Senior Product Manager

About the Role:

• The successful candidate will join the DataLab team as part of CfA’s wider Knowledge team. The Knowledge initiative spearheads training management and partnerships, data analysis, digital journalism, and storytelling initiatives for CfA’s partners  in newsrooms, universities, CSOs and selected government agencies, as well as building and engaging local communities or networks across Africa. The Knowledge team is also the custodian of other major CfA public infrastructure, including the largest open data portal on the continent, open.AFRICA, and Africa’s biggest census data portal, HURUMap. 
• You will drive CfA’s transnational DataLab team, which manages a wide portfolio of data-driven products in 20+ countries, while also supporting a network of external partners in the media and watchdog civil society sectors. The scope of your work will encompass various stages of the data workflow, including research to mining, cleaning, visualisation, storytelling and the application of  machine learning techniques, such as deep learning and generative AI. Also, you will play a crucial role in leveraging data-driven insights to tackle complex societal challenges and drive positive social impact.  
• You will also play a pivotal role in shaping the vision and maximising the broad-reaching impact of multiple CfA’s products. Notably, this includes overseeing openAFRICA, Africa’s largest open data repository. Additionally, you will contribute to the management of other prominent initiatives, such as HURUmap, CfA’s geolocation open source tool, Outbreak.AFRICA, the health emergency infodemic tool, the budget portal PesaYetu and a series of interactive calculators, such as GenderGap and TaxClock.

Responsibilities: Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate and supervise the daily, weekly and monthly activities of the DataLab and its project and product champions.
• Drive the vision and growth of flagship products including openAFRICA, HURUmap, PesaYetu, Dominion, GenderGap.AFRICA and others. 
• Develop and apply statistical analysis, predictive modelling, and data mining techniques to identify patterns, trends, and correlations in data that contribute to program effectiveness and social impact and to extract insights from large and diverse datasets.
• Oversee a growing team of data scientists/analysts who will work on clearly defined projects, including providing guidance, mentorship and support for the team’s professional development
• Steer technical scoping and specification of DataLab  projects and products, including developing project charter, work plans and budgets for data resources and technological tools, all anchored by the original project conceptualisation or framing that is further fleshed-out during review/ideation sessions, with clear mechanisms for support or guidance and a clear communication structure
• Oversee project deliverables to ensure adherence to agreed quality benchmarks, by facilitating regular progress/prototype reviews at appropriate milestones for stakeholders, and by proactively problem-solving where expectations are not met.
• Cooperate with CfA’s teams to collect impact data and maintain CfA’s impact trackers.
• Facilitate the creation and maintenance of partnerships to amplify the impact of the Knowledge programme and its partner initiatives.
• Supervise the communication of the Knowledge team’s successes and impact stories, on CfA’s social media, Slack channels and public newsletters.
• Proactively problem-solve and iterate on projects, helping the team and project partners find creative solutions for challenges or obstacles and developing detailed plans for amplifying the team’s work.

Required: minimum requirements include:

• 5+ years experience in programme management in an international NGO, tech-for-good startup environment, or organisation focused on civic tech, civic engagement, open government and/or open data
• Proven track record of data science projects tackling real-world problems, preferably in a civic technology, government, or nonprofit setting.
• Experience with data visualisation tools (e.g., AirTable, Flourish, Tableau, Datawrapper, or equivalent dataviz or dashboard systems) to effectively communicate insights and findings.
• Proven proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R, and related data science libraries such as SciPy, NumPy
• Demonstrable ability to self-manage, creating your own and wider team timelines and milestones, with clear systems/processes
• Evidence of nurturing leadership skills, for building and growing effective and happy teams of ambitious multicultural and multilingual domain experts.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Digital first workplace skill-sets, including proficiency in collaborative work solutions such as Google Drive (Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc) and Slack (or equivalents such as Teams), as well as project management tools like Trello (or equivalents)

Preferred: candidates who are able to demonstrate the following will have an advantage:

• Robust network of contacts in data science and tech space in Africa and beyond.
• Understanding of data-driven storytelling strategies and campaigns.
• Proven track record working with open data, open government and civic technology.
• Strong and engaging social media presence.
• Proficiency in French or Arabic.

Language and Location Requirements:

• Location: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa or elsewhere in Africa
• Languages: English
• Preferred but not required: French and Arabic