Career Position for Operations Specialist
Job Opportunity: Operations Specialist
Organization: YLabs
Department: Operations & Finance
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Remote (Based anywhere in Africa)
Experience Level: Mid-Level
Start Date: October 2026
Salary: USD 17,000 – USD 26,000 per year (Paid in the local currency of your permanent work location, based on experience)
About YLabs
YLabs is a global design and research organization focused on designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services.
Our multidisciplinary team works across youth-driven design, adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioral science, and epidemiology. To date, YLabs has worked across 18 countries with a core focus on health and wellness, economic opportunity, and climate resilience.
About the Role
YLabs is seeking an independent and people-centered Operations Specialist to support our People Operations function. In this role, you will manage day-to-day people operations, recruitment, onboarding/offboarding, HRIS administration, systems access, vendors, equipment, and overall employee experience.
This role is ideal for an Operations Specialist, Senior Operations Associate, or People Operations professional looking to take the next step in their career within a growing, high-impact global team.
Key Responsibilities
People Operations
Manage onboarding and offboarding processes, employee requests, benefits administration, personnel records, and day-to-day people operations activities.
Continuously identify opportunities to make employee workflows simpler, faster, and more responsive.
Recruitment
Execute recruitment processes for individual contributor and coordinator-level positions.
Support sourcing, screening, interview coordination, candidate communication, and offer processes.
Ensure all candidates experience a positive, professional recruitment journey.
Systems Development & Operational Systems
Identify operational gaps and build scalable, practical solutions.
Improve onboarding frameworks, equipment management, staff request workflows, and HRIS practices.
Manage Google Workspace, software access, vendor relationships, contracts, documentation, and compliance records.
Operations Management & Execution
Take end-to-end ownership of operational problems and initiatives from inception to completion.
Make informed decisions within assigned responsibilities and escalate complex issues appropriately.
Employee Experience & Team Connection
Build meaningful relationships across YLabs’ distributed, multi-country team.
Support staff wellness, team connection, and employee engagement initiatives.
Organize team events and the annual retreat; leverage feedback and pulse survey data to drive continuous improvements.
Strategic Team Collaboration
Work closely with the Deputy Director, People Operations to translate strategic priorities into practical execution.
Contribute proactively to the ongoing evolution and development of the People Operations function.
Candidate Profile
Qualifications and Requirements
Experience: 3–6 years of professional experience in operations, people operations, HR, administration, or a related field.
Sector Background: Prior experience in an NGO, research institute, social impact organization, or distributed/multi-country team is an advantage.
Execution & Organization: Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver consistently.
Problem-Solving Mindset: A systems-building approach with a knack for identifying gaps and refining inefficient processes.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills: High emotional intelligence, people-centered judgment, discretion, and strong written and verbal communication.
Recruitment Capabilities: Direct experience supporting or managing recruitment logistics (sourcing, screening, interviews, candidate communications, and offers).
Autonomy: Ability to work independently, take initiative, and exercise sound judgment.
Desirable Experience
Supporting distributed, multi-country teams across time zones.
Managing external vendor contracts and relationships.
Direct experience using HRIS platforms (e.g., BambooHR).
Thriving in a growing organization where systems and processes are actively evolving.
What Success Looks Like at YLabs
We are looking for someone who:
Balances multi-tasking with high-quality execution and attention to detail.
Genuine cares about enhancing the daily working experience of their colleagues.
Enjoys building systems and troubleshooting broken processes.
Views operations as a powerful tool to enable people and organizations to thrive.
Takes complete ownership, closes open loops, and delivers results.
Employment Details & Requirements
Work Arrangement: Full-time, fully remote within Africa.
Travel: Occasional travel may be required for in-person meetings or team off-sites (100% reimbursed by YLabs).
Background Checks: All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of background checks and criminal record clearances.
Equal Opportunity: YLabs is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Prompt application is encouraged.
To submit your application, please visit the official YLabs Careers Portal and complete the online application form.
