Position: VP of Sales and Operations

Location: New York - with 30% international travel

Organization: VisionSpring (formerly Scojo Foundation) is a global social enterprise, currently operating in 13 countries, which creates jobs and sustains livelihoods through the sale of affordable reading glasses to the 700 million people who require clear, up-close vision to read and work.

VisionSpring trains low-income men and women as "Vision Entrepreneurs" to start microfranchises that conduct vision screenings within local communities, sell affordable reading glasses, and refer those who require advanced eye care to reputable clinics.

Description: The VP of Sales and Operations is responsible for the leadership and management of VisionSpring's global operations team and the achievement of their operational and sales objectives. The position is a key member of the senior management team and is actively involved in shaping the future direction of the organization.

For more information - including a detailed job description - contact Gretchen Anderson at On-Ramps.

A key issue that the BoP development world currently faces is generating a tangible connection between markets, enterprise and the poor. After all, if we are going to alleviate poverty through enterprise, we require effective strategies that enable the BoP to participate in profitable business endeavors as well as markets that serve the BoP's needs sufficiently.

In light of this difficult obstacle, WBI has taken steps to provide insight into how BoP development can be engaged successfully through its release of the special report "Business and Poverty: Opening Markets to the Poor." The report's 18 chapters-each about eight pages long-analyzes various effective strategies, obstacles and prospects for NGOs, non-profit organizations, corporations, banks, MFIs, and local enterprises working to serve those who are most marginalized and impoverished-the BoP.

Though the World Bank report does not provide comprehensive statistical analysis explaining clear steps that can be taken in order to address barriers to serving the BoP, it does offer numerous case studies regarding successful business models. It also offers supplementary analysis, which details how and why each example project was effective, and outlines what will need to be overcome in future years.

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