Worldwide there are nearly one billion people living needlessly with poor vision that could be corrected with a pair of eyeglasses –90% of those without access to eyeglasses live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Those with the fewest opportunities in the world are further disadvantaged by persistently poor vision and, as a result, experience profound inequality in terms of their health, safety, educational and economic opportunities. EYElliance is bridging this visual divide by orchestrating radical scale of existing innovations.  We do this by deploying four mutually reinforcing strategies: government delivery, entrepreneurship, catalytic partnerships, and institutional advocacy.

Analysis conducted by McKinsey in 2019 estimates that in order to solve the global problem the private sector must grow to meet ~80% of the unmet need for eyeglasses.  This will involve creating access to eyeglasses where the optical retail markets are nascent or non-existent.  Optical businesses that sell affordable eyeglasses, or inclusive optical, have the potential to become the foundation for a new impact industry similar to off grid solar companies in LMICs.  EYElliance is the only entity working to realize this vision.

Reading glasses that correct near vision loss, account for the vast majority of the unmet need for eyeglasses.  This is partly due to the fact that reading glasses are rarely available for purchase at retail stores in LMICs.  The rapid growth of pharmacy chains across Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia presents an unprecedented opportunity to radically scale access to reading glasses.

Transformational Growth Strategy

EYElliance is working to build competitive landscapes in countries where optical markets have been nascent or almost non-existent.  The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will report to the Co-founder & CEO and will be responsible for implementing and growing EYElliance’s vision for a new reality where affordable eyeglasses are readily available for purchase in LMICs.  Barriers to creating this new reality exist at the firm/individual business level and along the industry value chain of which the firm is a part.  To date, EYElliance has focused on addressing barriers at the firm level by supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to become investment ready. Since 2018, EYElliance has been working hand in hand with entrepreneurs who saw a business opportunity to sell low-cost glasses to an untapped market. Working closely with these entrepreneurs we’ve gained a comprehensive understanding of their specific scaling barriers.  In response, EYElliance provides entrepreneurs with business model development support via mentorship and instructive digital modules that delineate the key drivers of success for optical businesses selling low-cost eyeglasses in LMICs.  We are in the process of building out an accelerated approach to sourcing new SMEs to work with and systematizing efficient business building offerings for entrepreneurs in our portfolio.  The majority of the SMEs in our portfolio are early stage with less than 10 retail outlets. Over the next 6-9 months EYElliance’s co-founders will be raising grants and program related investment to launch a Pilot Fund in collaboration with Total Impact Capital.

Having spent the last five years becoming experts on successful business models and the challenges and opportunities ahead as we envision a new reality where affordable eyeglasses are readily available for purchase in LMICs, EYElliance is poised to drive exponential impact. We are looking for a creative thinker and builder to maximize the impact potential of this inflection point and lead the transformation of the sale of low-cost glasses into the next impact industry.

Responsibilities

• • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will manage a 3–4-person team and drive a strategy to strengthen and streamline processes for sourcing new businesses, supporting entrepreneurs with business model development and refinement, and build a pipeline of investable optical SMEs that can take on loans.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will oversee loan monitoring activities to ensure businesses are well positioned to repay loans.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will work closely with Total Impact Capital sharing updates on the investment readiness of businesses in EYElliance’s portfolio.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will lead efforts to build community and peer to peer support among our portfolio of businesses. This includes, but is not limited to, an annual in person convening, regional convenings, a speaker series or webinars, masterclasses taught by entrepreneurs who’ve secured a loan, and encouraging connection and communication between convenings via what’s app.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will oversee the development and publication of relevant market analyses and a state of the sector report every two years.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will determine to what extent EYElliance will move upstream to either directly address barriers to scale at the industry value chain level and public goods domain or orchestrate other actors to take action.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will determine the role EYElliance will play scaling access to affordable reading glasses with investment.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy may be asked to join meetings the Co-founder & CEO has with philanthropic funders.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will be responsible for managing the budget for all private sector activities and ensuring financial integrity.
  • The Managing Director will identify new revenue generating activities to decrease EYElliance’s reliance on philanthropy.
  • The Managing Director of the Private Sector Strategy will generate new philanthropic donor opportunities through networking and representing EYElliance at conferences and events.

Experience

• • Minimum 7 years of experience working in Global Health;
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in impact investing spaces or with blended finance mechanisms investing in SMEs in LMICs;
  • Experience with deal sourcing and building a pipeline of investable businesses in LMICs

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• • Familiarity with and strong relationships within the catalytic capital community of practice, impact investing, and innovative finance;
  • Firm understanding of what’s involved with impact investing due diligences processes;
  • Firm understanding of what’s involved with development finance institution’s due diligences processes;
  • Demonstrates a willingness to learn from others;
  • High comfort level with uncertainty; ability to make decisions and take risks with limited information;
  • Demonstrates a willingness to rethink tactics and adapt strategies when necessary;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Exceptional project management and organizational skills.

Salary   Competitive based on experience

Benefits

• • 20 days of paid time off per year
  • 12 paid holidays per year
  • 40 hours paid sick leave (accrued)
  • Benefits include Medical (Aetna), with 80% of premium paid by EYElliance
  • Dental and Vision benefits
  • Pay for parental leave at the time of birth/adoption – 20 days
  • Pay for family and medical leave- 20 days