Manager, Pilot Team

Digital Divide Data (DDD) is a mission-driven Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) organisation that delivers high-quality AI/ML data solutions to global clients while creating meaningful employment opportunities for talent from underserved communities. As Manager, Pilot Team, you will sit at the intersection of client engagement and operational excellence — leading the end-to-end delivery of AI/ML annotation pilots, Computer Vision projects, and AV/ADAS data workflows from scoping through to production handover.

This is a high-impact, client-facing role based in Nairobi. You will translate complex client requirements into actionable workflows and annotation frameworks, manage cross-functional delivery teams, and use data-driven insights to continuously raise quality and throughput standards. If you are passionate about AI data operations and thrive in a fast-paced, people-centred environment, this role offers the scope to grow professionally while contributing to a broader social mission.

• Support client discovery sessions to understand dataset needs, workflow rules, and ML objectives, and translate these into annotation guidelines, taxonomies, and quality frameworks.
• Provide clients with regular delivery updates, performance insights, and actionable workflow recommendations throughout the pilot lifecycle.
• Contribute to solution scoping, product demos, proposal inputs, and client clarifications to support business development efforts.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to improve or expand existing client programmes.
• Oversee daily execution of AI/ML, Computer Vision, AV/ADAS, and related data annotation workflows, ensuring delivery against agreed KPIs, SLAs, accuracy targets, throughput benchmarks, and timelines.
• Manage onboarding, calibration sessions, guideline updates, workflow transitions, and production readiness checks.
• Collaborate with Delivery Leads to maintain adequate staffing levels, training coverage, tool readiness, and operational consistency across teams.
• Build and maintain dashboards and reports tracking accuracy, productivity, error trends, latency, and overall programme performance.
• Conduct root-cause analysis for quality issues and partner with QA and Training teams to implement corrective actions and reduce rework.
• Partner cross-functionally with QA, Training, Delivery, Technical Operations, and Business Development teams to support pilot setup, workflow testing, guideline refinement, schema changes, and ontology updates.
• Champion continuous improvement by recommending workflow enhancements based on data trends, client feedback, and team input, including automation opportunities such as pre-labelling and AI-assisted annotation.

• Demonstrate at least 5 years of experience managing AI/ML data annotation, BPO operations, or related data services programmes in a structured delivery environment.
• Translate ambiguous client requirements into clear, structured annotation guidelines, taxonomies, and quality frameworks without supervision.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams — including QA, training, and delivery leads — to meet tight SLAs and quality benchmarks simultaneously.
• Build performance dashboards and conduct root-cause analyses using tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or BI platforms (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, Looker).
• Communicate technical delivery updates, performance data, and workflow recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical client stakeholders.
• Apply knowledge of Computer Vision, NLP annotation, AV/ADAS data pipelines, or related AI/ML data domains to inform delivery decisions.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Data/AI, Business, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrate strong project management discipline — maintaining accurate documentation, process controls, and stakeholder alignment across multiple concurrent workstreams.

DDD offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and aligned to Nairobi market rates for senior data operations management roles. Estimated monthly gross salary ranges between KES 200,000 and KES 350,000. DDD's social mission also means employees work in a values-driven environment with genuine opportunities for professional growth and impact.

• Competitive salary benchmarked to market
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Exposure to global AI/ML clients and cutting-edge data workflows
• Inclusive, mission-driven workplace culture

This role is ideal for a seasoned operations or programme manager with direct experience in AI/ML data annotation or BPO service delivery. You are comfortable owning end-to-end programme performance, engaging clients with confidence, and using data to drive continuous improvement. You lead by example, communicate with clarity, and bring structured thinking to ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

You should NOT apply if you have fewer than 4 years of relevant operations or data programme management experience, have no exposure to AI/ML annotation or BPO workflows, or are looking for a purely technical individual-contributor role with no client or people management responsibilities.

• Visit the Digital Divide Data careers page or the platform where you discovered this listing.
• Prepare an updated CV highlighting your experience managing AI/ML data workflows, delivery KPIs, and client engagement.
• Submit your application with a brief cover letter (no more than one page) explaining why you are the right fit for this role.
• No fees are required at any stage of the recruitment process. If asked to pay for any certificate, assessment, or notarisation, treat this as fraudulent and report it immediately.