Graphic Design Technical Mentor

ALX Africa; Remote; ZAR 50 000 - 200 000; Part time

Job summary

A leading educational non-profit in South Africa is seeking a Technical Mentor for their Graphic Design vertical. This fully remote role involves guiding learners through essential design concepts and helping them build industry-ready portfolios. The ideal candidate has 2-4 years of relevant experience and a passion for teaching. Applicants should be adept with tools like Canva and Adobe Suite while fostering a collaborative environment. Emotional intelligence and effective communication skills are key for success in this role.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Supportive community

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 2-4 years experience as a graphic designer or visual communication designer.
• Confident in at least one professional design tool.
• Experience mentoring early-stage designers.

Responsibilities

• Guide learners through a 16-week Graphic Design course.
• Facilitate live sessions on design principles.
• Provide structured feedback on projects and activities.

Skills

Graphic design expertise

Strong communication

Mentoring

Cultural storytelling

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Canva

Figma

Job description

Do you have hands-on experience building & launching visual campaigns from scratch? Are you excited to help emerging African creatives master storytelling while equipping them with the technical and strategic skills to succeed in the creator economy?

If you thrive in fully remote, learner-first environments and care deeply about helping African designers grow through real-world projects and meaningful community engagement, this role is for you.

ABOUT ALX AFRICA

ALX Africa, a non-profit organisation under the ALX Foundation, is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Africa's digital future. Formerly part of Sand Tech Holdings, we\'ve embarked on an independent journey to provide world-class tech skills training and career acceleration programmes. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide, upskill and re-skill talent, and create a generation of innovative leaders. By 2030, we aim to empower 2 million Africans to secure sustainable tech careers.

With hubs in 8 cities across Africa and counting, we provide safe access to quality learning and a dedicated network of expert instructors. Our innovative programmes equip learners with the practical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today\'s rapidly evolving tech industry. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, industry partnerships, and hands-on projects, we prepare our students for in-demand roles in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.

We achieve this by:

• Providing young professionals with access to the most in-demand tech skills that will power the future.
• Empowering the next generation of technology innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders through challenging, real-world coursework.
• Building a lifelong, impactful community of tech professionals that supports them at all stages of their career journey.

Our Impact thus far:

• 205k+ learners since 2021
• 13k youth starting own ventures
• 66k youth in jobs through entrepreneurship

As a Technical Mentor (TM) in the Creative Tech-Lite: Graphic Design vertical, you will guide learners through a 16-week journey centered on typography, layout systems, cultural storytelling, branding, and visual communication. Modeled after a design studio environment, the course introduces learners to African visual traditions, patterndesign, editorial layouts, social media storytelling, and brand identity development.

Your role is to help learners translate ideas into clear, intentional visual design, provide accessible technical support across different tooling levels, and nurture a collaborative, culturally aware creative community.

You’ll support learners through group mentorship, asynchronous technical coaching on E-hub, and weekly light community content that encourages critique, creativity, and reflection.

This role is perfect for an experienced designer who is passionate about design aesthetics, typographic systems, and helping emerging creatives grow in confidence and craft.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Support (60%)

• Facilitate weekly live study sessions or walkthroughs on course-aligned themes such as typography, layout principles, pattern and color theory, editorial design, social media design, and brand identity systems.
• Provide asynchronous guidance on design tools (Adobe Suite, Canva, Affinity, Inkscape) and support learners using mobile-first or open-source workflows, ensuring equitable outcomes for all skill and access levels.
• Give structured, constructive feedback on weekly activities and major projects (e.g., pattern systems, posters, magazine spreads, social media carousels, brand identity systems, portfolios).
• Help learners understand design rationale by reinforcing core principles: hierarchy, contrast, grids, spacing, color harmony, visual storytelling, and cultural relevance.
• Suggest improvements to curriculum clarity, briefs, examples, or tooling (e.g., broken links, unclear instructions).
• Support learners in building polished, industry-ready design case studies and portfolios that highlight concept development, iteration, and final execution.

Community Engagement & Peer Facilitation (40%)

• Maintain a daily presence on E-hub to answer technical questions, guide work-in-progress, and encourage peer support.
• Reinforce a positive studio culture—spotlighting strong peer critiques, celebrating progress, and acknowledging thoughtful design iterations.
• Post weekly community prompts (tools, design frameworks, creative challenges, reflection questions, or short tutorials) to stimulate inspiration and discussion.
• Collaborate with Program Ops specialists and Community Analysts to shape community tone, identify learner needs, and support learner momentum throughout the course.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS - ESSENTIAL

Design Expertise

• 2 – 4+ years experience as a graphic designer or visual communication designer.
• Strong grasp of:
  • Typography & hierarchy (grids, texture, weight, spacing).
  • Layout & composition (alignment, balance, rhythm).
  • Color theory & visual harmony.
  • Brand identity systems (logos, logotypes, visual languages, collateral).
  • Editorial design (magazine spreads, multi-page layouts).
  • African design aesthetics and cultural storytelling.
• Confident in Canva + at least one professional tool (Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Affinity, Figma).
• Comfort with mobile-first workflows (e.g., mobile design apps, simplified gridbuilding) to support accessibility.
• Familiarity with open-source tools such as Inkscape or Photopea.
• Experience mentoring early-stage designers or giving constructive, structured design feedback.
• Ability to simplify complex design concepts (typography, grids, brand systems, color strategy) into beginner-friendly guidance.
• Strong communication, empathy, and clarity in both live and async settings.
• Ability to foster peer learning, facilitate critique sessions, and support learners in articulating their design choices.

ATTRIBUTES

• Courage: Willingness to speak up, challenge the status quo, and embrace new challenges.
• Humility: Openness to learning, seeking help when needed, and a focus on serving others.
• Adventure: A passion for setting ambitious goals, tackling difficult tasks, and finding joy in the journey.
• Initiative: Proactive problem-solving, a sense of ownership, and a willingness to go above and beyond.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through challenges, and emerge stronger.

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

This role is a Freelancer position.

WORK HOURS

The required work hours are 35 hours per week.

PREFERRED TIME ZONES

The preferred time zones are GMT -2 to GMT +3.

As this is a fully remote role, the successful applicant must be highly self-motivated, organized, and comfortable working in a digital-first environment. You will report directly to your program manager and collaborate with cross-functional teams using tools such as Zoom, Slack, email, and Circle/E-hub. Communication is key; success in this role depends on your ability to stay connected, proactively share updates, and engage meaningfully with both teammates and learners. You’ll be encouraged to continuously grow your skills and pursue certifications that support your professional development.

Disclaimer: ALX Africa does not charge fees or request payments at any stage of hiring. Be cautious of anyone claiming otherwise. Report suspicious activity to [e-mail]