YLabs is hiring an Operations Specialist for a full-time, remote position that can be based anywhere in Africa. The opportunity is aimed at mid-level professionals with experience in operations, people operations, human resources, administration or related fields.
The successful candidate will join YLabs’ People Operations team and help build and manage the systems that enable a distributed organisation to operate effectively. The role covers people operations, recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, HRIS administration, systems access, vendors, equipment and employee experience.
The position offers an annual salary of $17,000 to $26,000, depending on experience. YLabs states that salaries are paid in the local currency of the employee’s permanent work location. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
YLabs Operations Specialist Job Overview
YLabs is a global design and research organisation focused on creating technologies that increase youth power, agency and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, the organisation works with young people to co-create digital products and services.
The organisation’s multidisciplinary work covers areas including youth-driven design, adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioural science and epidemiology. YLabs is based in Rwanda and the United States and has worked across 18 countries.
Key details of the vacancy include:
- Position: Operations Specialist
- Department: Operations & Finance
- Employment: Full-time
- Work arrangement: Remote
- Location: Anywhere in Africa
- Experience level: Mid-level
- Experience required: 3–6 years
- Salary: $17,000–$26,000 per year
- Anticipated start: October
- Application deadline: Rolling until filled
- Travel: Occasional travel may be required and is fully reimbursed
Responsibilities of the Operations Specialist
The Operations Specialist will play a hands-on role in running YLabs’ People Operations activities.
The successful candidate will manage day-to-day employee operations, including onboarding, offboarding, employee requests, benefits administration and personnel records. The role also involves identifying ways to make employee processes more efficient and responsive.
Recruitment will be another important responsibility. The Operations Specialist will manage recruitment execution for individual-contributor and coordinator-level positions, including sourcing, screening, interview coordination, candidate communication and offer logistics.
The position also requires a strong systems-building approach. The successful candidate will identify operational gaps and develop practical processes and tools to address them. This could include improving onboarding, equipment management, staff-request workflows and HRIS practices.
The role involves working with Google Workspace and other software systems, equipment and supplies, vendors, contracts, documentation and compliance records.
Employee Experience and People Operations
YLabs is seeking someone who can contribute to a positive employee experience across its distributed team.
The Operations Specialist will build relationships across the organisation, support staff wellness and connection, organise team events and the annual retreat, and use feedback and pulse survey data to identify areas for improvement.
The role will also involve close collaboration with the Deputy Director, People Operations. The Operations Specialist will help turn People Operations priorities into practical actions while identifying emerging issues and opportunities.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates should have 3–6 years of experience in operations, people operations, HR, administration or a related field.
Experience working in an NGO, research institute, social impact organisation or distributed/multi-country organisation is considered an advantage.
YLabs is particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate strong execution skills and can manage multiple priorities while taking responsibility for completing tasks.
Applicants should also have a builder’s mindset. This means being comfortable identifying gaps, asking questions and creating or improving systems rather than simply following existing procedures.
People-centred judgment is also important. Candidates should be able to build strong relationships, communicate thoughtfully and handle sensitive or difficult situations with discretion and empathy.
Recruitment experience is required, including experience with activities such as sourcing, screening, interview coordination, candidate communication and offer logistics.
Desirable Skills and Experience
Several additional experiences can strengthen an application.
YLabs lists the following as desirable:
- Experience supporting distributed or multi-country teams
- Vendor or contract management experience
- Experience with an HRIS such as BambooHR
- Experience working in a growing organisation where processes are still being developed
Strong written and verbal communication, curiosity, initiative and independent judgment are also important for the position.
Remote Work and Salary
The Operations Specialist position is remote and can be based anywhere in Africa. YLabs notes that occasional travel may be necessary for in-person meetings or off-sites, with the organisation fully reimbursing this travel.
The annual salary range is $17,000–$26,000, depending on experience. YLabs explains that the range is regionally benchmarked for a P3 mid-level position in its Africa operations and that full-time employees are paid in the local currency of their permanent work location.
How to Apply
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, so interested candidates should consider applying early.
Applicants should ensure their CV and application demonstrate relevant operations or People Operations experience, recruitment experience, ability to manage multiple priorities and experience building or improving organisational systems.
YLabs states that candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements will be contacted regarding the next stages of the recruitment process. Employment offers are conditional on satisfactory background checks and criminal record clearances.
Apply for the YLabs Operations Specialist Job
The YLabs Operations Specialist role provides an opportunity for an experienced operations or People Operations professional to work remotely from anywhere in Africa while contributing to the development of systems within a growing global organisation.
Professionals with 3–6 years of relevant experience, strong execution abilities, recruitment experience and a people-centred approach can review the vacancy and submit an application through the YLabs careers portal.
Position: Operations Specialist
Location: Remote, anywhere in Africa
Salary: $17,000–$26,000 per year
Employment: Full-time
Application deadline: Rolling until filled
