.
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