Technical Lead- Digital Channels, VisionFund International

VisionFund's work seeks to end intergenerational poverty through financial products and services. We're about the long-term change that ensures children can break free of the poverty cycle, for good.

By supporting people and communities living in poverty to develop and grow their livelihoods, VisionFund is catalysing sustainable economic growth to break the cycle of poverty, so that children can reach their potential as communities thrive.

Learn more about us: visionfund.org

Location: This role is global and the successful candidate can be located anywhere in the world where WVI is registered to operate.

Application Deadline: 29th March 2024

Application Language: All applications should be made in English

Overview

VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance. We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 28 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children. We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive. Join VisionFund as we seek to end intergenerational poverty through microfinance.

This role will be responsible for designing, commissioning and championing the implementation of specific technical solutions within VisionFund globally.  Current specific areas of focus are:

• Solutions that enable VisionFund customers to engage with us via digital channels (e.g. mobile and internet)
• Solutions for VisionFund staff to serve customers, that increase their productivity and effectiveness (e.g. digital field applications, CRM systems)

The Technical Lead will work with closely with the global project management office, Regional Programme Managers, VisionFund MFIs and technology vendors providing subject matter expertise on digital finance solutions/alternative banking channels, digital field applications, and business process automations to drive business efficiency and excellent customer experience.

Major Responsibilities

Last Mile Mobile Solution (LMMS) rollout and expertise

• Become a subject matter expert in the design and use of LMMS and ODK/Kobo forms, in order to support the wider rollout of these specific technologies.
• Lead architecture and design sessions with key business and technology users, gathering and documenting technical system requirements and designs for the system.
• Work with local MFI management and staff to re-design business processes and controls to maximise the effectiveness of Digital Engagement technologies.
• Ensure that adequate support is in place, both internally at the MFI level as well as external at the vendor level, for the ongoing maintenance, issue-resolution and future customizations of Digital Engagement technologies.

Wider digital channel engagement

• Provide management oversight, thought leadership and subject matter expertise in digitization to each MFI, in line with globally defined policies.
• Lead decision-making processes on the selection and deployment of relevant technology (hardware and software) and vendors, in line with existing procurement policies.
• Conduct research on the various Digital Engagement technologies and vendors available in the market, that are suitable for microfinance operations and fit our strategic goals of reaching out to more rural areas;
• Conduct due diligence on capabilities of potential vendors who offer a particular technology that can be used in a number of our MFIs;
• Lead and manage internal and external technical teams and vendors to ensure tasks are delivered on time, to the required quality standards.
• Oversee the contract negotiations and implementations of any pilot MFI implementing a new Digital Engagement technology
• Work with RPMs to ensure all projects are effectively managed within globally defined and aligned PMO standards.
• Review and recommend on MFI requests for an exception to global strategies and the appointment of a resource to support / provide guidance on the local implementation.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Required Professional Experience

• Educated to degree level, ideally in a technology-related discipline
• Experience of implementing a number of successful microfinance / mobile technology / banking systems implementations, ideally in developing countries
• Good understanding of microfinance or retail banking branch and field operations, from a technology and solutions perspective across credit, financial, risk etc.
• Good understanding of, and capability to implement project management discip