Assistant Lead, Project Implementation at VisionSpring Nigeria

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 on sales and revenue targets serves and advances our mission objective—to increase functioning, productivity, and income earning potential for our low-income consumers by correcting refractive error and presbyopia 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 2.7 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 at a lower cost. We run our business on both sales metrics and social impact measures. We use 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Assistant Lead, Project Implementation

Location: Nigeria

Job Description

• Are you a change maker who wants to play a pivotal role in restoring vision for millions of people in low-income settings across Nigeria? Would you like to work for an organization that is a pioneer in social impact practices?
• We are seeking a highly motivated, dynamic, and self-driven candidate who would like to have a challenging and meaningful career path in the social sector.
• The Primary Health Care (PHC) Program is a key strategic initiative focused on integrating primary eye care into government primary health care systems to improve access to affordable eyeglasses.
• The candidate will support the design, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the PHC Program, working closely with government agencies and development partners.
• This is a full-time, contract-based position with a duration of One (1) year.
• The Assistant Lead, Project Implementation PHC will be based in Kwara, Nigeria and will report jointly to the Manager, report to the Program Manager, PHC and the Country Manager, Nigeria. (who are both based in Lagos, Nigeria)

About You

• You are passionate about improving the accessibility of affordable eyeglasses.
• You are great at thinking on your feet. You recognize that programs in the field can sometimes deviate from 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 keep partners engaged at all phases of the project.

About Us

• VisionSpring increases lifelong earning, learning, safety, and well-being through eyeglasses for people vulnerable to poverty. We believe in the wonder of clear vision for everybody.
• We sell and deliver radically affordable optical products and services and develop markets for eyeglasses—a 700-year-old technology that has failed to reach 1 billion people 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 quality, affordable products and eyecare services, and will spend limited discretionary income for the immediate and tangible benefits of vision correction.
• As a social enterprise, we are purpose first. We blend philanthropic and earned revenue, draw on non-profit and business practices, and use sales and efficiency metrics and social impact measures to bring vision correction to ever more people.
• We catalyze collaborative action in an expansive, multisector partner network and use our evidence and experience to influence systems change and close the global clear vision gap.
• We believe in scaling our impact, not our organization. We are a lean team of doers.
• Our big goal: Everyone who needs eyeglasses will have them by 2050.

Job Responsibilities
Program Support:

• Assist the Program Lead/Manager in planning, executing, and monitoring program activities.
• Help develop and maintain program plans, schedules, and documentation.
• Support the coordination of program resources and ensure they are allocated effectively.

Team Support:

• Provide support to program teams and project managers within the program.
• Assist in assigning tasks and responsibilities to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and productive team environment.

Stakeholder Communication:

• Assist in communication with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, clients, and partners.
• Help ensure that stakeholders are informed about program progress and any relevant updates.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain program documentation, including project plans, status reports, and meeting minutes.
• Assist in preparing regular program status reports for senior management and stakeholders.
• Ensure that documentation is accurate and up to date.

Risk Management:

• Assist in identifying potential risks and issues related to program execution.
• Contribute to the development of risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Monitor and report on the status of risk mitigation efforts.

Quality Assurance:

• Assist in establishing and enforcing quality assurance processes to ensure program deliverables meet established standards.
• Support program teams in adhering to quality and compliance requirements.

Task Execution:

• Take on specific tasks or responsibilities as delegated by the Lead Programs or Program Manager.
• Ensure that assigned tasks are completed on time and within budget.

Program Governance and Compliance:

• Help ensure that the program adheres to organizational policies, industry regulations, and best practices.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining program governance structures as needed.

Continuous Improvement:

• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for process improvements within the program.
• Assist in implementing changes and enhancements to improve program efficiency and effectiveness.

Support for Program Closure:

• Assist in the closure process of programs, ensuring that all deliverables are met, and objectives are achieved.
• Participate in post-program evaluations to capture lessons learned and areas for improvement.

Conflict Resolution:

• Help identify and address conflicts or disputes within the program team or between stakeholders.
• Support conflict resolution efforts and maintain a positive team dynamic.

Program Integrity, Monitoring, and Reporting:

• Provide technical input for the 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 government and donors.
• Manage the Profit and Loss statement and keep checks on program budgets.

Program Management:

• Lead stakeholder engagement and manage relationships with key project stakeholders, including Ministries of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agencies, Local Government Authorities (LGAs), and implementing partners, to ensure effective collaboration and project delivery.
• Create program collateral (documents, presentations etc.) to support program delivery.
• Support PHC onboarding, training and supportive supervision.
• Identify and share opportunities for strategic partnerships with state and district level government agencies and corporates in support of business development objectives.

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 Primary Health Care unit. Manage project staffing and deployment to field posts.
• Hire and train team members who have both optometric and project coordination experience.
• Ensure all project staff are effective in creating a memorable and motivational experience for children and their adults.

Program Advocacy:

• S/he is the customer (PHC Agencies, Corporates, Governments etc.) relationship owners, it makes sense to convert that relationship and value into real advocacy. It could come in the form of external reviews, panel discussions, a case study, or referrals etc.
• Help clients share their impact with stakeholders, including their upstream buyers, boards of directors and employees. Coordinate with Marketing to support clients in sharing their results externally.

Job Requirements

• Graduate degree in relevant field. Preference for candidates with experience in public health, health systems strengthening, primary health care, eye health or related development programs.
• At least 6 to 8 years of professional experience.
• Excellent communication skills in English and the local Nigerian
• Willingness to travel within Nigeria.
• Must meet the highest standards of ethics and personal integrity.
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially PowerPoint and Excel).

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online