Product Associate

Role and Responsibilities: 

Responsible for supporting the implementation of the platform using agile methodologies by working closely with an implementation partner and a separate 3rd party for architecture review and user acceptance testing.

• Ecosystem Research & Input Gathering
  • Support in the research and mapping of existing local, regional and international platforms
  • Map stakeholders and users, and gather input over co-creation workshops to build user personas
  • Identify problems and gaps in terms of platforms & solutions
  • Stay up to date on current industry trends and market conditions
  • Reach out to identified players to assess partnership appetite
  • Raise the bar for product quality by advocating new interface guidelines and design patterns, investments in refinement and insights driven by user research and customer feedback
• Product Vision & Strategy Definition
  • Document the product vision including its unique value proposition
  • Document the user journey flows as the basis of the requirements for the stakeholders and the UX/UI designer
  • Conduct the needed research to define the implementation approach (build vs. partner)
  • Develop the sustainability plan for the product beyond the grant
  • Product Roadmap & RFP Development
  • Support in the development of the product roadmap with outcomes, broad timeframes and themes
  • Support the development and management of the RFP process in order to source a UX Design & Engineering provider
  • Develop partnerships (with support from the program’s Partnerships & Growth Manager)
• Prototype & Test
  • Oversee the development of key UX concepts/wireframes
  • Review wireframes with users, collect feedback and revert back to the
• Develop first Release
  • Write and prioritize user stories and define acceptance criteria
  • Oversee backlog grooming, triage and prioritization, and cross-functional coordination
  • Oversee technology stack selection
  • Oversee Platform architecture development supported by a 3rd party
  • Oversee agile development of platform
  • Oversee documentation development
  • Oversee User Acceptance Testing supported by a 3rd party
  • Oversee business /content development
  • Oversee development of micro-credential framework and platform content
  • Oversee development of marketing & user acquisition / retention strategy
  • Oversee development of content for self-help sections
• Soft launch
  • Lead initial deployment with a small number of users
  • Full Launch (with communication & outreach):
  • Support the deployment on a national scale coupled with marketing campaigns and activations
  • Oversee user onboarding
  • Oversee customer Support
  • Oversee technical and content development of upcoming release based on roadmap and on traction of 1st release
• Report
  • Write report on lessons learnt and roadmap for the upcoming stage
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Establish and maintain a high level of credibility with internal and external partners
  • Break down complex problems and efficiently use data and analytics layered against high-quality user research to inform the direction of the product
  • Track progress, assess risks, coordinate delivery, and actively communicate contingency and mitigation plans for the team
  • Run various ad-hoc research and business analyses to assess opportunities and risks
  • Modify and revise existing designs to meet changing preferences
  • Collect and interpret both qualitative and quantitative feedback

Qualifications: 

• Master’s in Business Administration/IT or related field
• 4-6 years of experience in product management or comparable roles
• Demonstrated success designing and launching excellent products
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with Design thinking and agile approaches
• Experience working with UX/UI designers
• Proven analytical skills and metrics-driven decision making
• User-centric approach with a passion for compelling user experiences
• Technical background
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Fluent in English and Arabic

Skills:

• Flexible and able to multitask in an ambiguous and fast-moving environment
• Strategic thinking, problem-solving and results-driven mindset
• Dynamic, creative personality, effective at engaging and influencing a variety of audiences
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written
• Effective report writing, presentation, and documentation skills
• Proven experience in all phases of the design process including user research, copywriting, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, interaction design, and usability testing
• An intuitive eye for customer needs beyond the obvious
• Excellent attention to detail
• A well-rounded portfolio of client work, demonstrating a strong understanding of client objectives
• Passion for design; not satisfied with the status quo and always thinking of ways to improve
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Dynamic, creative personality, effective at engaging and influencing a variety of audiences
• Abreast of the latest trends and techniques to recommend new tools and technologies

Duration: 

The duration of this project is a total of 10 months. Remuneration will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and the project budget. Based on program's needs, budget availability and consultant's performance, the contract may be extended. 

Company Profile:

Forward Mena is a non for profit organization aiming to develop the skillset of people from all backgrounds to fulfill the digital jobs of today and tomorrow. It has partnered with the World Bank Group to design and implement the Skilling Up Mashreq (SUM) initiative across Lebanon and with UNICEF to implement the PROSPECTS platform project. It supports the new generation of educational programs in testing and developing their curriculum, sourcing participants and scaling. The BDD Academy is an incubator of educational programs at the intersection of design, technology and leadership targeting Kids, University Students and Continuous Learners