Digital Innovation and Technology Manager

• Job TitleDigital Innovation and Technology Manager
• OrganisationSpark MicroGrants
• Reports ToSenior Program Design Director
• LocationUganda, Ghana, Rwanda or Malawi
• Experience5+ years
• DeadlineRolling

Spark MicroGrants believes in a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. It has worked in 1,000+ villages in 6 countries and pioneered a community-driven development model in sub-Saharan Africa.

Its model combines facilitated village meetings with a small discretionary grant to catalyse local action, and it works with NGO and government partners, including the World Bank, to scale the approach.

The Digital Innovation and Technology Manager connects technology to programme quality, working with Design, M&E, Operations and Programs teams to test, adopt and scale digital tools responsibly.

Digital Innovation

• Identify uses of emerging technology, including AI, to improve training, facilitation and cost effectiveness, and lead design, piloting and field testing.
• Test technology improvements for M&E with Product and M&E teams.
• Manage the Content Player, ChatBot, IVR hotline and SMS outreach workstreams.
• Monitor pilot performance and risk and recommend adapting, scaling or discontinuing.

Tool Development and Rollout

• Lead uptake of new tools through testing, training, documentation and support.
• Oversee vendors and contracts, including scopes, deliverable approval and payments.
• Translate programme needs into technical requirements and work with developers.

Responsible AI and Change

• Lead Spark’s AI working group and develop risk assessment frameworks for digital tools.
• Train staff on the opportunities and limits of emerging technology.
• Represent Spark’s digital work to government and NGO partners.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Machine Learning or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years managing technology or digital innovation projects, e-learning, L&D or technology-enabled international development.
• Expert knowledge of data integration and ETL.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python or PowerShell.
• Experience developing or managing digital products and cross-functional projects from pilot to launch.
• Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies, including AI, in social impact.

Technical Skills

• Digital products: ChatBot, IVR, SMS.
• ETL and Python: Data and automation.
• Vendor management: Scopes and approvals.
• AI risk assessment: Responsible adoption.

Soft Skills

• Translation: Tech to non-tech.
• Project management: Many workstreams.
• Creativity: Practical innovation.
• Influence: Building buy-in.

Salary is based on geographic location and commensurate with experience. Spark offers a community of thought partners, autonomy to shape your role and respect for work-life balance.

• Lead AI and digital at an NGO.
• Based from Uganda.
• Real products at national scale.
• Field testing with users.
• Strong pick among IT jobs in Uganda.

Apply online through Spark MicroGrants’ careers portal. You will need a CV and answers to Spark’s screening questions, including your salary expectation and which countries you can work from.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and Spark may close the process at any time, so apply early. See more NGO jobs in Uganda.

• Show digital products you’ve shipped.
• Explain a pilot you scaled or stopped.
• Mention AI governance work.
• State Uganda as your base.
• Apply early, it’s rolling.