About Sand

Sand Technologies is a global Physical AI company using data and AI to make critical industries work better. We partner with governments, cities and enterprises to improve how essential systems operate across healthcare, water, energy, telecommunications and infrastructure.

Our work delivers proven real-world impact. We have built AI systems that help manage London’s water supply, supported telecom network planning across hundreds of cities, and developed digital healthcare platforms serving tens of millions of people across Africa. From intelligent command centers to AI-powered infrastructure platforms, we help organizations sense, analyze and act in complex environments.

Our people are ambitious, curious and relentlessly practical. Our teams work alongside clients in the field, solving hard problems and deploying solutions that last. With colleagues across Africa, Europe, the UK and the US, we operate across the full stack - from research and engineering to deployment and capability building.

Our mission is simple: to harness AI to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.

About the role

Sand is scaling rapidly across Africa, partnering with Ministries of Health to deploy the Health Operating System (HOS) — a decision-support and execution platform that transforms how health systems sense, analyze, and act on data. The HOS is already operational across multiple countries, with plans to expand to 15 countries by end of 2026, supported by 80+ Forward Deployed Engineers.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical spearhead of our client engagement in Zambia. Unlike our roaming FDE roles, this is a permanently embedded position. You will be based full-time within the Ministry of Health in Zambia, becoming a long-term extension of the client's operational team. Your mandate is to build deep institutional relationships, develop comprehensive understanding of the national health system, and deliver sustained value over an extended engagement — not just rapid sprints, but lasting transformation.

This is not staff augmentation. You are an amalgamation of three roles:

1. The Software Engineer — Deep technical acumen to build and deploy production-grade solutions using Sand's product suite
2. The Product Manager — Strategic foresight to understand client problems, influence business objectives, and identify expansion opportunities
3. The Consultant — Client-facing finesse to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, manage scope, and transfer knowledge

Your primary mission is to prove our value fast, delivering functional solutions rapidly using Sand's products, playbooks, and tools, and then maturing those solutions into mission-critical infrastructure that the Ministry depends on daily. Over time, you become the institutional memory of the deployment — the person who understands the data landscape, the stakeholder dynamics, and the operational realities better than anyone.

Who We're Looking For

The Forward Deployed Engineer is a highly ambitious individual. You are someone who is deeply keen on learning — someone who dives in headfirst to solve some of the hardest, most complex problems in global health. You thrive on understanding the technology, understanding the stakeholders, understanding our product suite, and weaving all three together to deliver solutions that change how health systems operate.

This role is not for someone looking for comfort or routine. It is for someone who wants to step outside of their comfort zone, build something they can be proud of, and grow faster than they thought possible. The FDE programme is a career accelerator — an intensive rotation that exposes you to technical depth, strategic thinking, and client leadership in equal measure, all while working on problems that matter for millions of people.

For this permanently embedded role, you also need the maturity and resilience to sustain deep client relationships over months and years — not just weeks. You will become the face of Sand in Malawi, and that requires patience, cultural fluency, and the ability to navigate institutional complexity while maintaining momentum.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as Sand's Permanent Technical Presence in Zambia

• Embed full-time within the Ministry of Health, becoming a trusted member of the client's extended team
• Develop deep, longitudinal understanding of the national health data landscape, institutional dynamics, and operational priorities
• Build and maintain relationships across all levels of the Ministry — from frontline data officers to senior leadership
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for all Sand activities in-country, coordinating with launchers, country directors, and visiting FDE teams

Drive On-Site Value Delivery

• Rapidly unlock, explore, and integrate client data sources (e.g., DHIS2, SCADA systems, network management platforms, operational databases)
• Understand client problems through prototyping and rapid value delivery — deploying POCs and MVPs using Sand's product components and playbooks
• Transition initial solutions into hardened, production-grade systems that the Ministry relies on daily
• Own the long-term health of deployed solutions — monitoring adoption, troubleshooting issues, and iterating based on user feedback
• Deliver and track value generated through deployment of Sand products

Enable Product-Led Growth

• Lead with Sand's existing product suite — know the products by heart and where each solution is most effective for the domain you're deployed in
• Document learnings, client challenges, and successful solutions as reusable patterns for the broader FDE community
• Drive discovery and expansion by uncovering new opportunities on the ground

Build Local Capacity and Sustainability

• Work alongside Ministry teams to co-create solutions and progressively transfer knowledge, ensuring they can operate and maintain systems independently
• Identify, recruit, and mentor local data engineers, scientists, and analysts to build sustainable in-country capacity
• Develop training materials and documentation tailored to the local context, language, and skill level
• Be the continuity that ensures handover isn't a cliff — you bridge the gap between Sand's deployment and the Ministry's long-term ownership

Feed the Platform Feedback Loop

• Channel field learnings back to improve the core product through structured mechanisms (Technical Deep Dives, Solution Swarms, pattern documentation)
• Turn "gravel roads" into "paved superhighways" — document solution patterns so the next FDE can move faster
• Contribute field feedback that influences 30% of the product roadmap

Requirements — Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, data engineering, data science, system deployment, or technical leadership
• Proficiency in at least one of: Python, SQL/PostgreSQL, JavaScript — with ability to write production-grade code
• Strong problem-solving skills with a bias toward action and rapid prototyping
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills — comfortable presenting to senior government or corporate stakeholders and translating between technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience working with or deploying to government, public sector, or large institutional clients
• Proven ability to lead local technical teams and build capacity
• Willingness to relocate and be permanently based in Zambia for the duration of the engagement (12-24+ months)
• Language: Local language proficiency is a significant advantage

Requirements — Preferred

• Experience with data integration, ETL pipelines, and working with diverse data sources
• Experience in one or more of Sand's focus domains: health informatics/digital health, water utility operations, telecommunications network operations, or energy systems
• Familiarity with domain-specific platforms (e.g., DHIS2, OpenMRS for health; SCADA, GIS for water/energy; OSS/BSS for telecom)
• Experience with BI and dashboarding tools, particularly Apache Superset
• Experience with data transformation tools such as dbt or Airflow
• Comfort working with data dictionaries, reporting requirements, and identifying common data quality issues
• Knowledge of data security, privacy, and interoperability standards (e.g., FHIR for healthcare, GDPR, local data sovereignty requirements)
• Experience operating in resource-constrained environments (unreliable power, limited connectivity)

Work Environment

This is a permanently embedded role. You will work on-site at the Ministry of Health in Zambia 4 days per week, with 1 day for focused remote work, internal collaboration, and knowledge sharing with the broader FDE community. You should expect to be based in Zambia for a minimum of 12-24 months.

You must be self-driven, comfortable operating as Sand's primary technical representative in-country, and disciplined with online collaboration tools to stay connected with the broader Sand team across geographies. Cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and genuine interest in the local context are essential — you are not passing through, you are putting down roots.

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

One Acre Fund operates throughout Central and Southern Province in Zambia. In recent years, we pivoted to a climate-smart agriculture-based program in response to the unique challenges. Our approach is more focused on carbon sequestration and the generation of carbon credits to create a sustainable, scalable impact. Our office in Zambia is located in Kabwe.

About the Role

The Financial Advisory Services Specialist in Zambia supports the financial health and sustainability of One Acre Fund’s Carbon and Core programs. You'll collaborate closely with local and Global Finance teams to lead budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting that directly influence program performance and organizational strategy. You'll work within a two-person Zambia FAS team, consisting of a FAS Associate and this Specialist role.

Responsibilities

Budgeting, Monthly Budget v Actual (BVA) + Grant ReportingYou will work with department heads to set annual budgets and manage monthly BVA process

• You will present new strategies and assessments to stakeholders in compelling arguments
• You will provide important assessments of all budgets and cost projections and conduct cost-benefit analyses for individual departments and the organization as a whole through examining current spending, financial forecasts, and overall goals to make recommendations and guide decisions.
• You will conduct monthly marginal analysis for all Zambia business units to provide analytical support on key causes
• You will work with department heads to strategize ways to maximize cost efficiency at all levels without compromising quality and will roll out clear cost-saving programs with timelines and assessment goals.
• You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdependency of cost drivers
• You will present monthly, quarterly, and annual management account reports to the Country Director and the leadership team.
• You will prepare quarterly grant reports for active grants with strict adherence to donor reporting requirements and timelines.

Complex Grants Management

• You will oversee the management of complex grants, ensuring adherence to donor requirements and reporting.
• You will lead the preparation of comprehensive donor budget reports and forecasts, monitor grant spending versus budget, and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• You will develop and manage a comprehensive fund flow model to ensure adequate liquidity for operational needs, including grant-restricted activities. Proactively coordinate with the payments team to initiate fund transfers between entities as required.
• You will act as a liaison between the finance team, the field team and the fundraising team, providing regular updates on grant progress, compliance, and financial performance.
• You will continuously evaluate and enhance our grant tracking systems, databases, and reporting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Monthly Payroll Quality Check (QC)

• You will conduct a monthly payroll review of field and office (HQ) staff and explain variances compared to the previous month and compared to budget
• You will provide a high-level explanation of the variances to the Country Director (CD) before approving the payment request

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Degree in Accounting/Finance; part-qualified ACCA or ZICA member
• Advanced Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI fluency
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail for "nitty-gritty" errors,
• 4+ years in accounting, finance, or audit with strong financial modelling skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kabwe and Lusaka, Zambia

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off 

Contract Duration

2 Years

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Zambia.

Application Deadline

15 June 2026. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Finance Advisor will provide targeted HIV-specific technical support to strengthen program implementation, financial compliance, and reporting accuracy across all HIV-related activities, in alignment with the Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives on life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA). This support will include guiding the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) on budget alignment with HIV program priorities and enhancing the capacity of implementing teams to plan, track, and report HIV expenditures effectively. The aim is to improve the quality, efficiency, and accountability of HIV program financing while supporting timely and accurate financial documentation. The Finance Advisor will report to the Team Leader and the NAC-appointed finance/resource tracking focal person. Outputs will be reviewed by NAC and relevant counterparts as designated. The Finance Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State on monthly basis, as detailed in the “Reporting” section. The Advisor will support the NAC in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. 

Responsibilities

To provide costing, resource mapping, and financing analysis inputs that strengthen the feasibility and sustainability of the NAC three-year strategic projection. The role will strengthen the National AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF)-aligned results framework and ensure the three-year strategic projection is supported by a clear, measurable, and feasible indicator and target package aligned with national data systems and Global Fund performance requirements.

Specific responsibilities and tasks in relation to the Grant Cycle 8 Global Fund application:

• Review existing costing, expenditure, resource tracking and financing analyses relevant to the NASF 2023-2027 and the planned priorities.
• Develop a high-level costing estimate for the three-year strategic projection, including key assumptions, unit costs where available, and linkages to prioritized interventions.
• Conduct resource mapping and financing gap analysis for the next three years (domestic resources, partner resources and anticipated Global Fund contributions), as feasible within available data.
• Support articulation of the financing and sustainability narrative for domestic resource mobilization in line with sustainability road map including considerations and financial risk mitigation.
• Propose a practical costing and resource summary table (and supporting notes) that can be adapted into the grant budget narrative and implementation arrangements.
• Support consultations and validation meetings, including documenting finance-related feedback and incorporating it into final deliverables.

Role-specific deliverables in relation to the Grant Cycle 8 Global Fund application:

• Costing and resource mapping summary for the three-year projection (with assumptions and limitations clearly stated).
• Financing gap analysis and suggested options to address key gaps (brief narrative note).
• Costing/resource tables suitable for inclusion in the strategic projection.
• Necessary inputs for a complete GC8 Application (to be determined)

REPORTING

The Senior Advisor/Team Lead will submit monthly reports to the U.S. Department of State submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Reporting to and receiving technical guidance from the NAC Director General (DG) or his designate, the Advisor will work closely with the U.S. Department of State (DoS)/Zambia and LEAP Global teams. Based at the NAC Secretariat in Lusaka, the Advisor will coordinate site visits and any extended off-site work with the NAC DG or designate and DoS/Zambia. Quarterly meetings will be held with DoS/Zambia to review progress and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in financial management or accounting, management or business administration is required.
• Postgraduate qualification in health economics, public finance, accounting/finance, public health, development economics, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in health programme costing, budgeting, financing analysis, and/or resource mapping, preferably in HIV/TB programmes.
• Demonstrated experience with donor-funded programme budgeting.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to work with incomplete data and transparently document assumptions.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to communicate technical costing information to non-technical audiences.
• Experience with national health financing reforms, domestic resource mobilization, and sustainability planning.
• Familiarity with Zambia’s public financial management context and health financing landscape (advantage).
• Advanced Excel-based costing and modelling skills.
• Proven team leadership and mentorship skills.
• Demonstrated experience aligning work to results and performance frameworks.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including working with government, local organizations, and community representatives.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and synthesis skills, with demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, programme management, and problem-solving skills.
• At least five years of experience with, or strong knowledge of, Global Fund operating procedures and financial management processes.
• Understanding of USG rules and regulations preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of Ministry of Health, NAC, and USG personnel and partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve consensus on policy, programme, and administrative matters.
• Strong communication skills for both health and non-health audiences.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, tact, and diplomacy to build sustainable working relationships with public and private organizations.
• Excellent written communication skills for preparing reports, documentation, and briefing papers.
• Strong computer skills for implementing, analyzing, monitoring, and managing activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.
• Experience in teaching, training, and capacity building.
• Experience working with key stakeholders in HIV/TB/STI programming, preferably national stakeholders and international donors.
• Work authorization in Zambia is required.