How to apply for Director of Supply Chain Operations

About Imagine Worldwide

Imagine Worldwide is a nonprofit that improves literacy and numeracy for children in Sub-Saharan Africa using tablet-based adaptive learning. It operates through locally registered entities in Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania and partners with governments and communities. The model is designed to be scalable, evidence-based, and affordable for marginalized children.

About the role

The Director of Supply Chain Operations leads the design and optimization of in-country supply chain architecture in low-resource contexts. This role is critical for scaling tablet-based learning by ensuring devices, toolkits, and systems reach implementation sites reliably. The position is remote and full-time.

A typical day

A typical day might involve coordinating with in-country teams on device shipments, troubleshooting logistics issues, and planning supply chain improvements. You could also meet with partners to align on procurement and inventory needs. The role is remote, so much of the work is done via video calls and email.

Who Imagine Worldwide is looking for

• Experience designing or managing supply chains in low-resource or remote contexts, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Background in logistics, procurement, inventory management, or operations for hardware or education technology deployments.
• Ability to work with locally registered entities and partners across multiple countries.
• Comfort with remote work and collaboration with distributed teams.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience with supply chains in Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, or similar low-resource settings.
• Quantify your impact: number of devices deployed, cost savings, delivery timelines, or scale of operations you managed.
• Explain how you have worked with governments, NGOs, or community organizations to implement logistics.
• Address the remote nature of the role and your ability to coordinate across time zones and countries.
• Mention any familiarity with tablet-based learning or education technology supply chains.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your experience in low-resource supply chain design, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Describe how you have scaled operations for hardware or education technology. Show your ability to work with local entities and partners. Explain why you want to apply your supply chain skills to a nonprofit focused on literacy and numeracy.

Research before applying

• Learn about the onebillion application and how it is used in tablet-based learning.
• Review Imagine Worldwide's implementation model and partner countries: Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
• Understand the nonprofit's structure: incorporated in California with locally registered entities in Africa.
• Look for reports or case studies on their evidence-based approach and scalability.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you design a supply chain for tablet distribution in rural Malawi or Sierra Leone?
• Describe a time you optimized a supply chain in a low-resource context. What were the results?
• How do you handle procurement and inventory management when working with multiple in-country entities?
• What challenges do you anticipate in scaling tablet-based learning programs, and how would you address them?
• How would you collaborate with governments and community partners to ensure timely delivery and maintenance?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on corporate supply chain experience without showing adaptability to low-resource contexts.
• Ignoring the nonprofit and education technology aspects of the role.
• Failing to demonstrate experience working across multiple countries or with local entities.