Position Title: Senior Optometrist
Employer: The Fred Hollows Foundation
Employment: Full-Time | Permanent
Place of Work: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Posted date: 9 months ago
Deadline: Submission date is over
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Senior Optometrist will lead the delivery and management of a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded eye care project aimed at improving access to high-quality vision services for underserved communities. This role combines clinical expertise with project leadership, ensuring that all program activities align with donor objectives, organizational standards, and public health priorities. The Senior Optometrist will oversee clinical service delivery, guide a multidisciplinary team, build partnerships with stakeholders, ensure compliance with project milestones, and contribute to sustainable eye health system strengthening. They will play a key role in driving innovation, capacity building, data-driven decision-making, and ensuring measurable impact on community eye health outcomes.
ABOUT YOU
The Senior Optometrist role requires demonstrated strong understanding of diagnosing, treating and dispensing of spectacles for the needy to improve vision and avoid blindness, public health approaches, health system strengthening, and community outreach models, proven experience in team leadership, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, excellent project management, budgeting, and reporting skills, strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide clinical leadership, set quality standards, and oversee the delivery of optometry and eye care services.
- Supervise, mentor, and support optometrists, ophthalmic staff, and community health workers involved in the project.
- Ensure adherence to clinical protocols, safety guidelines, and ethical practices.
- Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all project activities, ensuring alignment with donor objectives and timelines.
- Develop and monitor project work plans, budgets, and reporting schedules.
- Liaise with the donor, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to foster collaboration and ensure smooth implementation.
- Lead training programs and continuous professional development activities for project staff and local health workers.
- Support the integration of eye care services into local health systems to ensure sustainability.
- Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting to track project outcomes and impact.
- Ensure timely submission of reports to donors and internal leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, research, and adoption of best practices to improve service delivery.
- Advocate for policies and programs that strengthen eye health systems and promote long-term improvements in community eye care.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED
- Master’s/ Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry.
- At least 7 years for Master’s Degree or 10 years for Batchelor’s Degree in clinical optometry experience, with at least 3 years in a program coordination role.
- Experience managing donor-funded or public health projects, preferably in eye care or related health sectors.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
- Clinical excellence and commitment to quality.
- Leadership and people management.
- Results-oriented and adaptable.
- Strong partnership-building and advocacy skills.
- Cultural sensitivity and commitment to equity and inclusion.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, advocate, and represent effectively, fluent in English, Afan Oromo, and Amharic, enhancing communication across diverse communities and stakeholders.
How we recognise your contribution
Through our internal programs and employee benefits we aim to create an environment where you will feel supported and empowered. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or finding an environment which enables you to thrive while balancing family or personal commitments, we have a range of programs in place to support you.
