Optical Technical Advisor at VisionSpring

The Advisor plays a strategically important role, training health workers and community champions to conduct presbyopia screenings and appropriately dispense eyeglasses. S/he will collaborate with the Kenya-based business development specialist to generate new partnerships and steward relationships. Although the Advisor position will be based in Nairobi, he or she will report to a representative of the VisionSpring New York sales team.

ABOUT YOU

• People view you as the go-to person for everything optical. You have a wealth of knowledge and know-how about vision screening and eyeglasses.

• You want to solve supply- and demand-side sales challenges. You understand how to introduce vision programs into work places and health services.

• You understand consumer behavior – their concerns about and interests in getting eyeglasses.

• You are a natural teacher. You love sharing your knowledge and getting others excited about what they are going to do.

• You have the maturity and confidence to interact with clients in senior positions.
• Working for a high-growth, socially-oriented business feels like the right next step in your career.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Partner Assistance & Training

• Collaborate with partners to help them design their Vision Access Programs. This may entail the introduction of vision screening and eyeglasses into: primary care services and community outreach, livelihood and workplace programs, and mass market retail.

• Assist business development representatives and partners in making frame and power selections, and customizing orders to meet their unique needs. Proactively field questions and offer support.

• Maintain and adapt a standardized collection of sell-through support materials (advise on marketing, pricing, screenings, etc.) for new partners.

• Tailor training materials and train partner personnel in the following competencies: (1) conducting a vision camp; (2) presbyopia screening, ready-made glasses power selection, and referral for refractive errors, cataracts, and other eye conditions, and (3) customer engagement and optical sales.
• Provide periodic onsite monitoring and assistance at vision camps in rural communities, slum neighborhoods, and within health facilities and other retail outlets.

Cross-function Support

• Collect customer profile data and customer stories to understand customer satisfaction, preferences, and barriers to vision and optical care. Share findings with the Global Partnerships team to improve customer experience and market segmenting, and ensure we are achieving our mission objectives.

• Onboard and train new VisionSpring sales representatives in the fundamentals of vision, eye health, and optical products.
• Draft field reports and customer stories to assist with investor relations and communications.

New Business Development

• Proactively network and identify high-potential partners, as well as opportunities for sales and collaboration.

• Collaborate with the Business Development Specialist to pursue and structure new opportunities.

• Represent VisionSpring at local industry forums, marketing events, conferences, workshops, etc.
• Advise VisionSpring’s Global Partnership team on the trends, actors, policies, and regulations shaping the Kenyan optical market. Identify and map out key players and processes.

WHAT’S REQUIRED

• Optometrist degree.

• Minimum of five years’ experience in the Kenyan optical industry.

• Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time within Kenya, and potentially within the region.

• Excellent communication skills in English and Kishwahili.
• Candidates possessing the following preferred qualifications or experience will be prioritized: (1) community-based work with NGOs or government agencies, including health camps; (2) marketing and demand generation; (3) customer service experience; (4) advocacy around eye health, livelihood development, or school learning outcomes; (5) broad professional network within Kenyan health, vision, foundation, NGO, and/or retail sectors; and/or (6) monitoring and evaluation experience.

COMPENSATION 

• One year contract, renewable.

• Compensation based on experience and education.

• Exciting performance incentives.