Executive Assistant at VisionSpring

Description

• Are you a changemaker who wants to play a pivotal role in restoring vision for millions of people in low-income communities around the world? 
• VisionSpring seeks an organized, smart, proactive executive assistant to the Africa Region Director. As a “right hand” to Regional Director, you will manage the leadership team, quarterly reviews, and monthly connect meetings, maintain accountability for commitments, coordinate schedules and travel, develop internal/external communications, and manage the VisionSpring Africa office.
• You will play a key facilitative role in a high-growth environment, interacting daily with VisionSpring's Africa team and partners. This position will be based in Lagos, Nigeria.
• The role of executive assistant is ideally suited for someone seeking a nuanced understanding of how a social enterprise delivers on its business and mission objectives. The candidate who succeeds in this position will enhance c-suite capacity, facilitate information flow, and problem-solve with a bird’s eye view on strategy, Africa operations, and governance. 

About You

• Self-starter: You anticipate what is needed, take initiative, and make things happen. If friends or family plan a weekend together, you are invariably the key arranger. 
• Systematic: You prioritize. You put first things first and are methodical in executing an ever-changing to-do list. 
• Organized: You were the kind of kid who organized your toys; now you organize your inbox and other people. You sweat the details.
• Professional: You use Microsoft tools to produce clean, accurate, polished documents so audiences easily absorb content and analysis.
• Adaptable: You find roles with flexible parameters energizing.
• Curious: You invigorate others with your smarts, curiosity, and sensitivity to context. 

About Us

• VisionSpring is creating access to affordable eyewear, everywhere. Clear vision creates opportunities for increased learning, work, safety, civic participation, and quality of life.
• As a social enterprise, social change motivates us first. Our focus on sales and revenue targets serves and advances our mission objective—to increase functioning, productivity, and income earning potential for our low-income consumers by correcting refractive error with eyeglasses. Every $1 of philanthropy invested in VisionSpring yields an unprecedented $43 in increased earning potential at the household level.
• We are working to transform the systemic dysfunction of an optical market that has failed to deliver eyeglasses—a 700-year-old technology—to nearly 1 billion consumers in need of vision correction, most of whom live on less than $4 a day.
• We serve low-income consumers, not as beneficiaries but as customers. Our customers expect a high-quality and affordable product, and they will spend limited discretionary income for the immediate and tangible benefits of vision correction.
• We run our business on both sales metrics and social impact measures. We use a range of organizational forms and practices to get the job done.
• We believe in scaling our impact, not our organization. We are a lean team of doers.

What You'll Do

Executive Support

• Manage a heavy load of scheduling. Coordinate internal and external meetings across myriad time zones ensuring that no-one gets forgotten. Learn and identify enterprise-wide priorities to help the regional director manage and maximize their time. Proactively resolve scheduling conflicts.
• Make all arrangements for international and domestic travel and events.
• Maintain the rhythm of the business by developing and updating the region, annual calendar of key activities and deliverables. Anticipate when externalities or shifting priorities require changes.
• Assist others in the organization with document preparation or meetings that require the input of the Regional Director, including signatures and approvals.
• Maintain secure, digital/physical filing of key documentation for the Regional Director.
• Maintain strict confidence by keeping information confidential and secure.

Internal Communications & Meeting Effectiveness

• Prepare quarterly Africa Business Review meetings via global videoconference that build common understanding across the organization. Work with team members to develop an inclusive internal communications pipeline that upholds and celebrates diverse voices and unique perspectives.
• Support the Regional Director with cross-department team members, keeping agendas and helping members to be accountable for key deliverables.
• Assist the Regional Director with preparing for external meetings and speaking engagements. Provide supportive research and draft presentation materials.

Office and Administrative Support

• Assist human resources with onboarding new team members in Africa and organizing team events. Ensure VisionSpring’s Nigeria is a conducive work environment. Oversee all facilities matters, including liaising with VisionSpring’s landlord and interfacing with building maintenance personnel and other services.
• Maintain office supplies inventory and pantry, anticipating needs and placing cost-conscious orders. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; in economics, political science, sociology, or another related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of professional experience. Prior experience with executive support, communications, or project management is preferred.
• Ability to produce professional business correspondence, status reports, and presentations. 
• Highly proficient with PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Experience with managing up, collaborating with peers, and working with colleagues remotely and in different cultures and time zones.
• Preferred experience: (1) Working in a high-growth or start-up environment; and/or (2) Living or working in a low-income international setting.
• Must meet the highest standards of ethics and personal integrity, with a demonstrated capacity for discretion and for handling confidential information with care.

Compensation

• Based on experience and education, and competitive for a social enterprise.
• We offer comprehensive benefits, including medical.