About Company
CapeNature is a public institution responsible for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape. We manage an extensive network of nature reserves and protected areas, conduct scientific research, and promote environmental education and responsible tourism. Our mission is to conserve nature for a sustainable future, ensuring that the rich natural heritage of the Western Cape is protected and appreciated by all. We are committed to fostering a culture of innovation and leveraging digital solutions to enhance our outreach, visitor experiences, and conservation efforts. Joining CapeNature means contributing to a cause greater than oneself, working in an environment that values impact, sustainability, and thoughtful design.
Job Description
Are you a passionate and user-centered UX Designer looking for a role that combines your design expertise with a meaningful mission? CapeNature is seeking a talented UX Designer to join our evolving digital team. In this flexible-time role, you will be instrumental in shaping the user experience of our various digital platforms, including our public website, online booking systems for reserves, and internal conservation management tools. Your work will directly impact how visitors engage with our natural heritage, how conservationists manage vital data, and how the public connects with our mission. This position offers the unique opportunity to work on projects that blend environmental awareness, eco-tourism, and cutting-edge digital interaction.
We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer a flexible work environment that includes a hybrid model, allowing you to balance remote work with collaborative sessions at our regional Beaufort West presence or other accessible CapeNature sites. You will be responsible for conducting user research, translating insights into intuitive designs, creating wireframes and prototypes, and performing usability testing to ensure our digital products are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional and user-friendly. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver with a strong portfolio showcasing a deep understanding of user psychology, information architecture, and interaction design. You will champion the user throughout the design process, advocating for elegant solutions that meet both user needs and business objectives. Your contributions will be vital in ensuring our digital platforms reflect the natural beauty and accessible information CapeNature strives to provide.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive user research (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) to understand user needs, behaviours, and motivations across various digital platforms.
- Translate user research findings and business requirements into intuitive and engaging user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
- Design and iterate on user interfaces, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and adherence to brand guidelines.
- Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, content creators, and other stakeholders to define design requirements and deliver exceptional user experiences.
- Facilitate design thinking workshops and brainstorming sessions to foster innovative solutions.
- Develop and maintain design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and efficiency across all digital products.
- Perform usability testing and gather feedback to continuously improve existing designs and validate new features.
- Stay abreast of the latest UX/UI trends, tools, and best practices to inform design decisions.
- Advocate for the user throughout the product development lifecycle and present design concepts and rationale to stakeholders.
Required Skills
- Proven experience as a UX Designer or similar role with a strong portfolio demonstrating user-centered design solutions.
- Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar.
- Solid understanding of user research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Expertise in creating wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows, and sitemaps.
- Strong knowledge of information architecture, interaction design principles, and usability best practices.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to articulate design decisions effectively.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, flexible environment.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and their application in design.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Experience working in conservation, tourism, or a non-profit sector.
- Familiarity with front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to understand technical constraints and possibilities.
- Experience with agile development methodologies.
- Proficiency in Afrikaans or Xhosa.
Perks & Benefits
- Flexible working hours and a hybrid work model.
- Opportunity to contribute to meaningful conservation efforts.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
- Generous leave policy.
- Pension fund contributions.
- Access to stunning nature reserves and conservation areas.
- Collaborative and supportive team environment.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the CapeNature careers page. Please review our current vacancies for a direct application link. If a specific UX Designer role is not immediately visible, you may submit your CV and a comprehensive portfolio demonstrating your design process and impact through the general application methods provided on the careers portal. Ensure your application highlights your experience in user-centered design and your passion for our mission. Click on the link below to apply.