Commercial Lead, AppLab Money Incubator

Status:  Full time project contractor (between 6 months and 1 year)

Locations: Uganda, Kenya or India

Classification:   Exempt

Start Date:  October 2013

Job   Summary:   The  Commercial  Lead will  be  a  commercial  expert within  the AppLab Money Incubator  team and  will be  expected to drive  the development  of  truly  innovative business models to provide financial services to the poor. He/she will be deeply embedded in all aspects of the product development process, from initial research and  analysis to final prototyping  and  evaluation.    The  Commercial  Lead will  be  responsible  for  ensuring  the mobile  products we   develop  are  commercially  sustainable  for  our   partners  while   also meeting  the needs of  poor users. There are  currently  vacancies  for  Commercial  Leads within the Ugandan, Kenyan and  India Incubator teams.

The  project:  Mobile  money has  yet to reach its  full potential.   Though nearly  150  mobile network operators have  deployed mobile money, few  have  successfully reached poor consumers.    Even   fewer  have   explored   the  latent   demand  for   anything   other  than payments products—from savings, to micro-insurance, to loans.   To address this problem, Grameen Foundation  (GF)  is working  to set up  incubator  teams in several  countries  that test innovations in mobile financial services. The incubator combines in-depth research approaches  with   rapid   product  testing   to  develop   mobile   financial   services   that  are appropriate for the poor and  move the industry beyond payments.

The  Commercial  Lead will be  joining  a diverse  team of  highly  motivated  individuals  with  a passion  for  developing  commercially  sustainable  products for  the poor.  For  example,  in Uganda, we  comprise a range of skills – from a PhD in mobile money to research experts to an IT guru  who has launched mobile deployments across Africa  and  a former UK retail bank product manager. We  are  looking for  a new creative, commercially-minded team member to join us.

Reporting and  relationships:  The position will report directly to the Project Manager. Availability:   The  Commercial  Lead will be  expected to work a typical  work week of  40.

hours plus  additional hours to get the job  done.  This candidate will need to be  flexible to work in local  conditions, and  be  available to work across different time zones. This position will  require  travel  (15%-20%)  within  country, and   periodic  travel  to other countries  as needed.

Essential Job  Functions

•    Drive   the  process  of   developing   innovative   approaches to  monetizing   financial products:

o   Develop new models for sustainable mobile financial services products for the poor

o   Model  the economics  of  these options  and  provide  recommendations  on  a path forward

o   Work with our  partners to ensure these models will be  successful within their current operations

•     Work with  the AppLab Money team to conduct research into  the needs of  poor households:

o   Conduct secondary and  primary  research activities  to understand behaviors and needs

o   Analyze current financial  services offerings and  understand gaps that can  be addressed

•     Work with the team throughout the product development and piloting process:

                  o   Drive team ideation sessions to develop new ideas  from field insights

o   Support  development   of   prototypes  and   field   testing   with   our   product designers

o   Monitor  and  evaluate  consumer testing  of  products throughout a  series  of pilots

•     Support the project  manager in maintaining  the relationship  with  our  donor and  in developing new potential partnerships:

    o   Help  create and  present materials to share our work with our partners

    o   Identify  and   meet  with  other  potential  partners who  could   support  new products

•    Help  the team document findings in various forms (blogs, monthly updates, reports etc.)

•    Provide training and  mentorship in business and  commercial skills to junior  staff team members

Required Knowledge, Skills, and  Abilities

•    Has  a  deep commitment  to eradication  of  poverty and  alignment  with  Grameen

Foundation’s mission

•    Believes  in  the potential  to leverage  information  and   communication  technology

(ICTs) for the benefit of poor people

•    Is able to bring creativity, innovation, and a thirst for new ideas  to our team

•    Has strong written and  oral communication skills

•    Has strong analytical and  business modeling skills

•    Has deep knowledge of Microsoft office products (excel, powerpoint, word, etc.)

•    Experienced working in developing countries preferred, but not required

Education and  Experience

•    A bachelors degree

•     2-3+ years experience in management consulting or an equivalent role

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.

Compensation:   The  Commercial  Lead will be  compensated with  a competitive  monthly stipend and  a round-trip plane ticket from his/her home country. All business-related travel will be covered throughout the duration of the contract.

Additional  Comment:   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.

To Apply: Interested candidates may  apply by email  to jobs@applab.org.    Please put “AMI – Commercial Lead” in the subject line.  No calls please.