JOB POSITION FOR KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATIONS LEAD
Job Opportunity: Knowledge and Communications Lead
Organization: YLabs
Department: Marketing and Communications
Position: Knowledge and Communications Lead
Employment Type: Full-Time | 12-Month Contract (Possibility of Extension)
Location: Fully Remote (Sub-Saharan Africa | Preferred Time Zones: GMT+0 to GMT+4)
Salary: $45,000 – $61,818 USD per year (Paid in local currency of permanent location)
Travel: Up to 50% for field sprints and stakeholder alignment
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled (Rolling Basis)
About YLabs
YLabs is a global design and research organization working to improve health and economic opportunities for young people aged 10–24. Founded in 2016 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs operates across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central America. We partner directly with youth to design products and services addressing critical challenges, including sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, mental health, financial inclusion, and climate resilience.
About the Role
YLabs is seeking an experienced, autonomous Knowledge and Communications Lead to drive the strategic narrative and communications for a major multi-year partnership with a global foundation. This initiative focuses on testing innovative approaches to youth programs across Africa.
Working closely with researchers, human-centered designers, and project leads, you will translate complex research and technical concepts into high-quality, clear communication deliverables for diverse audiences, including senior foundation leaders and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Real-Time Distillation & Deliverables
Attend high-level partner calls, capture key insights, and rapidly synthesize discussions into actionable content without extensive re-briefing.
Produce research decks, leadership summaries, quarterly/annual reports, toolkits, briefs, and blog posts under tight timelines.
2. Narrative Ownership & Voice
Own, refine, and evolve the overarching narrative for the multi-year partnership.
Ensure organizational voice and framing remain consistent across all country teams and workstreams.
Train project teams on strategic communication standards and create framing tailored for leadership and partner audiences.
3. Technical Writing & Editorial Judgment
Review, draft, and refine RFPs, experiment design documents, research protocols, and implementation playbooks.
Transform dense internal technical documents into clear, accessible content by establishing logical content architecture.
Apply sharp editorial judgment to determine what information to retain, restructure, clarify, or excise.
4. Systems & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with the Graphic Designer to establish visual templates and a streamlined style guide.
Build and maintain a reusable repository of core language, descriptions, and strategic framing.
Proactively align with researchers, designers, and project leads to ensure all content is timely, accurate, and aligned with project goals.
Required Competencies
Strategic Communication: Deep understanding of how targeted communications advance organizational and funder goals.
Editorial Judgment: Ability to structure, position, and simplify dense content for executive and donor audiences.
Technical Fluency: Comfort reading and interpreting research protocols, experiment designs, and RFPs.
Autonomy & Ownership: Proactive self-starter who anticipates communication needs and manages complex assignments independently.
Collaboration: Talent for working seamlessly across multidisciplinary teams (design, research, and strategy).
JEDI Commitment: Dedication to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring culturally competent communications that elevate youth voices.
Qualifications and Experience
Required
7+ years of professional experience in strategic communications, editorial management, knowledge translation, or technical writing.
3+ years of experience in international development, philanthropy, or the social impact sector.
Proven track record of translating complex research or program models into executive-level materials.
A portfolio showcasing work across reports, decks, briefs, blogs, and at least one technical or research-based document.
Exceptional written English skills with the ability to turn around polished materials rapidly.
Demonstrated experience establishing brand/program voice across diverse product suites.
High adaptability and comfort navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities.
Preferred (Nice to Have)
Prior experience communicating directly with foundation or institutional funder audiences.
Familiarity with design research, human-centered design (HCD), or lean experimentation methodologies.
Hands-on experience writing or evaluating RFPs and grant proposals.
Experience living and working within Sub-Saharan Africa (East Africa location strongly preferred).
Location and Work Arrangement
Remote Status: 100% remote within Sub-Saharan Africa (candidates based in East Africa or within GMT+0 to GMT+4 time zones are preferred).
Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% for field sprints, user research, and stakeholder alignment meetings across the region.
How to Apply
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. The expected start date is as soon as possible.
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. All applications are treated confidentially in accordance with EEO guidelines. Offers of employment are conditional upon the satisfactory completion of background and criminal record clearances.
