World Concern Business Development Specialist / Trainer Job in South Sudan

World Concern Development Organization
 

Position Title: Business Development Specialist / Trainer
 

Location: South Sudan
 

Reports to: Projects Manager
 

Employment Terms: Contract

Background of the Project: The “British Department for International Development” (DFID) has contracted” (GIZ) to implement the “Urban Food Security, Livelihood and Markets” (UFSLM) program in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr al Ghazal and Warrap States of South Sudan in conjunction with international NGOs. 

 

GIZ will be contracting World Concern Development Organization to implement Access to Finance/Matching Fund one of the sub components of the UFSLM program.

The sub-component “Access to Finance, Matching Fund” (AF/MF) is providing access to grants for dynamic small to medium businesses and start-ups to grow their business and .

The approach shall be based on a proactive business plan model with a clear focus on robust economic feasibility even under difficult framework conditions to enhance the perspectives for sustainable operation and income generation.

Primary Functions:

 
Reporting to the Projects Manager, the Matching Fund Business Development Specialist/Trainer will be responsible for the oversight of assessments, subcomponent coordination and development, overall implementation of activities and supervisory and managerial responsibility of the sub component staff. 

The Business Development Specialist will be expected to provide technical advice and capacity building of the MF staff in the achievement of the Matching Fund objectives and quality programming by ensuring innovativeness in the implementation of the activities, robust beneficiary participation and screening, as well as coordination with other subcomponent activities carried out by other agencies.

Core Responsibilities:
 

The main function of this position will include providing technical advice, leading MF team, training beneficiaries and reporting.
 

Leadership and Representation

• Provide technical advice and direction to staff and beneficiaries  on issues related to MF sector.


• Communicate sub component goals and objectives with key team members, beneficiaries, local and national government, and other agencies operating in the sector area.


• Convey information and ideas and effectively coordinate the sector activities to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.


• Participate in State level sector and cluster coordination activities and meetings.


• Participate in the Country Management Team meetings and activities


• Participate and represent World Concern in all UFSLM project coordination meetings

Program Management

• In a participatory manner, develop and implement work plans with clear indicators, expected outputs and timeframes


• Offer expert and professional services to Matching Fund beneficiaries, and enable them to overcome challenges affecting their businesses


• Equip Matching Fund entrepreneurs with skills on how to develop business plans and how to run feasible and viable businesses. 


• Facilitate and manage the process of setting up structures, procedures, due diligence and negotiation terms for managing and disbursing the Matching Fund.


• Support Matching Fund beneficiaries start or expand their business by providing tailored advice, information, training, referrals and support.


• Ensure entrepreneurial best standards are attained during the project implementation


• Build the capacity of the Matching Fund staff to ensure their optimal production and quality activities implementation


• Coordinate with program, finance, administrative, and logistics staff at all levels to ensure program systems are in compliance with World Concern policies and procedures and donor requirements.


• Ensure activities implementation is on time, on target and on-budget using effective project tracking systems.


• Ensure World Concern remains accountable to the local government, the donors, and the beneficiaries

Team Management and Staff Supervision

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.


• Promote stewardship and accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.


• Support the sector team members to attain optimal result through adequate orientation on their jobs as well as providing them with the necessary information, tools and other resources to enable them perform their work as expected.


• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.


• Working closely with the Projects Manager, Country Director, Regional Security Officer and national security focal point to provide regular clear security information to enable the staff make decisions that enhance their personal safety and security.

Communication and Organizational Learning

• Construct an atmosphere where the sector team have a positive approach to their work, and embrace challenges as opportunities to innovate. 


• Write and submit timely, informative, high quality and comprehensive reports to World Concern relevant government authorities and donors using approved standards and formats


• Ensure documentation and synthesizing of lessons learnt during program implementation, and develop methods of their integration to on-going and future sector activities to help the organization become increasingly more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities served.


• With the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, develop ME protocols for the project and ensure that observations made from ME exercises are communicated to the staff and the recommendations made are integrated in on-going activities and in future program design and plans.

Minimum skills, education and experience required:

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Marketing, Economics, Commerce, Business or related field/s.


• Demonstrated experience in small business development and management (own business or by providing business development services), experience with small business financing, market analysis and market research or Microfinance.


• Demonstrated experience in community economic development and community empowerment.


• Practical and proven knowledge on how to prepare business plans for small to medium and startup businesses.


• Knowledge of community development, empowerment and mentoring approaches.


• 5 years previous experience working with a development organization. Experience in working in conflict zones will be added advantage.


• Proven, successful experience in project/program management and/or development


• Ability to multi-task and think quickly in a rapidly changing environment, especially under pressure


• Involvement (either volunteer or professional) with church or church related work

Working Conditions:

• Requires periodic travel to areas of significant insecurity


• Field travel can involve driving on bad roads. Some additional travel to other regions may be required.


• Frequent travel within the three states(Western Bahr El Ghazal, Northern, Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap States)


• Living conditions in the field may at times be harsh.


• Limited access in the field to medical care


• May require working extended hours and on weekends/holidays to meet deadlines.


• Multi-cultural, Multi-ethnic organizational work environment.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit an application letter and a detailed CV to: worldconcernhr@wcdro.org. 

Indicate on the subject the Job Title. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.  

Closing date for receiving applications is 20th December, 2015 on or before 16.00hrs.