Capacity Building Associate Opportunity at Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI): Apply by 30 Jun 2026

The Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI) is seeking a passionate and organized Capacity Building Associate to join its global team and support efforts to create safer, healthier, and more people-centered streets around the world. This fully remote position offers the opportunity to collaborate with urban design experts, city leaders, and communities across multiple continents while contributing to impactful capacity-building programs.

With a start date planned for Q3–Q4 2026, this role is ideal for professionals who are passionate about sustainable mobility, urban planning, instructional design, and creating engaging learning experiences for diverse audiences.

About Global Designing Cities Initiative

Founded in 2014, GDCI works to transform streets into vibrant public spaces that prioritize people over vehicles. Through technical assistance, research, training, and global partnerships, the organization helps cities implement innovative street design practices that improve safety, accessibility, equity, and quality of life.

Key areas of GDCI’s work include:

• Supporting sustainable mobility initiatives
• Promoting safer road infrastructure
• Advancing child-friendly street design
• Building local capacity through education and training
• Developing global street design standards and best practices

The organization’s acclaimed Global Street Design Guide has influenced policies and projects in cities worldwide.

About the Capacity Building Associate Role

The Capacity Building Associate will report to the Capacity Building Senior Manager and work closely with teams across GDCI’s Design and Research department.

This role focuses on coordinating and enhancing the organization’s learning and training initiatives, helping city leaders, practitioners, and communities gain the skills and knowledge needed to transform public spaces.

As a cross-functional position, the associate will collaborate with multiple programs, ensuring training materials, workshops, and educational resources remain engaging, accessible, and effective.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will support both strategic coordination and content development efforts.

Capacity Building Coordination

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the refinement of GDCI’s capacity-building strategy
• Organizing presentation decks, workshop tools, and educational resources
• Maintaining a centralized content library
• Establishing consistent processes and standards across programs
• Coordinating with communication teams on graphics, videos, and digital content
• Documenting training needs, priorities, and feedback from program teams

Content Development and Learning Support

The role also involves:

• Assisting with curriculum and training material development
• Supporting webinars, workshops, conferences, and online learning initiatives
• Preparing teams for successful training delivery
• Researching innovative educational tools and AI-powered learning solutions
• Applying effective storytelling techniques to improve learning outcomes
• Adapting content for diverse audiences and cultural contexts
• Coordinating translation and accessibility efforts across multiple languages

Skills and Qualifications GDCI Is Seeking

GDCI is looking for a highly organized professional who combines strong communication abilities with a passion for urban transformation.

Preferred qualifications include:

Street Design and Urban Development Knowledge

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Interest in sustainable mobility and urban design
• Understanding of public space development
• Commitment to equitable and accessible cities
• Enthusiasm for creating people-centered environments

Communication and Design Skills

Ideal applicants will possess:

• Strong presentation development abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience translating technical concepts into engaging learning materials
• Familiarity with instructional design principles
• Knowledge of online education tools and methodologies

Organizational Excellence

Successful candidates should have:

• Strong project coordination skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Effective time management capabilities
• Experience tracking deadlines and deliverables

Collaboration and Cultural Awareness

Because GDCI operates globally, candidates should be comfortable:

• Working across multiple time zones
• Collaborating with international teams
• Engaging with diverse stakeholders
• Adapting communication styles for different audiences and cultures

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This position offers the chance to contribute to meaningful global change while working remotely from anywhere in the world.

Benefits of the role include:

• Fully remote work environment
• International collaboration opportunities
• Exposure to innovative urban design projects
• Opportunity to influence global capacity-building initiatives
• Engagement with city leaders, practitioners, and community organizations
• Work at the intersection of design, education, and social impact

For professionals interested in creating lasting change in cities, this role provides a unique platform to combine educational expertise with urban transformation.

Application Process

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, but interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Important application details:

• Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
• Location: Remote (Work from Home)
• Time Zone: Open worldwide
• Start Date: Q3–Q4 2026
• Compensation: Based on country of hire and aligned with local nonprofit sector standards

Applicants should submit:

• A letter of interest (maximum two pages)
• An updated CV or résumé

The letter should clearly explain why the applicant is a strong fit for the position and how their skills align with GDCI’s mission and capacity-building goals.

Final Thoughts

The Capacity Building Associate role at GDCI presents an exciting opportunity for professionals passionate about urban design, education, sustainability, and global collaboration. By helping develop and deliver impactful learning experiences, the successful candidate will play a meaningful role in shaping safer, healthier, and more inclusive cities worldwide.

If you are energized by the idea of empowering communities, supporting innovative urban solutions, and working with a mission-driven global team, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of  emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.