Tamil Nadu Operations Lead

Role: Insight Program Tamil Nadu Operations Lead

Location: Any of the following districts in Tamil Nadu - Tiruvallur district; Kannivadi in Dindigul district and Thiruchuli in Viruthunagar district

Reporting To: Entrepreneurship Program Head, InSight Program

Duration: 3 Months (Can be extended based on mutual understanding)

About the Program:

The InSight team is dedicated to creating a Presbyopia-free India, with a special focus on empowering rural communities. Over 300 million Indians suffer from uncorrected presbyopia (distorted near vision), and over 70 million work in occupations that require clear near vision. This condition leads to $14 billion in annual productivity losses in India alone, disproportionately impacting rural livelihoods. Yet, a simple solution—reading glasses—can boost productivity by 34% and income by 20%, as randomized controlled trials conducted in Assam and Bangladesh demonstrated.

Hence the InSight team, in this context, is embarking on a program to develop a market-driven model that empowers entrepreneurs to sell reading glasses to beneficiaries in need. The idea is that the InSight team, in collaboration with its partners, will train entrepreneurs in presbyopia screening and the dispensing of reading glasses. These entrepreneurs will then conduct door-to-door screenings within their designated areas, selling reading glasses to individuals who fail the vision test. This approach aims to establish a sustainable business model for the entrepreneurs while improving livelihoods by addressing presbyopia among the beneficiaries.

We are looking for a lead to manage these entrepreneurs during their day to day work as well as collaborate with our on ground partners in the successful implementation of the program.

Role Overview:

The Insight Program Operations Lead will oversee the implementation and day-to-day management of the entrepreneurship pilot in the designated regions. This role involves working closely with entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and the program head to ensure the pilot's success. The lead will also contribute to refining the program based on field feedback and assist with potential expansion efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

Pilot Management and Execution

1. Oversee daily operations of the entrepreneurship pilot in the finalized regions in Tamil Nadu.
2. Ensure activities are executed in line with timelines, objectives, and quality standards.

Entrepreneur Coordination and Support

1. Serve as the primary point of contact for entrepreneurs, guiding them in conducting door-to-door vision screenings and distributing/selling reading glasses.
2. Track performance, identify challenges, and provide support to entrepreneurs to optimize outcomes.

Program Representation

1. Act as the on-ground representative of the InSight program, engaging with local communities, entrepreneurs, and partner organizations
2. Maintain strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of the pilot.

Data Collection and Reporting

1. Ensure accurate and timely collection of data from entrepreneurs on vision screenings, sales, and distributions.
2. Compile and share regular reports with the program head and central team for analysis.

Training and Capacity Building

1. Facilitate training sessions for entrepreneurs in collaboration with the technical partner.
2. Provide ongoing mentorship and support to entrepreneurs, addressing operational challenges as they arise.

Monitoring, Feedback, and Refinement

1. Conduct regular field visits to monitor activities and evaluate the pilot's progress.
2. Provide structured feedback to the program head, highlighting successes, challenges, and potential areas for improvement.
3. Collaborate with the program head to tweak and refine program parameters based on field-level insights.

Program Expansion

1. Assist in planning and executing the program's expansion to other regions based on pilot results and organizational goals.
2. Share key learnings and best practices from the pilot to inform future strategies.

Stakeholder Coordination

1. Act as a bridge between the program head, entrepreneurs, and technical partners to align efforts and ensure effective communication.
2. Support in organizing and participating in regular review and operational meetings.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any stream.
• 2-3 years of experience managing field-based projects, preferably in rural or development settings.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and data collection platforms.
• Fluency in Tamil and working knowledge of English.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with social entrepreneurship models.
• Familiarity with the landscape of Tamil Nadu.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems proactively.

We aspire to be an inclusive and diverse organization and encourage qualified individuals irrespective of their religion, caste, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or any other dimension of identity, to apply.