We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team in the capacity of [Job Title], where you will play a pivotal role in [core function or department]. Your primary responsibilities will include [key responsibility 1], [key responsibility 2], and [key responsibility 3], with a strong emphasis on delivering measurable results in [specific area or goal]. To excel in this position, you must possess [required skill or qualification 1], [required skill or qualification 2], and [required skill or qualification 3], along with [X years] of relevant experience in [industry or field]. Additionally, your expertise in [specific tool, software, or methodology] will be essential to your success in this role. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to [specific collaboration goal], ensuring alignment with organizational objectives while contributing to innovative solutions. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are critical, as you will be tasked with [specific challenge or task]. If you are a proactive professional who thrives in a dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity to drive impactful outcomes within our organization.
This role represents an entry to mid-level research opportunity on DAKOTA’s Customer Intelligence (CI) team. Serving as a CI Research Associate, you will contribute to comprehensive UX and product research initiatives, overseeing each phase from study design to insight dissemination while collaborating closely with senior researchers and cross-functional partners. You will engage in authentic research, evaluating tangible products for real customers whose financial well-being hinges on seamless, functional experiences.
This hybrid position requires on-site work at our Kenya offices while collaborating with a multicultural team spanning our operations in the UK, Europe, and Africa. You will report directly to the Research Operations Lead.
This position stands out due to its unique blend of responsibilities and opportunities for professional growth. Unlike conventional roles, it demands a dynamic skill set that combines technical expertise with strategic leadership, ensuring the successful candidate can drive innovation while maintaining operational excellence. The ideal individual will possess a proven track record in [specific industry or field], along with the ability to navigate complex challenges with adaptability and foresight. Additionally, this role requires a commitment to fostering collaboration across teams, as well as a dedication to continuous improvement in processes and outcomes.
In this role, research associates engage with groundbreaking products designed for first-time smartphone users, first-time borrowers, and first-time digital finance customers spanning five markets. The challenges presented by these research problems are intricate, the impact is immediate, and the team demonstrates an unwavering commitment to excellence. Unlike conventional support-oriented research positions, this opportunity offers meaningful involvement in innovative initiatives.
What You’ll be doing
Convene and facilitate moderated usability tests, semi-structured interviews, and surveys, overseeing fieldwork logistics comprehensively for both remote and in-person sessions while ensuring that all sessions are configured to yield high-quality data from the outset.
Leveraging established frameworks, you will encode and synthesize qualitative data to generate affinity maps, comprehensive insight lists, and well-structured reports. These deliverables will distill complex findings into concise, actionable insights specifically tailored for your team and stakeholders.
Contributing to collaborative research processes, identifying ambiguities in project briefs, and leveraging AI-powered tools such as Claude and Notion AI—while exercising discernment to determine when human oversight is necessary—are key responsibilities of this role.
What You’ll bring
Demonstrable expertise in UX research methodologies is required, encompassing moderated usability testing, semi-structured interviewing, and survey design, along with a strategic understanding of selecting and applying the most appropriate methods for specific research objectives.
Demonstrates a strong aptitude for analyzing qualitative data, including systematic coding of responses, discerning recurring patterns, and creating structured synthesis deliverables such as affinity maps and insight lists.
Possesses a solid understanding of DAKOTA’s markets or the broader landscape of first-time digital financial services users, coupled with a keen interest in the usability challenges inherent to this domain.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
