Project Implementation Lead at VisionSpring

• The Project Implementation lead will be based out of Nairobi, Kenya, and will report to the Manager of Africa Vision Access Programs (who is based in Nairobi, Kenya).

About You

• You are passionate about improving the accessibility of affordable eyeglasses to communities/sectors vulnerable to poverty. You know this will be incredibly fun and requires technical excellence.
• You are great at thinking on your feet. You recognize that programs in the field can sometimes deviate from the plan, and are always able to quickly move to Plan B.
• You are a project manager. Nothing gives you more satisfaction than flawless execution and bringing in deliverables on time and on budget.
• “Prove it.” Ideas are nice. Evidence matters more. You love evaluating projects to find out what worked, what didn’t, and what you should be doing in the future.
• You are a stellar communicator and can tailor messages to different stakeholder groups. You have a particular knack for capturing kids’ attention and imagination. You keep partners engaged at all phases of the project
• You are a leader. You manage a team effectively through clear communication and goal setting.

About Us

• VisionSpring is creating access to affordable eyewear, everywhere. Clear vision creates opportunities for increased learning, work, safety, civic participation, and quality of life.
• As a social enterprise, social change motivates us first. Our focus is on advancing our mission objectives - to increase functioning, productivity, and income-earning potential for our low-income people by correcting impaired vision with eyeglasses.
• We are working to transform the systemic dysfunction of an optical market that has failed to deliver eyeglasses—a 700-year-old technology—to over 1 billion consumers in need of vision correction, most of whom live on less than $4 a day.
• We serve low-income consumers, not as beneficiaries but as customers. Our customers expect a high-quality and affordable product, and they will spend limited discretionary income for the immediate and tangible benefits of vision correction.
• By selling eyeglasses, we awaken new demand and seed a viable market. By selling new eyeglasses we are able to serve four times as many people per dollar input than the alternative of donating recycled ones. To efficiently scale, we must deliver each new unit with lower cost.
• We run our business on both sales metrics and social impact measures. We leverage a range of organizational forms and practices to get the job done.
• We believe in scaling our impact, not our organization. We are a lean team of doers.

What You’ll Do
Program Management

• Lead stakeholder engagement and communications with all project stakeholders. These include: 1) Field representatives of project sponsors (corporations, NGOs, government agencies); and 2) Implementing partners
• Create program collateral (documents, presentations etc.) to support program delivery.
• Support the Head of Vision Access Projects in annual planning and budget development, and in tracking progress against VisionSpring’s three-year strategic plan.
• Identify and share opportunities for strategic partnerships with state and district level government agencies and school systems in support of business development objectives.

Program Integrity, Monitoring, Supervision, and Reporting

• Provide technical input for all Program design, delivery, and reporting framework.
• Develop a process to monitor accuracy of diagnosis and glasses fulfillment against prescriptions.
• Oversee field data collection and data analysis.
• Identify program successes and areas for improvement, and tailor project design accordingly. Share learning across the team. Establish quality improvement processes.
• Prepare basic impact reports to disseminate among all project partners.

Project Team Development & Implementation.

• Execute projects on-time and on-budget. Develop project schedules. Identify risks and develop field execution contingency plans.
• Supervise the day-to-day operation of the Implementing Partners. Manage project staffing and deployment to field posts.
• Train team members who have both optometric and project coordination experience.
• Ensure all implementing partner project staff are effective in creating a memorable and motivational experience for all people.

Requirements

• Graduate degree in relevant field. Preference for trained optometrists or ophthalmologists, or relevant experience in the eye care sector.
• At least 5 years professional experience, 2 years project experience. Project cycle management certification (PMP) will be a plus.
• Experience working in community and engaging partners.
• Understanding of behavior communication and community mobilization.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Willingness to travel within Kenya.
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially PowerPoint and Excel).