Knowledge and Communications Lead – YLabs Remote

Contexte

YLabs is recruiting a Knowledge and Communications Lead for its Marketing & Communications team. The position is fully remote and open to candidates based in sub-Saharan Africa, with a preference for applicants located in East Africa or within the GMT+0 to GMT+4 time zones on the African continent. YLabs is a global design and research organisation focused on improving health and economic opportunities for young people aged 10–24. Founded in 2016 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, the organisation works across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Central America, partnering with young people to develop products and services addressing challenges including sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, mental health, financial inclusion and climate resilience.

The Knowledge and Communications Lead will drive the narrative and communications strategy for one of YLabs’ major partnerships, involving a multi-year collaboration with a global foundation testing new approaches to programmes for young people across Africa. The successful candidate will work closely with researchers, designers and project leads, translating complex research and programme information into clear, compelling and audience-appropriate communications. The role requires someone who can participate directly in working calls, understand emerging ideas and quickly transform them into research decks, leadership briefs, reports, blogs, toolkits and other communications products. A major responsibility will be ensuring that communications produced across different countries and workstreams maintain a consistent organisational voice.

Missions et responsabilités

• Real-time knowledge distillation, including attending partner meetings, capturing key insights and transforming discussions into high-quality content without requiring extensive re-briefing.
• Developing and editing research presentations, leadership summaries, quarterly and annual reports, toolkits and other communications materials.
• Establishing and maintaining a unified narrative for the partnership, including developing language and messaging that can be used consistently across countries, projects and audiences, while helping project teams apply the agreed organisational voice.
• Strong technical writing and editorial judgement, reviewing and writing RFPs, research protocols, experiment designs and playbooks, while simplifying complex documents for senior leaders, partners and other audiences.
• Working with the Graphic Designer to develop templates and a concise style guide, establish a reusable library of key language and descriptions.
• Collaborating with researchers and project teams to ensure communications are accurate, timely and aligned with programme objectives.

Profil recherché

• At least seven years of professional experience in strategic communications, editorial work, knowledge translation or technical writing.
• At least three years of experience gained in international development, philanthropy or social impact.
• Demonstrate experience translating complex research, programme models or technical information into accessible materials for senior audiences.
• A portfolio demonstrating experience producing different formats, including reports, presentations, briefs, blogs and at least one technical or research-based document.
• Experience collaborating with researchers, designers or programme teams, developing a consistent voice across multiple products.
• Exceptional written English and the ability to work effectively in environments where priorities may change.
• Experience with foundation or institutional funders, design research, human-centred design, experimentation methodologies, RFPs and proposals (considered an advantage).
• Experience living or working in Sub-Saharan Africa (desirable).

Conditions et avantages

• Full-time, 40-hour-per-week position within the Design Department at Job Level P5 – Lead.
• Initial contract for 12 months, with the possibility of extension.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time for field sprints and stakeholder engagement.
• Salary range: US$45,000–US$61,818 per year, regionally benchmarked against YLabs’ P5 Africa salary bands.
• Salaries are paid in the local currency of the employee’s permanent work location.
• Confidentiality of candidate information in accordance with applicable equal employment opportunity guidelines.
• Employment offers conditional upon satisfactory background and criminal record clearances.

Dossier de candidature

• CV
• Portfolio
• Supporting materials clearly demonstrating strategic communications, technical writing, editorial and research-translation experience

Comment postuler

The position is open until filled, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis and an expected start date as soon as possible. Interested candidates should review the official vacancy requirements and submit their application through the YLabs careers platform. Applicants should verify vacancy details, eligibility requirements, compensation and application deadline directly with YLabs before applying.