Portfolio Director - Dar es Salaam Market Systems Development Programme

About the Programme

A proposed DFID-funded urban market systems development programme aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability in Dar es Salaam, with a specific focus on women and youth. The programme has the potential to operate in market systems including, but not limited to, construction, water and sanitation, pre-primary education, ICT, tourism and waste management.

Role Description

The Portfolio Director will provide leadership in market systems thinking and facilitation for the proposed DFID-funded Dar es Salaam Market Systems Development Programme.

As part of the programme management team, the Portfolio Director will oversee and guide the design of a portfolio of interventions. Once the intervention portfolio is active, the Portfolio director will support and mentor members of the programme team to develop facilitation capacity and deliver exceptional results. This will include carrying out research, identifying and following up on new opportunities within target market systems, developing partnerships with key market players (private companies, government bodies, representative associations, etc.), and training team members and other relevant stakeholder in facilitation skills.

Key tasks

• Supporting setting of a clear, relevant and achievable strategy for the programme, ensuring cohesion with overall approach and goals.
• Overseeing development and periodic updating of system analyses and intervention plans for selected sectors, and new sectors / interventions as required.
• Providing strategic and technical input to the programme team to support delivery of high-quality interventions. This is expected to include extensive coaching on market systems development and facilitation skills in particular.
• Quality assurance of technical delivery on component activities and outputs.
• Ensuring that the principles of the programme are maintained in all activities.
• Supporting the programme team to identify partners for the project and develop suitable offers of support. Overseeing effective partner engagement.
• Supporting use of process-planning tools (e.g. work planning).
• Delivering technical assistance to project partners as required, including business plan development, advising on sales and marketing, developing innovative business models, and basic financial modelling.

Qualifications and experience

• Relevant postgraduate qualification in economics, business, or other relevant field, and at least 10 years’ experience working in market system development programmes;
• Proven experience in managing high-performing teams;
• Demonstrated experience in market system analysis and research, design of sector strategies, and the ability to develop deals and form partnerships with the private sector, government and other key market players;
• Experience working in the private sector is desirable;
• Good understanding of political economy issues in Tanzania and particularly in Dar es Salaam;
• Experience working in Tanzania, and particularly Dar es Salaam, is desirable;
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency in Kiswahili is desirable; and
• Teamwork, enthusiasm and flexibility.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates are welcome to submit a cover letter, CV and references to david.owens-callan@adamsmithinternaitional.com indicating "Portfolio Director” in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The successful candidate will be offered a competitive package and must be available to start work by March 2016.