Job Title: Program Associate
Date Posted: 23/06/2026
Job Type: Full Time
Employer: Global Designing
Cities Initiative
Industry: Project
Management
Salary: Open
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline: 15/07/2026
What you’ll do
- The Program Associate will report directly to a GDCI Program Manager
and will coordinate closely with other members of the GDCI team
(design, research, communications) to support various projects
within the region by reviewing or producing technical written and
visual content (specifically street designs) and publications.
This role will also support the development and coordination of capacity-building sessions and workshops, and may at times represent GDCI at external meetings, presentations, and events that support GDCI’s projects in select cities in the region.
Example activities for the
GDCI Program Associate may include:
- Supporting City Technical Assistance
- Produce technical drawings and sketches for city street design
projects.
- Review local, regional, and national regulations, codes, and design
guidance documents to identify existing impediments and opportunities
for street design improvements.
- Research and recommend case studies, content, or visual/technical
approaches for projects, publications, or presentations,
incorporating real-world examples (that consider local
African contexts) and global best practices into draft content.
- Summarize and convey complex information in written, verbal, and
visual formats for various purposes, utilizing Adobe Creative Suite,
AutoCAD, SketchUp, or other 2D or 3D software.
- Assist with project documentation, data collection, and
observational studies.
- Set the stage to implement site transformations, support site
analysis, and collect metrics for project impact evaluation.
- Prepare project proposals, reports, and presentations related to
regional projects.
- Capacity Building & Engagement
- Support workshops and training sessions using GDCI and Global Street
Design Guide core materials.
- Support the preparation and delivery of capacity-building efforts
and presentations for local authorities, government staff, or local
partners.
- Help organize community engagement events, including preparing
support materials and handling production/printing
coordination.
- Co-facilitate training and briefings for designers, engineers,
consultants, students, traffic police, journalists, and other local
stakeholders.
- Project Administration & Programmatic Support
- Own the coordination of multiple project demands, working closely
with GDCI Program
- Managers and Regional Leads for priority setting.
- Support the preparation of internal reports, filing all documents in
accordance with prescribed filing conventions and internal
processes.
- Participate and contribute to internal cross-cutting efforts to
improve GDCI’s overall technical
- assistance expertise and internal sharing of knowledge
- Participate in program-related local meetings with city staff as
needed
Who you are
- GDCI is looking for a highly collaborative individual who is
well-organized and passionate about designing streets, and has a
background in transportation, urban design, and planning, with
exceptional street design skills.
- You are comfortable working across countries and teams within GDCI,
partners, and government agencies.
- Given our globally based team and frequent external meetings that
align with varied working hours, this role will require a schedule
that is adjusted to coordinate asynchronously and
synchronously across time zones.
- You are a self-motivated individual who can operate independently,
but recognize when and how to ask for assistance if needed. This role
may occasionally travel to support programmatic work at the
discretion of program managers and available budget resources,
typically not exceeding more than one week at a time.
To be successful in this
job, you will excel in five key areas:
Experience in Urban Design and Mobility:
You
have worked within the transportation or urban design space and can speak
confidently about the role streets play in the livelihood of cities.
- Excellent Communication Skills: You have experience communicating
technical concepts to a diverse audience through verbal, visual, and
written means. You effectively communicate with teammates to clarify
project scopes and provide timely updates on progress.
- Proficiency in Design: You can create site plans, sketches,
sections, and other materials to communicate street design concepts
using AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and other 2D and 3D
visualization software.
- Organized and Accountable: You can work on and stay organized with
multiple projects simultaneously, taking personal ownership of
timelines and team deadlines.
- Values Alignment: Aligned with GDCI’s values of leading with
imagination, striving for positive impact, acting with empathy,
promoting collaboration and accountability, and celebrating diversity
and inclusion.
Baseline Experience
- 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 an Associate:
- Four years of relevant professional experience; OR
- Two years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate
degree; OR No 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. This role also requires proficiency in
technical software including the
- Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with AutoCAD and Sketchup are also
desirable.
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 occasionally travel to support programmatic work at
the discretion of program managers and available budget resources,
not exceeding more than one week at a time.
- Supervision Responsibilities
- May supervise consultants or interns/fellows when available, with
supervisor oversight.
How
to Apply
Deadline
for applications: Applications accepted on a rolling basis—please don’t delay!
Final deadline is July 15, 2026.
Submit applications: Through GDCI’s application portal. If you need support,
please contact careers@gdci.global
- Attachments: Include a cover letter and resume (CV) detailing
relevant work experience.
- Additional attachments demonstrating writing, digital content
creation, and communication skills are encouraged.
