Mid-Level Product and Service Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Mid-Level Product and Service Designer

Company: Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product & Service Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-01

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation and enhancement of user-centered products and services to improve opportunities for young people and employers within a purpose-driven organization.

• Translate user insights and business requirements into practical, visually compelling design solutions that directly support Harambee’s mission.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including analysts and developers, to ensure seamless integration of design into product development lifecycles.

• Utilize human-centered design methodologies and iterative processes to test and refine designs, ensuring optimal user experience and impact.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of design standards and systems, fostering consistency and quality across all design artifacts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within an organization focused on social impact through youth employment, indicating a strong emphasis on user empathy and measurable outcomes. The "Product and Service Designer" title, combined with responsibilities like improving products/services for stakeholders and designing solutions to increase access to opportunities, strongly suggests a domain that intersects with operations by requiring a deep understanding of user journeys, system interactions, and the impact of design on operational efficiency and user adoption. The emphasis on "data-driven solutions" and "tracking design success through metrics" further solidifies its operational relevance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough user research, engaging directly with young people and employers to gather critical insights that inform product and service design decisions.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define, refine, and document product and service requirements, ensuring alignment with Harambee’s strategic objectives.

• Design comprehensive user journeys, personas, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to visualize and communicate design concepts effectively.

• Implement iterative design processes, rigorously testing and refining designs based on user feedback and performance metrics to achieve desired outcomes.

• Partner closely with data analysts and developers to translate complex requirements into practical, implementable design solutions, facilitating smooth handoffs and collaborations.

• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of design standards, style guides, and design systems to ensure consistent brand representation and user experience.

• Provide support and design contributions to senior designers on larger, more complex initiatives, learning and growing from their expertise.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, tools, and best practices, particularly those that can enhance efficiency and impact within an operations context.

• Synthesize research findings and performance data into actionable design recommendations and continuous improvement plans for existing products and services.

• Plan, execute, and take ownership of assigned design tasks, ensuring timely delivery and accountability within project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a role that bridges creative design with operational execution. Responsibilities like "collaborate to define and refine product and service requirements," "understand relevant tools and systems to inform practical design solutions," "synthesize research and data into actionable design artefacts," and "track design success through metrics and iterate to improve outcomes" are all core to operations-focused design roles. The emphasis on improving services for "young people and employers" and increasing "access to opportunities" highlights the critical role of this design function in operationalizing the organization's mission.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A recognized tertiary qualification in Design, User Experience (UX), Informatics, Web Design, Product Design, Visual Design, Multimedia, or a closely related field.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of progressive work experience in an agile product design environment, with a demonstrated track record of creating a diverse range of design artifacts and delivering high-quality solutions.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in human-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Strong proficiency in iterative design processes and problem-solving techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to develop comprehensive user personas and detailed user journey maps.

• Skilled in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to convey design intent.

• Advanced proficiency with design tools such as Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Experience utilizing collaboration and ideation tools like Miro for team brainstorming and stakeholder engagement.

• Solid understanding and application of design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Proven track record of exceptional quality delivery in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong cross-team collaboration and communication skills, essential for working with diverse stakeholders.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their application in design workflows.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Canva, including the creation and maintenance of templates for broader organizational use.

• Exposure to analytics and reporting tools like Looker, Looker Studio, and Power BI for data-informed design decisions.

• Familiarity with marketing and communication platforms such as HubSpot and SendGrid, for understanding integrated user journeys.

• Experience with Content Management Systems (CMSs) and website builders like Webflow.

• Understanding of React-based web applications, facilitating better collaboration with front-end development teams.

• Exposure to operational platforms, such as call centre management tools (e.g., Genesys), for a holistic view of service delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Haves" emphasize core design skills and agile experience, while the "Nice To Haves" highlight tools and contexts that are highly relevant to operational efficiency and broader GTM strategies. Proficiency in tools like Looker Studio and HubSpot, for instance, directly relates to understanding and improving operational metrics and marketing-driven outreach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3 years of product and service design work, with a clear emphasis on human-centered design and iterative problem-solving.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the entire design process, from initial research and ideation through to final high-fidelity prototypes and successful implementation.

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, personas, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your ability to translate complex requirements into user-friendly experiences.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (developers, analysts, product managers) and how you managed stakeholder feedback and iterations.

• Demonstrations of how you have contributed to improving user journeys and increasing access to opportunities, aligning with Harambee’s mission.

Process Documentation:

• A clear articulation of your design process, detailing how you approach user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Examples of how you have synthesized research and data into actionable design artefacts and strategic recommendations.

• Documentation highlighting how you have contributed to maintaining and enhancing existing products and services, including any metrics-driven improvements.

• Evidence of your ability to plan and take ownership of design tasks, managing delivery and staying accountable for progress within project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on impact and operationalizing a mission, the portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just design skill but also the ability to translate those skills into tangible improvements for users and the organization. The emphasis on "operational platforms" and "analytics tools" in the "Nice to Haves" implies that a portfolio showcasing experience with data-informed design and system integration would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Level Product and Service Designer in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 3+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is ZAR 450,000 - ZAR 650,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Johannesburg, the required experience level, and the specialized skills in human-centered design and relevant tools.

Benefits:

• Professional Growth: Opportunities to continuously develop your design craft alongside experienced professionals in a supportive, learning-focused environment.

• Impactful Work: Direct contribution to a mission-driven organization that empowers young people with learning and earning opportunities.

• Collaborative Environment: Work with passionate, purpose-driven teams dedicated to solving complex social challenges together.

• Inclusive Workplace: Be part of an organization committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and can contribute their best work.

• Meaningful Purpose: Engage in work that creates significant, long-term positive change in South Africa.

• Accessibility Support: Commitment to providing an accessible and supportive recruitment process for individuals with disabilities.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. While standard office hours are expected, the hybrid work arrangement offers some flexibility in managing work-life balance, allowing for focused work and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on general South African market data for this role and experience level. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's qualifications, interview performance, and Harambee's internal compensation structure. The provided benefits align with the company's emphasis on growth, purpose, and inclusivity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Social Impact & Youth Employment Accelerator. Harambee operates within the unique intersection of non-profit, technology, and workforce development sectors, aiming to tackle South Africa's high youth unemployment rates through innovative, data-driven partnerships.

Company Size: Harambee is a significant non-profit organization, likely employing hundreds of individuals across various functions, indicating a structured yet dynamic operational environment. This size suggests opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and potential for career advancement.

Founded: Founded in 2010, Harambee has established a robust track record and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the youth employment landscape in South Africa. This history signifies stability and a proven model for impact.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates as a core functional unit, potentially part of a larger Product, Technology, or Innovation department.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a Head of Design or Senior Design Lead, with mid-level designers working both independently and in support of senior team members.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Solutions: A core operational principle, where insights from data analytics inform strategy, product development, and service delivery.

• Human-Centered Design: Emphasizing understanding and addressing the needs of young people and employers as central to all design and operational efforts.

• Partnership Models: Collaborative approaches with government, private sector companies, and other NGOs to scale impact and create opportunities.

• Agile Project Management: Utilizing agile frameworks to manage projects, enabling flexibility, rapid iteration, and continuous improvement in design and operational processes.

Company Website: https://harambee.co.za/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Harambee's mission-driven nature is crucial. The "operations" aspect of this role is heavily influenced by the social impact goal, meaning design decisions must balance user needs with organizational capacity, scalability, and measurable outcomes for youth employment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Mid-Level," signifying a transition from foundational design execution to taking more ownership of specific design tasks and contributing strategically to projects. It involves applying established design methodologies while beginning to influence design decisions and collaborate more independently with stakeholders. The role is expected to contribute to the operationalization of design solutions.

Reporting Structure: The Mid-Level Product and Service Designer will likely report to a Senior Product Designer, Lead Designer, or Head of Design. This reporting line will provide mentorship, guidance on larger initiatives, and performance feedback, fostering professional development within the operations and design context.

Operations Impact: The design work directly impacts Harambee's ability to effectively connect young people with learning and earning opportunities. By improving user experiences for both job seekers and employers, this role contributes to increased program participation, successful placements, and ultimately, the organization's overall mission success and operational efficiency. Design decisions can influence engagement rates, conversion rates, and the overall effectiveness of Harambee's service delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of product or service design, potentially focusing on user research, interaction design, or service blueprinting.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop skills in leading design aspects of projects, managing stakeholder expectations, and influencing product strategy through design thinking.

• Mentorship: Gain experience from senior designers, potentially evolving into a mentor role for junior designers or interns as experience grows.

• Impact Measurement: Learn to effectively track and report on the impact of design interventions using data and metrics, a key skill for operations roles.

• Strategic Contribution: Contribute to the evolution of Harambee’s product and service offerings, playing a role in shaping future initiatives and operational improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role serves as a critical bridge between creative design and operational execution. Growth here involves not just mastering design tools but understanding how design integrates with broader organizational goals, data analysis, and stakeholder management—all hallmarks of successful operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Harambee operates with a hybrid work model. This typically involves a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work, allowing for focused individual work while maintaining team cohesion and leveraging in-person interactions for brainstorming and key decision-making.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. This urban center provides access to a diverse talent pool and is a hub for many of Harambee's partner organizations and the young people they serve.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially co-working spaces conducive to team discussions and cross-functional workshops.

• Technology Enabled: Access to necessary design software, hardware, and communication tools is standard, supporting both remote and in-office work. This includes access to the company’s technology stack for research and development.

• Mission-Oriented Atmosphere: The workspace is imbued with a sense of purpose, as teams are united by the shared goal of addressing youth unemployment, fostering a culture of dedication and mutual support.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing individuals to structure their week to balance focused design work, team meetings, and personal commitments, while ensuring availability for critical collaborative sessions and stakeholder engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is key. For operations-focused design roles, this means candidates must be adept at managing their time effectively, utilizing digital collaboration tools, and ensuring clear communication across different working modalities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess foundational qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Design Challenge/Task: You may be asked to complete a practical design exercise or case study, either pre-interview or during an interview stage, to evaluate your problem-solving approach, design skills, and ability to apply human-centered methodologies in a relevant context. This often simulates real-world operational challenges.

• Interview Panel: Typically includes the hiring manager (e.g., Head of Design), senior designers, and potentially representatives from cross-functional teams (e.g., product management, data analytics) to assess technical skills, collaborative fit, and understanding of operational impact.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, walk through key case studies, and discuss your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. This is a critical opportunity to demonstrate your operations thinking.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss cultural fit, long-term potential, and alignment with Harambee's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your process, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact of your design solutions. Quantify results where possible.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, emphasize the depth of your thinking, user research, iteration, and how you leveraged data and feedback to arrive at your final design. This demonstrates operational rigor.

• Tailor to Harambee: Highlight projects that align with Harambee's mission of youth employment, access to opportunities, or improving user experiences within a social impact context.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples that show how you worked with developers, analysts, or other stakeholders, highlighting your communication and teamwork skills.

• Highlight Tool Proficiency: Explicitly mention and showcase your expertise with tools like Figma, Miro, and any preferred AI-supported workflows.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Harambee's mission, target users (young people, employers), and the challenges of youth unemployment in South Africa.

• Focus on Problem-Solving: Be prepared to articulate your approach to understanding a problem, exploring solutions, and iterating based on feedback and constraints.

• Emphasize User-Centricity: Constantly bring the focus back to the user's needs and how your design solutions address them effectively.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your design decisions, rationale, and process concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only design skills but also an understanding of operational constraints, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to contribute to a mission-focused organization. A strong portfolio demonstrating these aspects will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and building design systems. Proficiency is expected for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Miro: Critical for team collaboration, brainstorming, user journey mapping, wireframing, and stakeholder workshops. Expected to be used extensively for ideation and process visualization.

• AI-supported Workflows: Familiarity with integrating AI tools for design, ideation, and streamlining collaboration and handoff processes is becoming increasingly important.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Looker/Looker Studio: Preferred tools for data analysis and dashboard creation. Understanding how to interpret data from these platforms to inform design decisions and measure impact is highly beneficial.

• Power BI: Another popular business intelligence tool that may be used for reporting and data visualization, relevant for understanding user engagement and operational metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• HubSpot: A comprehensive CRM and marketing automation platform. Exposure to its functionalities can help in understanding the broader customer journey and marketing operations.

• SendGrid: An email delivery and marketing platform. Familiarity is useful for understanding communication workflows and user engagement strategies.

• Webflow: A website builder that allows for design and development integration. Experience here can be valuable for rapid prototyping and website design.

Other Potential Tools:

• Canva: For creating templates and quick visual assets, particularly for internal or less complex external communications.

• Genesys (or similar): Exposure to operational platforms like call centre management tools can provide insights into customer service operations and user support, informing service design.

• React: Basic understanding of React-based web applications can enhance collaboration with front-end developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of analytics and CRM tools (Looker, Power BI, HubSpot) highlights the operational aspect of this design role. Candidates are expected to be data-informed and understand how design integrates with broader marketing and operational systems to achieve measurable outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A core value where all work is oriented towards achieving Harambee's objective of accelerating youth employment. Every design decision is viewed through the lens of its contribution to this mission.

• Human-Centricity: Deep empathy for the young people and employers served, ensuring that user needs, accessibility, and inclusivity are paramount in all processes and outputs.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A commitment to using data and analytics to guide strategy, measure success, and iterate on solutions, ensuring that design efforts are effective and efficient.

• Collaboration and Partnership: Valuing teamwork and strong relationships, both internally across departments and externally with diverse stakeholders, to achieve collective goals.

• Continuous Learning & Innovation: Encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and a proactive approach to staying updated with design best practices, new tools, and innovative solutions to complex problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is not siloed; it's deeply integrated with product management, data analytics, engineering, and employer engagement teams. Collaboration involves active participation in shared workflows and problem-solving sessions.

• Open Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and exchanged openly among team members and across departments, fostering iterative improvement and mutual growth.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, learnings, and best practices across teams to build collective expertise and ensure consistent quality in design and operational execution.

• Agile & Iterative Approach: Embracing flexibility and adaptability in workflows, with a focus on delivering value iteratively and responding effectively to evolving needs and insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize the operational importance of design within a social impact context. Candidates should demonstrate how their design approach aligns with these values, particularly in using data to drive outcomes and collaborating to achieve the organization's mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Operational Constraints: Designing impactful solutions that are also feasible within Harambee's operational capacity, budget, and technological infrastructure. This requires pragmatic design thinking.

• Scaling Impact: Developing design solutions that can effectively serve a large and diverse user base of young people across South Africa, ensuring accessibility and scalability.

• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of design interventions on key organizational metrics (e.g., youth placement rates, employer engagement) and effectively communicating this ROI.

• Navigating a Dynamic Environment: Adapting to the evolving landscape of youth employment, technology, and partner needs within a mission-driven, fast-paced organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Deepening expertise in service design, journey mapping, and complex UX problem-solving within a real-world application.

• Data Analytics Integration: Gaining practical experience in using analytics tools (Looker, Power BI) and data insights to drive design decisions and measure outcomes.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Building: Learning from colleagues in data science, product management, and employer relations to develop a more holistic understanding of the organization's operations.

• Impact Storytelling: Developing strong skills in communicating the value and impact of design work to diverse stakeholders, including leadership and external partners.

• Exposure to Technology Trends: Staying current with AI in design, new platform development, and emerging technologies that can enhance Harambee's service delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights how challenges in this role are directly tied to operational effectiveness and impact measurement, offering significant learning opportunities for career growth in operations-oriented design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used user research and data to significantly improve a product or service. What was your process, and what were the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on data-driven design, iterative process, and ROI articulation).

• "How would you approach designing a service to increase access to learning opportunities for young people with limited digital literacy? Walk us through your initial thoughts and methodology." (Assess human-centered design, problem-solving approach, and understanding of user context).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Harambee's mission, and how do you see your design skills contributing to accelerating youth employment?" (Assess alignment with mission and passion for social impact).

• "How do you approach creating inclusive and accessible digital experiences, and why is this important for an organization like Harambee?" (Evaluate commitment to accessibility and understanding of user diversity).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly state the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, and the impact/results achieved. Use a consistent framework.

• Highlight Operational Impact: Emphasize how your design choices addressed specific user needs, improved operational efficiency, or contributed to achieving key organizational metrics. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Your Process: Demonstrate your iterative approach, how you incorporated feedback, and how you collaborated with others. This shows your operational rigor and teamwork.

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, challenges faced, and how you would handle similar situations in the future. Be prepared to discuss the trade-offs you made.

• Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to speak to your proficiency with Figma, Miro, and any AI-supported workflows you’ve utilized, explaining how these tools facilitated your work and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating an understanding of how design directly supports operational goals, impacts user success, and contributes to the organization's mission. Highlighting data-informed decision-making and collaborative problem-solving will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Mid-Level Product and Service Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Harambee careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience and skills directly relevant to product and service design, human-centered methodologies, agile environments, and proficiency with tools like Figma and Miro. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on impact.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your design process, problem-solving abilities, collaboration skills, and measurable impact. Ensure clear case study narratives that align with Harambee’s mission.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your design decisions, process, and the outcomes achieved. Be ready to discuss how your work contributes to operational goals and user success.

• Research Harambee: Thoroughly understand Harambee’s mission, values, target audience, and the challenges of youth unemployment in South Africa. This will help you articulate your alignment and tailor your responses during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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