Director of Technology

Summary

Do you want your work to matter? Do you have serious business chops and want to use them to make a difference not just make a buck? Are you just looking for a change, or are you looking for the chance to changes millions of lives for the better, including yours? If the answer is yes, read on.

Living Goods' future success increasingly depends on the mastery of data, communications and the latest mobile tools, apps and technologies. LG employs a mobile marketing data collection system that enables us to interact with every LG agent and customer in real time. And we are building a comprehensive data mart that will incorporate all out sales, impact and marketing data to drive better faster decision-making. At Living Goods we believe that mobile will become an increasingly powerful and positive disruptive force; enabling our agents to sell and earn more and igniting social connections that will drive dramatic human impact. We are looking for an experienced, energetic and visionary Director of Technology to oversee all Living Goods' mission critical mobile tools, data management systems, software and hardware needs in East Africa and the USA. The position can be based in Nairobi or Kampala.

About Living Goods

We believe that the poor are not helpless victims; they are resilient entrepreneurs and value conscious consumers.  We empower the poor through our networks of 'Avon-like' micro-entrepreneurs who go door-to-door teaching families how to improve their health and wealth while selling affordable, high-impact products like simple treatments for malaria and diarrhea, fortified foods, water filters, clean cookstoves, and solar lights. Living Goods seeks nothing less than a disruptive reinvention of distribution in the developing world, through networks of franchised micro-entrepreneurs who leverage Living Goods' brand, buying power and mobile marketing tools to deliver vital products at accessible prices to the people who need them most. By combining the best practices from the worlds of micro-enterprise, franchising and public health, Living Goods is creating a fully sustainable system to improve the health, wealth, and productivity of the world's poor.

Living Goods has been featured in The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The Economist, and The Huffington Post. Check out these articles and more on our press page.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development of innovative mobile marketing tools and platforms that drive increased sales and human impacts: e.g. data collection, field sales force management, mobile money, incentive systems, smart phone and tablet apps, social networking platforms, GIS etc.
• Work with end users and stakeholders to understand their needs. Develop creative technology solutions.
• Communicate technical and functional requirements of all the technical projects to the development team. Manage development teams to ensure that project milestones are met. Monitor and report on project progress.
• Manage all Living Goods management information systems including: LG's data warehouse and reporting tools, website, accounting software, point of sale system, Salesforce database, as well as all hardware to support the above.
• Manage mission critical technology vendors.

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of experience in Management Information Systems with depth in two or more of the following: mobile phone applications, accounting systems, website development, direct marketing and selling software, computer hardware management.
• In depth experience in relational database design and development.
• Experience directly managing software application development for web or mobile platforms.
• Willingness to travel between Nairobi, Kampala and the USA.
• University degree required, preference to candidates with Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering or Business degrees.

Life at Living Goods

Living Goods seeks nothing less than a disruptive reinvention of high-impact product distribution in the developing world. We think big but we operate small and nimble. At Living Goods you will have the chance to work with an extraordinary team of changemakers to conceive and test innovative ideas every day. If you work well in a dynamic, highly collaborative culture, if you set high standards for yourself and your colleagues, if you know how to fail fast and learn fast, and if you meet challenges with calm determination and a sense of humor, you will fit right in at Living Goods. See our guiding principles.

Compensation

A competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience including health, vacation, 401k, and bonus opportunity.  

Contact

To apply,  please submit a single file with resume/CV and cover letter to jobs@livinggoods.org. Kindly include: 

• How you heard about this position
• Current and desired salary
• Optional – Links to any online content that helps us know you better: LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs, or relevant work samples.

Please type "Director of Technology – [insert last name]" in the subject line.