Director of Technical Services - Tanzania

About Imagine Worldwide Tanzania

Imagine Worldwide Tanzania (Imagine-TZ) is a non-profit organization affiliated with Imagine Worldwide (IW), a global NGO committed to transforming education through innovative technology. Imagine-TZ seeks to demonstrate that children — when provided with access to personalized, tablet-based learning — can acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills with minimal adult supervision. By leveraging evidence-based digital learning solutions, Imagine partners with governments, schools, and communities to expand access to quality education for underserved children across the country.  Literacy and numeracy skills are the basis for a better life and the positive benefits to health, wealth, and social outcomes are multi-generational. However, 9 out of 10 children across Sub-Saharan Africa cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10. Imagine works with partners worldwide to confront this crisis, using data and research to continuously refine and scale its foundational learning solution.

Imagine- TZ has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), the President’s Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) in Zanzibar to implement a program known as MsingiTek. This program will be rolled out in five regions of mainland (Morogoro, Manyara, Shinyanga, Tabora, and Ruvuma) as well as across 11 districts of Zanzibar. The first phase of the program, launched in May 2025, will reach 533 public primary schools (500 in mainland Tanzania and 33 in Zanzibar) over the course of 15 months. If MsingTek  demonstrates improvements in literacy and numeracy outcomes, it will be scaled nationwide in close collaboration with the government. This initiative has the potential to transform the learning journey for millions of children across Tanzania.

About the Role

The role requires a  technically adept leader with a builder’s mindset; part strategist, part problem-solver, and just enough of a tech geek to get excited about data flows, software updates and solving connectivity issues. This is a unique opportunity for a person who thrives in early-stage environments and is passionate about building systems that work at scale; while improving education outcomes for millions of children.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise across hardware, software, and data systems, paired with a strong track record of managing large, complex, multi-stakeholder IT projects and people. You are equally comfortable designing country-wide technology strategies in close collaboration with government stakeholders as you are troubleshooting issues in the field. You bring a rare blend of systems thinking, on-the-ground execution, and the ability to get things done in complex, multi-layered government systems - building trust, navigating bureaucracy, and aligning stakeholders toward a shared vision. You are motivated by  working in dynamic, evolving yet sometimes tough environments.

 

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Technical Services will take overall responsibility for technology, data governance, repairs and maintenance, health and safety requirements for Imagine Worldwide Tanzania’s MsingiTek program, as well as the institutionalization of the program in selected regions in close collaboration with 

Lead Imagine’s mission to advance literacy and numeracy outcomes with an intent to unlock the potential of children in Tanzania:

• Facilitate a rollout and demonstrate successful implementation of tablet learning to advance literacy and numeracy outcomes in an initial 533 public primary schools by mid 2026, with strong evidence of learning impact, to enable nationwide adoption of the program and secure support from larger funders. 
• Institutionalise the program within existing structures of the Government of Tanzania and Zanzibar respectively.

Provide technology leadership:

• Manage the country’s technology strategy including, objectives, resource allocation, and plan adequately to support technical infrastructure requirements for reliable program implementation and monitoring;
• Develop and manage technology plans, budgets, schedules, and milestones across all existing sites, and support the expansion to new sites
• Apply and improve the Imagine Playbook (program manuals, processes, templates, and workplans) for implementation of technology tools and data governance, customizing for local context as required to maximize time on task
• Build relationships with technical leaders in the Ministries, develop strategies to support the their technology and data agenda, and advocate for Imagine’s technology and data strategy and systems
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to the Program Managers of our Implementation Service Providers (ISPs), ensuring adherence to key programmatic objectives
• Source and vet local partners for internet connectivity such as mobile operators and/or satellite providers, as well as additional local Technical Service Providers (TSPs) as required to assist with installations for ancillary equipment such as antennas, alarms, or routers and collaborate with Director of Finance and Operations to process orders
• Ensure effective communication between Imagine, the ISPs, the TSPs, and the Ministries by clearly outlining key technical activities, challenges, and programmatic needs to support program success, and serve as the primary liaison with the Ministry’s ICT technical teams. 
• Manage program risks with creative problem-solving and escalation as required

Oversee software and hardware testing and quality assurance: 

• Design and support quality assurance processes for onebillion (learning) software and Open Learning Architecture (Learning Management Software), any other applications and platforms helpful in program implementation, and management of tablets, wifi routers, and other electronic equipment, by reviewing test plans and ensuring alignment with programmatic objectives
• Oversee functional testing of all hardware and equipment and maintain the status of all equipment on inventory systems
• Establish and manage an Imagine test lab and oversee pilot testing at the lab and selected target schools, ensuring adequate engagement with Ministry stakeholders
• Compile, share, and report test results to Imagine Worldwide and stakeholders and advocate for Imagine’s interests
• Manage rollout of tested and approved software updates across all schools

Manage and improve the data pipeline and data quality of programs: 

• Continuously assess the integrity of the data pipeline across tablets, servers, routers, mobile network connectivity, network boosters, and satellite connectivity to maximize the number of schools reporting program data remotely
• Design and oversee testing processes for data quality of data obtained from tablets, monitoring systems, and other tools used to support the program
• Develop strategies to ascertain data accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency, and integrity
• Develop strategies to conduct data validation and cleansing, where required.

Lead IT asset management, repairs, and maintenance of program equipment: 

• Oversee asset management monitoring the equipment in the field, in terms of tracking to maximize visibility of equipment at school sites and optimize uptime and equipment performance
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance and Operations to co-ordinate reverse logistics required to enable repairs of program equipment
• Collaborate with Imagine Worldwide and the Ministry, to design a centralized repairs model and ultimately expand to a decentralized repairs model that leverages the capabilities of the local ecosystem to ensure long-term sustainability
• Oversee diagnostics of faulty equipment, stocking of spare parts, repairs and warranty claims
• Manage repairs and maintenance KPIs to maximize the lifetime of the equipment (maintenance costs, repair turnover, spare parts and tools ordering process, warranty claims).

Manage Occupational Health & Safety of program equipment: 

• Oversee implementation of health and safety policies for Imagine in the country with clear physical safety precautions for electrical equipment, physical security of high-value items
• Assess and mitigate risks for fire, electrical shocks, and any potential dangers to learners, educators, partners and staff
• Identify and partner with e-waste disposal organizations to manage disposal of program equipment that has reached end-of-life, and responsible use and disposal of electronic products.

Provide capacity building and technical training: 

• Develop materials and conduct training for installations, software updates, data collection, and issue management for Imagine ICT staff, ISP’s staff and government ICT staff
• Build capacity of team members, implementation partners, ministry staff, and district officials to adopt and use the standardised systems and tools that enable us to manage programs efficiently and effectively at scale
• Coach and mentor team members, field officers and Ministry staff to identify and resolve implementation issues in order to maximise time-on-task.
• Build a network of basic and advanced technical skills to maintain the program in the long-term.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Technology, Engineering, IT Project Management or any engineering discipline
• 10+ years of proven work experience as a technical or engineering executive or similar role, with a minimum of 5 years experience managing a team, preferably in an NGO context.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Ability to communicate technical information clearly, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience managing multi-site and multi-vendor IT projects
• Experience managing software and hardware quality assurance and testing processes 
• Experience managing data quality, data governance and data protection requirements
• Proven facilitation and technical training skills with diverse audiences
• Strong knowledge of computer hardware and software
• Experience of both iOS and Android operating systems
• Experience of using Github issues or similar to report and triage bugs
• Mac OS experience is beneficial

Qualities

•  Passion for Imagine’s mission and vision 
•  Demonstrated commitment to equity in educational access and outcomes
• Passion for project management
• Demonstrated ability to think independently and solve problems
• Collaborative team player; clear and proactive communicator
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

 

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

 

Location

The Director of Technical Services must be based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. We do not sponsor work permits for this role; candidates must be legally authorized to work in Tanzania.

 

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Imagine Worldwide is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.