Technology Project Manager, Microsavings Initiative, India

Position Title:   Technology Project Manager, India, Microsavings Initiative
Status:   Long Term Consultancy or Full-Time Project Employee (End date 12/31/2010)
Location:  India (based in Varanasi)
 

Grameen Foundation USA (www.grameenfoundation.org) is a global non-profit organization that combines microfinance, new technologies, and innovation to empower the world's poorest people to escape poverty. GF and its consortium partners will work with three leading microfinance institutions (MFI) in India, Ethiopia, and the Philippines to dramatically expand access to savings for the poor. This program will focus on strengthening product design, marketing, operational processes, and institutional capacity at each MFI to ensure 1.45 MM new savers are reached at the end of the 3-year project. 
 

Keys to success in this role will be the ability to manage multiple stakeholders with varying objectives and to establish and lead productive relationships with all project team members and stakeholders. A strong program management experience in technology implementation will also be essential. 

Job Summary:  The Technology Project Manager who will work at CASHPOR, an MFI headquartered in Varanasi, India to define, plan and manage the technology intervention which will strengthen product design, marketing, operational processes, and institutional capacity for the microsavings initiative.   The technology focus of the program will take a holistic, process-based approach, ensuring appropriate back-end and front-end technologies are in place and fully integrated into the MFI’s operations to fully enable savings deposits and withdrawals for new savers at the end of the three year project.
Reporting and relationships:  This position directly reports to the Technology Program Manager and indirectly to the Microsavings Program Manager, India.  

Availability:  The Technical Project Manager will be expected to work a standard work week of 37.5 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position will work on-site in the MFI office for the duration of the contract.  Travel to rural areas for requirements gathering and field testing may be required.

Essential Job Functions:
• Define, plan, manage, and pilot required technology intervention such as back-office MIS automation, mobile money solutions, ATM, and POS deployments.
• Work closely with the MFI at each stage of the project to ensure knowledge and skills transfer and project continuity.
• Work closely with the Microsavings Program Manager to define business and technology requirements.
• Document business and technology requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend the most cost-effective technology solution for the MFI.
• Lead and mentor the MFI to manage technology vendors needed for the project.
• Plan and manage needed financial and human resources for the project.
• Facilitate Business Process Re-engineering to ensure that the technology implementation is supported by appropriate business processes.
• Define success criteria for the project and design and implement metrics to measure success.
• Identify and train MFI staff successors to ensure that the technology implementation continues to be successful after the engagement.
• Share and document challenges, learnings, and best practices to other GF Technology Program Managers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission
• Experience planning and managing complex technology projects with full implementation lifecycle (from program definition to measuring results); including successfully working with technology providers and Indian banks.
• Ability to design and execute technology projects with limited supervision
• Business process reengineering experience including analysis, mapping and process measurement and redesign
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills; experience mentoring team members and influencing executive management.
• Ability to effectively communicate priorities, delivery expectations, risks and concerns to multiple stakeholders
• Experience living and traveling internationally, preferably in developing countries
• Fluency in English with superb written and verbal communication skills and fluency in Hindi
• Experience in implementing technology for banking correspondence model preferred; Knowledge of relevant MIS industry development in region a plus
• Comfortable presenting to a room of business executives and discussing needs with villagers sitting on the dirt floor of a rural home

Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of five years progressive and relevant experience.
• Experience working in or with an Indian public sector bank preferred.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.
 

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.Interested candidates may apply by email to jobs@grameenfoundation.org by November 15, 2009. Please put “Tech PM-India” in the subject line.  No Calls Please.