Job Details

Description

TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A nonprofit organization operating in 29 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. By linking people to information, capital and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.

Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the ImpactMatters charity ratings agency.

Job Summary:

TechnoServe seeks an experienced Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Lead for an anticipated trade and investment facilitation program in Ghana. The SME Lead will have the exciting opportunity to help improve the SME support ecosystem in Ghana, facilitating capacity building, access to resources, and investment in SMEs, particularly along the value chains of key export-oriented crops.

Program Overview:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) anticipates funding the five-year Ghana Trade and Investment Activity. The project will utilize a market systems approach to facilitate reforms and improve the enabling environment for trade and investment in Ghana. The project will focus on supporting transformation of Ghana’s agriculture sector, specifically promoting investment in higher-value commercial value chains geared toward the export market.

The project has three main components: 1) Investment Promotion, 2) Trade Facilitation, and 3) SME development.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Lead project activities related to SME development, ensuring excellence in execution
• Engage key stakeholders in the SME support ecosystem and pertinent associations within priority value chains
• Provide strategic guidance and technical leadership regarding the project’s approach to SME development
• Continuously develop operational efficiencies and drive innovations in delivery under project component
• Supervise long- and short-term team members implementing SME development activities

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in agricultural economics, international development, business, economics, public policy or other relevant area
• 7 years of experience in relevant private sector or development programs.
• At least 3 years of experience leading SME capacity building, with previous experience utilizing a market systems development approach
• Experience in relevant agricultural market systems and/or in relevant support markets (e.g. inputs, agri-processing/marketing, storage etc.) as well as understanding of production systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with agribusinesses, private sector experience preferred
• Experience living and working in Ghana or West Africa.
• Experience implementing USAID-funded programs and knowledge of USAID regulations and procedures.
• Track record of building win-win partnerships between multiple agriculture sector stakeholders, including agribusinesses, public sector, financial institutions, technology providers, and others.
• Experience successfully implementing gender-integrated programs.
• Demonstrated ability to use adaptive management principles to make strategic, data-driven decisions in the face of uncertainty and complexity.

Required Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required
• Fluency in other local languages a plus

Travel

• Moderate across Ghana; at least 30%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-disciplinary and challenging field operations in developing countries, West Africa preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and ability to effectively motivate and manage teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong private sector market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker.
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving, consensus building and coordination of diverse stakeholders.
• Results-oriented, with demonstrated experience achieving project targets.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and activities.
• Ability to develop well written, cohesive analyses and reports.

 Note – this position is contingent based on donor approval. 

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

Travel Required