The new unit will improve how African energy and development data are gathered, governed, analysed, visualised and used.
It will build and maintain an online data visualisation platform, develop evidence-based narratives and provide strategic analytical services to grant-making and regranting organisations.
Job Summary
- Employer: African Energy Futures Initiative / African Climate Foundation
- Job Type: Contract
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
- Category: Data Science
- Closing Date: 2026-10-04
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the technical design, development and continuous improvement of the online data platform and visualisation tools.
- Translate user needs into product roadmaps, prototypes, specifications and tested releases.
- Work with Ember to adapt or integrate relevant platform components.
- Design for accessibility, low-bandwidth use, maintainability and multilingual expansion.
- Implement analytics, usage monitoring and user-feedback processes.
- Design scalable data ingestion, transformation, storage, metadata, versioning and publishing pipelines.
- Integrate structured and unstructured data from public, partner and internal sources.
- Implement validation, provenance, reproducibility and access-control standards.
- Maintain technical documentation, source-code repositories, testing processes and backups.
- Identify, prototype and deploy AI applications for data discovery, extraction, classification, cleaning, summarisation, visualisation and research.
- Develop retrieval, search and assisted-analysis tools.
- Evaluate open-source and commercial technology options.
- Establish human-in-the-loop processes to address hallucination, bias, confidentiality, intellectual property and security risks.
- Monitor relevant AI developments and provide practical guidance to ACF and AEF teams.
Requirements
- A degree or equivalent practical experience in computer science, data engineering, information systems, software engineering, computational science or a related field.
- At least 6 years of relevant experience in software, data platforms, data engineering or applied AI.
- Strong proficiency in Python and SQL .
- Experience with APIs, databases and modern web-based data visualisation.
- Practical experience with cloud infrastructure, deployment, version control, testing and secure data workflows.
- Hands-on experience applying large language models or machine-learning tools to organisational use cases.
- Strong English written and verbal communication skills.
How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications or certifications are typically required for an AI & Data Platforms Lead role in Zimbabwe?
Most employers expect a degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or a related field, often at postgraduate level. Certifications in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, plus machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch, strengthen your profile. Practical experience with data engineering and AI deployment is usually valued more than academic credentials alone.
What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of an AI & Data Platforms Lead?
You will oversee the design and maintenance of data infrastructure, manage AI model development pipelines, and ensure data quality and security standards. Daily tasks include collaborating with cross-functional teams, troubleshooting platform issues, and guiding junior data scientists or engineers. Reporting to senior leadership on project progress and platform performance is also common.
How does local work culture in Zimbabwe affect expectations for this role?
Zimbabwean workplaces often emphasize respect for hierarchy and clear communication channels, so building relationships with stakeholders is essential. Flexibility matters as infrastructure challenges like power outages or connectivity issues may require adaptive problem-solving. Punctuality and professionalism are valued, though remote work arrangements are increasingly accepted in the tech sector.
What realistic career progression paths exist for AI & Data Platforms professionals in Zimbabwe?
With strong performance, you can advance to Head of Data or Chief Data Officer roles within organizations, or transition into consultancy and advisory positions. Regional opportunities with African development organizations or international NGOs operating in Zimbabwe are common next steps. Some professionals pivot to founding data-focused startups or joining global remote teams.
What typical benefits should I expect or negotiate for a contract role in Zimbabwe?
Contract roles may not include permanent benefits, but you should negotiate for medical aid contributions, professional development allowances, and paid leave provisions. Some employers offer pension scheme access or gratuity payments upon contract completion. Clarify tax obligations upfront, as contract workers often handle their own PAYE or withholding tax arrangements.
How should I apply and what do Zimbabwean employers look for in this field?
Tailor your CV to highlight measurable project outcomes and technical competencies rather than generic descriptions. Employers prioritize demonstrated experience with real-world data platforms, problem-solving examples, and references from previous supervisors or clients. Networking through local tech communities like ZimTech or attending data science meetups can significantly improve your visibility to hiring managers.
