Job Title: Applications Analyst & Usability Engineer
About this job
Applications Analyst & Usability Engineer
Our Client Grameen Foundation is a leader in the fight against poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East/North Africa and Latin America and is seeking to recruit an Applications Analyst and Usability Engineer to aid the application development team of Grameen Foundation Uganda to gather specifications and check quality and usability of the applications.
Key to success in this role will be strong customer focus, good communications skills and attention to detail.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Application Analyst & Usability Engineer (AA&UE) will aid in the mobile, web and database application development process at Grameen Foundation’s AppLab Uganda by performing the following functions:
Applications design and specifications gathering, including gathering customer requirements, defining application features, and turning them into technical specifications for use by the development team.
Quality assurance and testing to ensure the highest quality and usability of Applab’s applications and to optimize the user experience. This will involve running pre-release user acceptance tests and sign offs, creating and maintaining test plans for the different Applab applications and systems, reporting and filing bugs, issues or failed tests and signing off releases.
The Engineer will also help to facilitate aspects of the user experience design lifecycle including definition of organizational and user needs, recommending user experience improvements, collaborating with the User Experience Designer, developing and running usability studies, application prototyping and ethnographic research.
REPORTING AND RELATIONSHIPS: The position will report to the Senior Technology Analyst, Grameen Foundation Uganda.
AVAILABILITY:
The AA & UE is expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position will be based in Kampala, Uganda.
This position will need to be flexible to work in local conditions, and be available to work across different time zones. This position will require infrequent travel (10%-20%) within Uganda.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Application Design and Specifications gathering
Gather, understand and relay customer requirements
Define application features
Develop technical specifications and documentation
Quality assurance and application testing
Test and certify all applications prior to introduction to customers
Solicit and collect feedback from staff, partners and other stakeholders to gather improvement requests and feature and content needs for continued app development
Upgrade and modify application designs as dictated by user preferences and feedback
Develop and maintain application test plans
Report and file any failed tests and discovered bugs
Usability and user experience design
Understand and articulate end user, partner and organizational needs through personas, scenarios and requirements documents in collaboration with the User Experience Designer (UXD)
Assist in the conducting of regular user experience reviews of mobile and web applications and identify and describe opportunities to improve the systems to better meet user needs
Support the UXD in creating user interface design illustrations and specifications for new features or design improvements
Run application prototyping exercises, usability studies and ethnographic research
Plan, execute and analyze usability testing activities
Application reporting and analysis
Provide regular updates on application usage and user feedback
Assist in the delivery of monthly application scorecard reflecting performance, feedback, learning, challenges and other relevant details about each application
Assist in the implementation of internal quality controls on design and applications.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Abide by and perform to the best of his abilities all functions, duties and responsibilities to be assigned by the ORGANISATION in due course;
Comply with the orders and instructions given from time to time by the ORGANISATION through its authorized representatives;
Shall not disclose any confidential information in respect of the affairs of the ORGANISATION to any unauthorized person;
Perform any other administrative or non-administrative duties as assigned by any representative of the ORGANISATION from time to time either through direct written order or by oral assignment.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission
Strong customer focus and communication skills, both verbal and written
Strong attention to detail and ability to assure high quality of deliverables and processes
Experience with technical and database design processes and tools
Good project management skills and experience and the ability to manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously
Understanding of the user centered design process, usability evaluation techniques and methodologies
Extreme attention to detail preferably with experience in mobile phone application design and/or development
Understanding of GSM and telecommunication technologies including SMS, USSD, various mobile phone platforms, operating systems and their capabilities
Working knowledge of the software development processes, and various technologies including latest web technologies, general knowledge of programming languages, algorithms, source control and common software development tools
Belief in the potential to leverage information and communication technology (ICTs) for the benefit of small holder farmers –with practical experience.
Fluent in oral and written English
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in IT, Software Development, Engineering, Usability Engineering, User Experience Engineering, or related field.
At least 2 years of relevant professional experience including quantitative analysis responsibilities and quality assurance experience
Experience in information and communication technology (ICTs) preferred
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds.
Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT:
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
How to apply
Please follow the instructions as stated below as failure to do so could lead to disqualification.
Write an Application letter and CV/Resume.
Merge these two documents into one document in either MS Word or PDF format.
Do not attach or send any scanned documents. These are sometimes too large for our inbox.
Include the job title and/or reference number in the subject line of the email address and send your application by email to grameenjobs@nftconsult.com
Only successful candidates will be contacted. For all other inquiries please contact our offices directly.
Deadline: 7 June 2013