Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Senior Business and Marketing Linkages Advisor
Job Category: Operations
Requisition Number: SENIO002296
Job Title Senior Business and Market Linkages Advisor, AINFP Tanzania
Department Programs
Location Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Grade 8

TechnoServe Background
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With nearly five decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

Program Description
TechnoServe is implementing the USAID funded Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) regional program in collaboration with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS). The program leverages the power of the private sector to create better nutritional outcomes for base-of-the-pyramid consumers and more profitable market opportunities for local farmers. This is achieved by supporting local food processing companies in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia through remote technical assistance and training from world leading food processing companies under PFS to increase the availability of safe, affordable and nutritious food.

Job Purpose
Reporting to Program Manager, the Senior Business and Market Linkages Advisor will facilitate upstream and downstream relationships for processors of nutritious foods in the project country, toward creating a more inclusive sector. Specifically, s/he will be the driving force behind assisting selected food processors supported under AINFP in two key areas:

Identification and building of positive linkage opportunities between assisted processors and smallholder farmer suppliers of raw material
Expected outcomes will include: increased effectiveness and efficiency of processor’s supply chains; increased consistency and quality of raw material sourced in accordance with the processor’s requirements; establishment of more direct and longer term trading relationships between smallholder farmer suppliers and selected processors.
Support to processors to develop sales and distribution channels for nutritious food products from assisted processors to low income and vulnerable population markets.
Expected outcomes will include: improved availability of safe, nutritious food products for low-income consumers; increased sales of nutritious food products by targeted AINFP-supported enterprises; increased job-creation including in the informal retail sector; lower transaction costs and reduced price of nutritious products for poorer consumers.
S/he will collaborate with other team members, in-country and across the project, to ensure coordinated and impactful implementation.

Duties & Responsibilities
Smallholder Supply Chains
• Develop strategy to achieve AINFP targets for linking smallholder farmers (SHF) and food processors
• Make a compelling business case to processors to integrate smallholder farmers in their supply chain. Support processors who source from smallholder farmers to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of these linkages for mutual benefit.
• Facilitate purchase agreements between processors and smallholder farmer groups / cooperatives. Encourage processors to resource investment in smallholder farm production to support quality and reliable supply.
• Nurture and maintain a network in the food processing and farming communities to establish demand for raw materials prioritized by off-takers, and supply options from individual farmers, groups, primary cooperatives, farmers’ unions etc.
• Ensure smallholder farmer groups / farmers’ cooperatives understand processor product requirements.
• Provide technical assistance to processors to put together realistic sourcing strategy and plans and build business relations with suppliers
• Explore options for webinars or in-person training in the area of smallholder sourcing

Low Income (Bottom of Pyramid) Markets
• Through both secondary and primary information gathering, develop an understanding of and document low-income markets. Map existing distribution chains and informal retail capacity, determine pricing and product demand. Conduct market surveys and assessments as required.
• Identify strategies to deepen penetration of BoP markets with nutritious foods, including new product development, packaging, pricing and promotion, and development of new distribution channels.
• Identification and mobilization of innovative distribution channels, building on existing structures where feasible, e.g. informal retailers, community-based distributors, micro-franchisees. Explore potential of emerging and innovative digital approaches
• Coordinate with the rest of the country team to facilitate processor access to appropriate technical assistance and business finance.
• Build relationship and seal deals between food processors and BOP market distributors through facilitating B2B meetings or other forms of market linkage platforms
• Oversee case studies of BoP marketing. Assess the strongest opportunities and build the business case for processors

Sector Wide Training
As appropriate, in collaboration with the Capacity Development Lead/Training Manager provide technical input, with local service providers, on development of Sector Wide Trainings on informal marketing and retail approaches.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• In collaboration with the M&E Manager identify appropriate pathways to impact, progress and impact indicators and develop monitoring systems.
• Monitor progress toward project objectives, manage collection of relevant reporting data, review data and make recommendations to adapt program approach as necessary to maximize impact.
• Provide anecdotal evidence of impact, including success stories, case studies and lessons learnt.
• Contribute well-written, cohesive sections of narrative reports for submission to the donor.
• Ensure activities carried out are in accordance with TechnoServe and donor requirements.

Representation
Coordinate with local stakeholders, participating in relevant business or industry forums and represent the program at the country level in order to learn and share our learning.
Work with stakeholders operating in the same space ensure that the program contributes to the national agenda on smallholder supply chains and low income marketing.

Gender Integration
Understand all gender integration requirements (donor as well as internal to TechnoServe), review progress towards gender targets and make suggestions for course correction to PM

Required Skills and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Marketing or related area with 5-7 years’ experience, or preferably Master’s Degree with minimum 3-5 years’ experience.
• At least 3-5 years’ professional experience in food market systems, including experience working in the private sector.
• Successful experience linking smallholder farmers with buyers, particularly processors.
• Proven experience working with BOP markets
• Demonstrated understanding of gender issues in agriculture or market systems.
• Experience with agricultural commodities/product pricing and contract structures preferred.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills and good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint).
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills.

Success Factors
Competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) directly related to successful performance on the job.

Core Competencies include:
• Integrity and honesty: Is widely trusted; seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain.
• Team Work/ Relationships: Works co-operatively and flexibly with other members of the team with a full understanding of the role to be played as a team member and/or leader, to achieve a common goal. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and networks.
• Learning attitude: Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn. Actively identifies new areas for learning; applies and shares new knowledge and skill appropriately.
• Diversity/Inclusiveness: Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts. Interacts effectively with and inclusively with people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, ages, and genders.
• Communication: Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations. Listens effectively; shares information, ideas and arguments; adjusts terminology, language and communication modes to the needs of the audience; ensures accurate understanding; acts in a way that facilitates open exchange of ideas and information; uses appropriate non-verbal communication.
• Decision making/Problem Solving: Is able to analyze situations, diagnose problems, identify the key issues, establish and evaluate alternative courses of action and produce a logical, practical and acceptable solution. Is able to make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary.
• Results Oriented/ High Quality Deliverables: Stays focused on the efforts necessary to achieve quality results consistent with programmatic or departmental goals. Demonstrates the ability to achieve effective results; works persistently to overcome obstacles to goal achievement. Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks.
• Planning & Time Management: Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Effectively plans, schedules, prioritizes and controls activities; identifies, integrates and orchestrates resources (people, material, information, budget, and/or time) to accomplish goals. Prioritizes work according to the program or department’s goals, not just own job responsibilities; manages own time effectively.
• Business Acumen: The ability to use information, ask the right questions and take decisions that make an impact on the overall business performance.

Job Specific/Technical Competencies include:
• Computer Literacy- Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use specific computer programs or applications for own functional area. Having the ability to improve performance by integrating new and existing technology into the workplace.
• Donor/Partnership Management: Identifies opportunities and builds strategic relationships with other organizations to help achieve business goals.
• Analysis, Research, Report Writing: Experience in business planning and analysis, modeling for feasibility and execution. Able to analyze and express oneself clearly in business writing.
• Innovative Mindset: Curious inquiries, asks questions and seeks out information from multiple sources, learns from mistakes, sees change as an opportunity.
• Internal Client Focus: Client Focus is based on the ability to understand the organization’s needs and concerns in the short to long-term and to provide sound recommendations and/or solutions.

Career Pathways:
The positions that may be a next career opportunity for employees in this job title include Program Manager or Portfolio Manager.

Education Requirement: No Requirements

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Job application procedure
Qualified and interested applicants should submit a non-returnable single Word-formatted document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history. The final deadline for application is February 7, 2022. Women are encouraged to apply.
Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be considered or contacted.
Apply at: https://bit.ly/3IB89oo 

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