I. TechnoServe Background:
TechnoServe is an international, non-profit economic development organization founded in 1968 out of a conviction that a vibrant private sector is an essential foundation for economic growth and poverty reduction. TechnoServe undertakes targeted, catalytic technical assistance and other programming to increase the competitiveness of entrepreneurs, businesses and industries that in-turn provide sustainable employment, inclusion of the poor and increased incomes. TechnoServe operates in 25 developing countries with over 1000 employees. A substantial portion of our work is in agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and commodity quality and addressing gaps in processing and other agribusiness capacities. Our programs increase smallholder access to new technologies, aggregation and storage mechanisms, markets, critical information and finance. TechnoServe also undertakes structured programs to identify and support high potential entrepreneurs in various sectors through leadership mentoring networks, formalization support, access to capital and development of sustainable business services such as accounting, finance, marketing and human resource management.II. Program Description:
Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE) is a TechnoServe program in partnership with USAID and Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), with the aims of increasing the competitiveness of the African food processing sector and expanding availability of affordable and nutritious foods. PFS is a non-profit organization formed by General Mills to link the technical and business expertise of volunteer employees from General Mills, Cargill, and Royal Dutch DSM. This program provides knowledge and technology transfer to build the capacity of African food processors, improving availability of nutritious foods and creating market opportunities for small holder farmers.III. Position Description:
To support the business component of the capacity building needs of Kenyan food processors. The SBA is responsible for assisting processors with customized business planning, investment plans, capital raising, overseeing market studies, developing customized processor marketing strategies, business operations, and provision of other business advisory services. This position will start November 1st 2012 and end September 30th 2014.Business Development:
- Responsible for all business related deliverables within the SAFE Kenya program activities;
- Maintain project workplan and ensure timely project implementation;
- Lead and facilitate the business component of the technology and knowledge transfer to supported food processors, including customized interventions with select processors as well as facilitate broader business related trainings to the sector through workshops;
- Support business growth planning with selected food processors, including marketing strategies, business planning, capital raising, equipment procurement, profit and loss forecasting, finance, market and operational planning;
- Develop strong understanding of local markets (both retail and food aid), oversee marketing studies for different food products and support market linkages for food processors;
- Develop an understanding of the raw material supply chain and support linkages between the raw material suppliers and food processors;
- Develop relations with financial lending institutions and support assisted food processing companies to access loans;
- Ensure business project activities are implemented with sound managerial, technical, financial, human resource, and overall programmatic practices;
- Participate in team meetings with the program team and implementing partners to track implementation progress, share learnings and provide input on the business component of our support to local food processors;
- Produce statistical and narrative reports for internal and external consumption, including success stories, challenges, case studies and impact results against selected indicators;
- Identify business knowledge gaps in the local food processing industry and, with our chosen partners, facilitate the design of a training module and lead implementation of this training through workshops;
- Oversee the business advisor/s staff in Kenya;
- Oversee the marketing survey team;
- Report to the senior country food technologist
- Maintain strong working relationships with the country food technologist/s, ensuring business support to their technical advice;
- Interface with other country and regional staff to share lessons, best practices and refine our engagement model for optimal efficiency and impact;
- Support country-level adaptation and use of standard templates and tools for key project deliverables;
- Work with program staff to identify program business needs;
- Liaise with regional management team and Kenya country director.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with program implementing partners;
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with relevant stakeholders in Kenya, including government ministries, financial institutions, private sector companies, business associations, and civil society organizations;
- Secure the support of relevant private sector firms, financial institutions, professional business councils/associations, and other stakeholders to support the initiative;
- Represent SAFE and TNS at internal and external functions;
- Understand, respect and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties.
IV. Required Skills & Experience:
- Advanced degree qualifications in business-related studies;
- Strong financial analysis and project management skills;
- Personnel management experience required;
- Minimum of five years’ experience with financial, business development and/or economic or financial analysis in the private sector;
- Experience in financial auditing, business diagnostics, business ratios, business plan development, conducting profit and loss analysis, loan requirements and loan management;
- Ability to quickly grasp the financial health and business needs of a company;
- Ability to translate financial and business needs into projects to be worked on with support from implementing partners;
- Strong presentation skills and ability to advise and coach senior company representatives on business capacity building needs and advice;
- Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills a must;
- Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports;
- Track record of building strong client and stakeholder relationships;
- Ability to identify and understand issues and opportunities, compare data from different sources to draw conclusions, use effective approaches for developing appropriate solutions, take action that is consistent with available facts and probable consequences, communicate with and seek guidance from regional program management team;
- Ability to generate innovative solutions in work situations;
- Proven ability and experience working with teams will be an added advantage.
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili required;
- Willingness to be based in Nairobi, ability to travel internationally and to remote rural locations.
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TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women are encouraged to apply.
Senior Business Manager: Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE), Kenya
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