The Innovation Village is Uganda’s launchpad for leading innovators and entrepreneurs. We are building an entire ecosystem of entrepreneurs and innovators in what is growing to become a business solutions provider for our biggest challenges or opportunities. From helping entrepreneurs launch and grow high-impact ventures to attracting regional and global opportunities, our ecosystem approach converges multiple partners including public, private, academia, research, and civil society as one force for good.

Reporting to the Practice Lead – Digital Economy, the Technical Manager will be responsible and accountable for leading the technical components of the Digital Economy Program. The Technical Manager is the first point of contact across stakeholders in the program including the early stage, growth stage, intermediaries and technology providers including Virtusa, Mastercard Inc, and other technology service providers that will be onboarded under the Digital Economy program. The Technical Manager will understand the vast technology infrastructure needs and requirements of the different entrepreneurs  and align those with the technology infrastructure partners from time to time.

You’ll have a strong technical background to identify and solve problems whilst supporting and driving Engineers and Designers to execute the roadmap in line with the program.

The successful candidate should have the ability to effectively communicate across the business to both technical and non-technical stakeholders about changes to the product and the rationale for the prioritization.

Providing communication to the company and to customers with product demos, presentations, and changelogs to clearly explain developments within the product.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.       Technical Leadership and Strategy

• Liaise with the Programs Lead to develop and drive the overall program technology strategy and design.
• Create and maintain strong technical acumen of the platform and inter-workings to support front line representatives the tech community building on the infrastructure.
• Evaluate, respond, and resolve complex inbound Technical escalations / inquiries from the community.
• Identify process and procedural enhancements; recommend and implement changes to ensure best developer experience.
• Serve as the overall contact person for the day-to-day tech operations of the Digital Economy Program, both internally at The Innovation Village, and across the ecosystem.

2.       Tech Community Management

• Build a community of tech entrepreneurs at various stages of growth serving their infrastructure needs in liaison with technology partners including Virtusa and Mastercard Inc among others.
• Support growth and development of a selection of growth stage companies into viable commercial partnership with our technology partners.
• Analyze support issue trends and work with relevant stakeholders and various departments on mitigation

3.       Technical Stakeholder Management and Engagement.

• Work with technology infrastructure partners including Virtusa and Mastercard Inc to align scope of work, needs for the ecosystem in line with the program.
• Understand partners’ technical business objectives/impact and for timely resolution of issues and to ensure program success.

4.       Program Technology Operations

• Oversee the technology Program implementation, by planning, monitoring, and analysing key metrics for the day-to-day performance of the program operations to ensure efficient and timely completion of tasks and other contractual obligations.
• Promote excellence and quality in programming through people-centred, systems thinking, and evidence-based approaches to both design and implementation.
• Provide technical and problem-solving support, and lead issue management across the program portfolio.
• Manage technical relationships / agreements with external partners/ vendors across the program period.

Experience

• At least 10-years’ work experience with a minimum 5 years in a technical project leadership role involving design, implementation, and management of results.
• A proactive, engaged self-starter who demonstrates personal ownership for finding new opportunities for improving processes, practices, or resolving problems.
• Comfortable and highly effective when faced with ambiguity and/or complexity. Able to formulate and develop new or creative ideas and approaches and execute effectively on strategy.
• Strong, persuasive communicator across a variety of stakeholders. Able to understand diverse needs and remain sensitive to addressing those needs.
• You describe yourself as a self- starter that’s excited to work in a fast paced, start-up environment.

Academic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Business Management, Information Technology, or Program Design and Management.
• Certification in Project Management is an added advantage.

Core Competencies

• Ownership and initiative
• Innovation and agility
• Drive for results
• Thinking and problem analysis
• Resilience and resourcefulness
• Relationship building
• Communication and influencing