The Global Designing Cities Initiative transforms urban streets worldwide to prioritize safety, accessibility, and sustainability for all users.The Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI) is an international program dedicated to reimagining streets as safe, healthy, and equitable public spaces.Founded in 2014

Responsibilities or duties

The Program Manager will work closely with local stakeholders in select African cities alongside the full global GDCI team, reporting directly to the Regional Program Lead, and work very closely with the Regional Design Lead. This role will lead technical assistance in up to three cities in the Africa region. You will be expected to develop strong relationships with city staff, ensure the technical accuracy of street design recommendations, develop visual and written content, organize capacity-building sessions, and represent GDCI in external regional forums.

Program and Project Management

• Manage and oversee city-level technical assistance projects in alignment with global road safety goals.
• Manage budgets and resources associated with program delivery in select countries
• Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, reporting, and internal communications with senior staff and funders.
• Understand, manage, and foster relationships with various stakeholders, including city officials, government agencies, local embedded staff, and vendors to secure project buy-in and permits.
• Represent GDCI in stakeholder engagements and ensure timely follow-up, tracking project budgets and consultant contracts.

Technical Assistance and Content Development

• In close coordination with relevant GDCI staff, oversee and review the development process and drafts of technical drawings, designs, and visual materials using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Support on-site analysis, street transformation implementation, data collection (e.g., observational studies), and post-implementation metrics collection for project impact evaluation.
• Research and interpret local, national, or international design codes to identify opportunities for street safety improvements.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize, facilitate, and manage workshops, trainings, and briefings based on GDCI’s technical resources (e.g., Global Street Design Guide, Streets for Kids).
• Adapt global best practices to the local African context in close coordination with regional partners.

Staff Supervision and Administrative Ownership

• Own time management, work plans, and prioritization of technical assistance work with minimal supervision.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the growth of GDCI staff and manage consultants assigned to the region.
• Support the preparation of contracts, funder reports, and filing all project documents in adherence to internal processes.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• GDCI does not have minimum requirements for education or professional experience.
• We look for diversity in relevant and differing experiences and professional backgrounds.
• Generally, we expect that employees will have the following baseline experience for a Manager:
• Six years of relevant professional experience; OR
• Four years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate degree; OR
• Two years of relevant professional experience with a master's degree
• Candidates must have working proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Slack
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, or SketchUp is preferred. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign may be needed for specific projects.

Experience needed

Six years of relevant professional experience; OR

Four years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate degree; OR

Two years of relevant professional experience with a master's degree

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Working Conditions, Physical Requirements

This role is performed remotely within the country of hire, at an average of 40 hours a week.

There may be routine expectations of participation in non-standard work hours (i.e., 9:30 - 17:30 local time).

This role may require frequent travel throughout the year. Not to exceed more than two weeks at a time.

• Manage and oversee city-level technical assistance projects in alignment with global road safety goals.
• Manage budgets and resources associated with program delivery in select countries
• Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, reporting, and internal communications with senior staff and funders.
• Understand, manage, and foster relationships with various stakeholders, including city officials, government agencies, local embedded staff, and vendors to secure project buy-in and permits.
• Represent GDCI in stakeholder engagements and ensure timely follow-up, tracking project budgets and consultant contracts.
• In close coordination with relevant GDCI staff, oversee and review the development process and drafts of technical drawings, designs, and visual materials using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Support on-site analysis, street transformation implementation, data collection (e.g., observational studies), and post-implementation metrics collection for project impact evaluation.
• Research and interpret local, national, or international design codes to identify opportunities for street safety improvements.
• Organize, facilitate, and manage workshops, trainings, and briefings based on GDCI’s technical resources (e.g., Global Street Design Guide, Streets for Kids).
• Adapt global best practices to the local African context in close coordination with regional partners.
• Own time management, work plans, and prioritization of technical assistance work with minimal supervision.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the growth of GDCI staff and manage consultants assigned to the region.
• Support the preparation of contracts, funder reports, and filing all project documents in adherence to internal processes.

• Working proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Slack
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, or SketchUp is preferred.
• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign may be needed for specific projects.

• GDCI does not have minimum requirements for education or professional experience.
• We look for diversity in relevant and differing experiences and professional backgrounds.