Global Director Of Technology

Introduction VisionSpring is the trailblazing international social enterprise increasing lifelong earning learning safety and well-being through eyeglasses for people vulnerable to poverty We envision a world where everyone who needs eyeglasses will have them by 2050 Why eyeglasses Eyeglasses are a low-cost high-impact and scalable product that enables people to maintain their livelihoods succeed in school stay safe on the roads and participate fully in society Yet 1 1 billion people lack the eyeglasses they need Most 80 require the most affordable and scalable solution reading glasses delivered by non-medical personnel Through VisionSpring s social enterprise models a 1 investment in eyeglasses yields 43 in increased income for people living on less than 4 per day Our recent randomized controlled trial THRIVE 2024 found that reading glasses increased monthly income in rural Bangladesh by 33 Eyeglasses also improve children s learning gains reduce road traffic injuries and promote mental health and independence for aging adults Global momentum for change In 2021 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Vision for Everyone resolution recognizing eye health and vision correction as key drivers of multiple Sustainable Development Goals This spurred the WHO SPECS 2030 global strategy which aims to increase effective coverage of refractive errors with eyeglasses by 40 percentage points by 2030 An early pioneer championing eyeglasses as a livelihoods and development tool VisionSpring is at the heart of a global movement to close the clear vision gap With new evidence systems-change momentum a transformational gift from MacKenzie Scott and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 25 years of delivery we are scaling proven eyeglasses and vision service models that correct the vision of more than 3 million people annually What we do We get corrective eyeglasses on faces help others do the same and work in coalition to close the vision gap within a generation through three interlocking strategies Deliver - Bring vision screening and eyeglasses directly into low-income communities where people work learn and live Catalyze - Equip NGOs governments and community providers with training products and delivery models to expand coverage Influence - Use research advocacy and coalition-building to shift policy mobilize resources and embed vision correction into public health and economic agendas With operations in nine countries in Africa and South Asia VisionSpring combines market-based solutions with multi-sector partnerships to ensure lasting large-scale uptake of eyeglasses so people see well and do well Position Overview The Global Director of Technology will provide strategic vision and leadership for all aspects of information technology across a geographically dispersed enterprise This leader will be responsible for strengthening IT infrastructure cybersecurity data governance and digital collaboration while enabling innovation and scalable growth The successful candidate will strike a balance between enterprise-grade solutions and practical resource-sensitive approaches for both developed and emerging markets ensuring our global workforce is equipped with the necessary tools and systems to succeed The director oversees a team of six people plus consultants who manage systems infrastructure and services for nine countries India Bangladesh Vietnam the U S and across Africa The Technology department ensures reliable secure and user-friendly systems for the remote and office-based staff of more than 400 people standardizing platforms integrating systems and optimizing global service delivery It works closely with in-country partners to meet ambitious timelines and resolve issues swiftly The Director works without compromising the strength of relationships striking a balance between assertiveness and empathy ensuring accountability while fostering long-term trust About You Strategic Navigator - You align global IT strategy with mission growth and business priorities cutting through complexity to deliver scalable solutions for resource-constrained settings Action Driver - You move technology initiatives from concept to execution with speed mobilizing distributed teams and partners to achieve results across multiple geographies Team Animator - You inspire and build trust across cultures helping colleagues vendors and customer-facing teams adopt new systems and collaborate effectively Iterative Problem Solver - You improve systems and products through continuous refinement and effective use of emerging technologies driving better decisions greater efficiency and stronger customer experiences Job Requirements Experience 15 years of progressive IT experience with at least 5 years in a multi-country global context Strong knowledge of cloud platforms Microsoft 365 Azure Google Workspace Experience with enterprise applications ERP CRM HRIS collaboration tools Expertise in cybersecurity data governance and regulatory compliance Understanding of digital solutions for low-connectivity environments Track record of leading distributed teams across multiple geographies and time zones Proven success managing multi-country operations especially in Africa and South Southeast Asia Skills Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities Exceptional leadership and cross-cultural communication skills Proficiency in information technology and data analytics Ability to thrive in fast-paced mission-driven environments Education Bachelor s degree in computer science Information Systems or related field required Master s preferred Location Travel The candidate will be based in India - preferably in Delhi Mumbai Bangalore or Ahmedabad - and will work across multiple time zones spanning the Eastern United States to Vietnam Must be willing and able to travel and conduct site visits and training in low infrastructure settings in VisionSpring s key markets Job Responsibilities Information Security Cybersecurity Data Governance While you bring deep expertise you establish global Information Security and cybersecurity standards and risk management frameworks Ensure compliance with data protection regulations e g GDPR local data laws Safeguard sensitive organizational staff and beneficiary data build strong connections across departments - from production and last-mile delivery to sales and finance Lead the development and implementation of the company s information security management system ISMS and oversee all initiatives required to achieve and maintain ISO 27001 certification Systems Applications Oversee enterprise applications - ERP SAP HRIS HiBob CRM Salesforce knowledge management SharePoint and Power BI and proprietary workflow systems including our vision camp data platform DigitEYES and project finance ProjectEYES Partner closely with business units to identify and deploy digital solutions Promote cloud-based and mobile-first systems that work in low-bandwidth settings User Adoption Digital Literacy Drive organizational adoption of technology solutions by ensuring systems are intuitive well-documented and supported by training programs Build digital literacy and confidence across teams by tailoring support to diverse user groups maximizing uptake efficiency and impact Innovation AI Foster a culture of experimentation and innovation leveraging emerging technologies including AI and machine learning to enhance internal efficiencies e g workflow automation predictive analytics and improve customer-facing experiences e g chatbots personalized services Evaluate responsible AI use to ensure equitable outcomes and alignment with VisionSpring s mission Vendor Partner Management You manage global IT vendors contracts and technology partnerships Negotiate cost-effective high-quality services tailored to organizational needs and evaluate technologies for potential adoption and implementation Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Finance Supply Chain Programs Product and People teams to align IT function with broader organizational priorities by creating and maintaining IT budgets and tracking IT spend Maintain and strengthen the company s existing DevOps practices to ensure reliable CI CD pipelines automation and seamless collaboration between development and operations teams Apply and maintain ITIL best practices to ensure consistent service management efficient incident response and continual improvement of IT operations Experience with a ticketing system such as ServiceDesk Leverage experience with ETL processes to ensure accurate efficient extraction transformation and loading of data across enterprise systems and reporting platforms Team Leadership You lead and mentor a distributed IT team primarily in India and Africa building technical capacity and ensuring high-quality support across time zones Foster a collaborative accountable and inclusive IT culture Job Benefits Compensation Salary range is based on experience education and location - Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted - At VisionSpring diversity equity and inclusion align with our core values advancing equity Our mission is predicated on removing a fundamental barrier to full economic and social participation uncorrected blurry vision The values that underpin our mission energize our commitment to a diverse and inclusive team A diverse team also enables VisionSpring to approach problems with nuance and develop unique insights that drive a significantly positive impact in the world We actively recruit develop and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds supporting everyone to be authentic VisionSpring is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes applications from people of all experiences abilities and perspectives