Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips more than 4 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase her income and assets on supported land by more than 40 percent, while permanently improving her climate resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 8,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

Our Kenya program, founded in 2006, is our second largest. We operate under the farmer brand Tupande, serving over one million farmers and employing 2200 staff. We aim to transform every farming community in Kenya by delivering sustained food security and pathways to prosperity. tupande.co.ke.

About the Role

You will lead a diverse team of Human Centered Design (HCD) staff and user research teams to drive user-centric innovation and ensure that products, services, and experiences are aligned with the needs and behaviors of customers. You will manage the full lifecycle of research and design, from discovery to delivery, while supporting a team of specialists and researchers to deliver actionable insights that shape the strategy, design, and decision-making across Tupande. You will report to the Director of the Tupande Digital Team. You will be based in Kakamega.

Responsibilities

User research strategy & execution:
- Design and implement comprehensive user research that aligns with Tupande’s product and service goals. Also, ensure research insights are translated into actionable recommendations and integrated into product design, service delivery, and strategic planning
- Oversee the design and execution of qualitative and quantitative research projects, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, field research, and ethnographic studies
Human-centered design leadership:
- Lead the team in applying design thinking methodologies to address complex challenges, ensuring that user needs lead decision-making
- Guide the brainstorming, prototyping, and iteration of design solutions, ensuring that they are tested and validated with users
- Champion the importance of human-centered design as a strategic approach across all levels of the organization, ensuring it is embedded in Tupande’s culture.
- Engage with leadership and cross-functional teams to promote a shared understanding of HCD principles, emphasizing the importance of creating impactful user-centered solutions across the entire organization.
Team leadership:
- Lead, mentor, and support the user research and HCD team, fostering a collaborative work environment while fostering their professional growth
Collaboration:
- Work with the global HCD lead to ensure the HCD strategy and processes are following best practice
- Be an important liaison between the User Research & HCD team and other departments, ensuring agreement on project goals and timelines
Project management, Reporting, and Process Improvement:
- Manage multiple research and design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery, high-quality data collection and analysis, and actionable outcomes
- Present recommendations to Tupande and OAF leadership and stakeholders, influencing decision-making at all levels of the organization
- Improve research and design processes, ensuring they are efficient, scalable, and aligned with Tupande’s goals

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Design, Human-computer interaction, Anthropology, or a related field.
At least 4+ years of experience in user research, human-centered design, or related fields, with demonstrated experience leading teams and managing research projects
Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis
Experience in managing teams of researchers and designers
Proficiency in design thinking methodologies and tools with experience leading cross-functional teams through the design process
Experience communicating with varied audiences, including translating complex research findings into clear, actionable insights

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kakamega, Kenya

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Contract Duration

3 years

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Kenya

Application Deadline

09 February 2025. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

About One Acre Fund