UI/UX Product Designer

About the Role

The UI/UX Product Designer for Maarifa Rollout will play a leading role in the planning and execution of the Maarifa initiative's user experience and interface design. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, this position will be crucial in ensuring the successful development, launch, and scaling of SunCulture's outgrower data platform. This role demands a dynamic leader with strong UI/UX design skills, a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, and a passion for creating impactful products for underserved communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead UI/UX Design for Maarifa: Provide comprehensive leadership and oversight for the user interface and user experience aspects of the Maarifa project rollout, from concept to full-scale deployment.
• Conduct End-User Research: Plan and execute thorough end-user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand the needs, pain points, and behaviors of smallholder farmers, outgrowers, and agricultural entrepreneurs in East Africa. Develop detailed user personas and journey maps10.
• Design and Prototype User Experiences: Create intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing designs for the Maarifa web and Android applications, as well as the WhatsApp bot and USSD/SMS interfaces11. Develop wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using Figma and Adobe tools.
• Collaborate with Technical and Commercial Teams: Work closely with the technical development team to ensure the feasibility of designs and with the business development and field support teams to align design solutions with market needs and user adoption strategies12121212.
• Iterate and Optimize Based on Feedback: Continuously gather user feedback and performance data, and iterate on designs to improve usability, engagement, and overall user satisfaction.
• Ensure Design System Consistency: Develop and maintain a consistent design system and component library to ensure brand coherence and efficient scaling of the platform.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.
• Proven experience (typically 3+ years) in UI/UX product design, with strong experience specifically in designing for high-traffic, consumer-facing digital products.
• Demonstrated mastery of design tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-user research methodologies, case studies, and interactive prototypes.
• Experience participating in the launch of new products with a new go-to-market strategy is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in East Africa, particularly with underserved populations or in rural contexts, is highly desirable.
• Understanding of agricultural value chains or financial inclusion products is a plus.