Director, Business Systems and Technology Services

ABOUT VILLAGEREACH

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone, so that each person has the health care needed to thrive.  We develop solutions that improve equity and access to primary health care.  This includes making sure products are available when and where they are needed and primary health care services are delivered to the most under-reached. Radical collaboration with governments, the private sector and other partners strengthen our ability to scale and sustain these solutions. Our work increases access to quality health care for more than 58 million people in Africa. VillageReach in incorporated in Washington State and has offices in Seattle (USA), Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique.

 

DESCRIPTION

Summary

VillageReach is investing in our business systems and technology infrastructure so that they better meet the increasingly complex needs of our global organization now and in the future. By FY2026, we aim to reach 100 million people in Africa.  The Director, Business Systems and Technology Services is a new position at VillageReach that will work collaboratively to oversee all aspects of our business systems and technology, ensuring that they are designed correctly, deployed efficiently, maintained across their lifecycles, and effectively advance our strategic, program, and operational goals. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced, creative candidate who understands the big picture, enjoys working with others, is a natural problem solver, and seeks to forge impactful change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following; other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time:

Strategy and Leadership:

• Define, develop, and lead implementation of IT strategies and approaches that will best support VillageReach. 
• Examine business strategies, plans, and goals; analyze technical solutions; and provide clear and practical recommendations on the right mix of IT elements over the short, medium, and long-term to achieve those objectives.
• Oversee IT infrastructure, recommending a portfolio of specific IT hardware, software, methodologies, and approaches.

·        Provide best practices to the existing IT ecosystem; new and established technologies; IT resources and staffing; cost control and ROI; and end user needs and experience.

• Lead Business Systems and Technology Services department, including mentoring, training, and supporting technology staff worldwide; and overseeing department budget.

Data:

• Analyze business systems and IT infrastructure performance to assess operating costs, productivity levels, upgrade requirements, and other metrics and needs; understand integrations with existing systems, interfaces with people and other applications, and how users will interact with the deliverable.
• Analyze data and trends to determine where improvements can be made to increase efficiency, productivity and business performance.

System Development, Maintenance, and Relationship Management

• Develop and implement business continuity protocols to minimize disruption to business operations in the event of emergency situations or data loss.
• Establish efficiency and efficacy standards, business systems and technology policies and procedures, and make recommendations to improve IT infrastructure.
• Oversee security of systems, networks, and enterprise information; and facilitate IT security audits or investigations.
• Oversee software evaluations to ensure that selected software meets written requirements and passes user acceptance testing after implementation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external IT vendors and service providers, making sure that products or services are delivered on time, within budget, and meet written requirements.

Competencies:

The following competencies reflect what is expected of all VillageReach employees; including examples of how one might demonstrate each of these competencies in one’s role.

·        Personal Motivation and Drive: Is self-directed in one’s approach to work, but asks for help when needed; holds oneself accountable; undertakes self-development activities; seeks to build and master new skills; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities within the organization

 

·        Collaboration & Effective Communication: Establishes and maintains effective relations with coworkers, partners & stakeholders and external parties; works collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational and team goals and objectives; works actively to resolve conflicts; expresses ideas and thoughts effectively; selects and uses appropriate communication methods and maintains meaningful communication with virtual coworkers and other parties to keep them informed

 

·        Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Takes personal responsibility for and supports others across the organization in creating and sustaining a diverse work environment where individuals are welcomed, valued, respected and supported; personally committed to attaining cultural competency including self-awareness of one’s own attitudes about culture and cross-cultural interactions; exhibits the willingness and ability to engage openly and respectfully around issues of race, colonialism, identity and culture; upholds equity in access to sharing of information, ideas, and opportunities throughout VillageReach

 

·        Commitment to Excellence: Produces a high output of work, both in terms of quality and quantity; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; monitors work to ensure quality; has a personal commitment to the mission of VillageReach

 

·        Solution Orientation & Innovation: Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how to best achieve them; gets the job done; sees opportunities for creative problem-solving while staying within the parameters of good practice; sees old problems in new ways and has novel approaches to solving those problems; contributes original and/or resourceful ideas to their area of responsibility; is able to consider and articulate risks and consequences of proposed innovations and factor these into decision-making

 

REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position directly supervises up to 3 employee and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with VillageReach policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and onboarding employees; planning, assigning and directing work; performance review; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science required; master’s degree or MBA preferred
• At least 7 years serving as an IT systems architect or equivalent work experience; and at least 5 years directly managing and overseeing technology services, infrastructure, and staff
• Experience developing and implementing strategic system architecture plans
• Experience and expertise: (1) improving business systems and leading technology activities in a +$25 million global nonprofit organization; (2) change management; (3) cloud computing and data migration to the cloud; (4) handling diverse compliance and reporting requirements; and (5) problem-solving orientation working in diverse, dynamic, and challenging environments
• Understanding of global business and development trends, with an ability to anticipate future consequences of those trends and build them into long-term planning
• Solid understanding of network and system development and deployment

Other Qualifications:

• Comply with VillageReach’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
• Established cultural competency in partnering with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
• Demonstrated understanding of technical applications and systems in rural, underserved and low-income context; experience living in and/or working in a low-income country a plus.
• Through understanding of IT, business systems, and their practical applications to support VillageReach goals.
• Proficient in latest technology for business systems and management, and comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, attention to detail, analytical, management, and interpersonal skills.
• English required; Portuguese and French desired.

 

Environment and Physical Demands:

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our USA office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, US based staff are expected to be available for early morning meetings starting at 6am. In addition, our Regional Africa based staff and Country office staff are expected to be available for late afternoon/evening meetings up to 6pm.

Approximately 90% of the workday is spent sitting. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. 

 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

VillageReach is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. We believe that diverse, equitably weighted perspectives foster an organizational capacity to create novel solutions that improve health in the most underserved and hard-to-reach areas. To align our values, innovations and impact, VillageReach is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse global workforce.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

This is an immediate hire and therefore resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to our online portal: http://www.villagereach.org/join-us/

Safeguarding:

VillageReach is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom it engages. We expect everyone working with us to share this commitment through our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records. VillageReach participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, in line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Compensation:

VillageReach has an established compensation structure that is based on the relevant market and internally transparent. The range for this position is $114,900; midpoint of $142,300. We hire people into the established range based on one’s experience and education and considering internal equity. We do not inquire about salary history.