Job description
Village Enterprise is looking for a dynamic and passionate Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO), with the desire and skills to lead a growing organization through transformational technological change. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position will be responsible for defining the ICT roadmap for increasing the scale and impact of our program, and building and managing a functional team that supports the organization’s ambitions around using technology and innovation to end extreme poverty across sub-Saharan Africa. S/he will need to be a true enterprise ICT architect with a vision for how technology affects the delivery and effectiveness of our entrepreneurship training and mentoring program. S/he will have a deep understanding of how to deliver appropriate solutions, tools, and training that are beneficial to our staff and business owners living in remote and rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.
This position will be based in Kampala or Nairobi and will require travel to our field offices in Kenya and Uganda to provide support to Village Enterprise’s program teams. The CTIO will coordinate regularly with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Scaling Officer (CSO), Kenya and Uganda Country Directors, Director of Talent Management, other Director-level positions across the organization, and IT support staff.
Job Description:
Provide Strategic and Management Direction for Technology and Innovation
Define ICT roadmap, strategy, and ICT architecture for the organization that integrates use of technology for increased organizational scale and impact
Work with department directors to create strategies for individual functional team efficiency through technology
Support the development of internal and external communication strategies and delivery of information around the organization’s use of technology to end extreme poverty
Demonstrate international thought leadership around the use of technology solutions for development
Present to a board-level committee on a quarterly basis, maintain relationships with key technology stakeholders
Contribute to the Business Development life cycle through preparation of strategies, approaches, proposals, concept notes, and other relevant activities that generate additional revenue and partnerships for the development of technological solutions
Develop, track and control the annual operating and capital budgets for purchasing, staffing and operations for technology and innovation
Design, Lead, and Implement Technology and Innovation Pilots and Processes that Increase Scale and Impact
Provide strategic oversight and direction in identification and prioritization of opportunities and challenges which Village Enterprise can address through technology and innovation that would lead to increased scale and impact
Lead processes which lead to high value activities and innovations being adopted in critical places across the organization
Facilitate integration of technology skills and tools within and across functional teams, implement regular cross-team capacity building and feedback structures
Provide, promote and/or facilitate staff development opportunities (for technology and non-technology specialists) to increase the adoption and use of technological solutions
Prepare and distribute support materials related to technology and innovations
Design, Lead, and Implement High Value Partnerships to Support Technology and Innovation
Drive innovation by developing partnerships with ICT4D organizations and recommending new solutions and ideas across the organization that are designed to meet the future challenges of our operations and program participants
Engage with Village Enterprise external stakeholders to raise awareness of technology platforms, tools and techniques
Perform market analysis and identify partnerships that demonstrate shared value. Assess the value of partnerships and innovations through Human Centered Design with a focus of pushing forward Go to Market ideas that integrate or utilize technology solutions
Who we are looking for:
We are looking for an individual with a strong background working in international development organizations to deliver technology solutions to the extreme poor, with a deep understanding of available, cutting-edge technologies in digital training, financial services, etc. S/he would have a track record of evaluating customer/program participant needs and managing innovation delivery from ideation to implementation. S/he would enjoy being a technology ambassador and cultivating a culture of trust and excitement around technological changes.
Candidates that meet the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
Minimum of 9 years of related professional experience, post-undergraduate experience providing technical assistance for ICT interventions; demonstrated understanding of the constraints to introducing and sustaining ICT interventions in low income rural settings. Bachelor’s degree in relevant computer science, information systems or other related fields. Preferred Master’s degree in relevant IT field
Demonstrated experience in assessing organizational needs, developing technology plans, policies, and systems, and successfully managing organizational change and initiating key innovations
Ability to develop, promote and work across cross-functional teams. Strong ability to manage in all directions including with direct reports, other staff, supervisors, and lateral directors
Demonstrated leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills with the ability to mentor and grow staff
Deep knowledge of nonprofit enterprise solutions and ability to quickly evaluate new tools
Knowledge of best practices for IT infrastructure management and digital security
Vast experience with hardware and device management strategies, both on premise and remote
Passionate about ending extreme poverty in sub-â€Saharan Africa. Experience working in international development, preferably serving vulnerable population.
