Business Advisor at TechnoServe (8 Openings)

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit 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 more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Business Advisor

Requisition number: BUSIN004209
Locations: Lagos and Anambra
Job Schedule: Full time
Job Category: Sales
Job category: Programs
Reports to: Senior Business Specialist
Project: Nigeria Plastic Solutions Alliance Program
Slot: 8 Openings (Lagos - 3, Anambra - 5)

Program Overview

• Nigeria’s 200 million population generates an estimated 32 million metric tons of waste annually, with plastic accounting for 2.5 million metric tons. Nigeria Plastic Solutions Alliance Program (NPSAP) is a two-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
• The objective of the project is to reduce plastic waste by increasing the volume and quality of recycled PET plastics.
• This objective will be achieved through inclusive, market-driven interventions along the value chain and an enabling environment that will improve the competitiveness, sustainability, and profitability of collectors, aggregators, and recyclers.

Job Summary

• Working closely and being directly supervised by the Senior Business Specialist, the Business Advisor will play a critical role in the USAID and Coca-Cola's Nigeria Plastic Solutions Alliance Program (NPSAP) by overseeing advisory services and conducting all program activities and training services to beneficiaries, while also facilitating formal and informal networking and linkages with various stakeholders.
• S/he will facilitate business linkages, gather market intelligence, and monitor performance. The tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities of the business advisor, however, the employee will be expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities
Project Inception Phase:

• Provide support to short-term consultants during market analysis study which will include value chain mapping, enabling environment mapping, gender and social inclusion analysis.
• Conduct recruitment/enrollment of program beneficiaries using predetermined criteria.
• Assist the Senior Business Specialist and Project Lead in developing the detailed project work plan.

Project implementation:

• Lead the implementation of the project's digital strategy, ensuring beneficiary adoption and engagement.
• Facilitate training sessions for beneficiaries, monitoring attendance and engagement to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
• Provide crucial linkages between plastic collectors and aggregators, and between aggregators and recyclers.
• Monitor the recruited plastic collectors, aggregators, and recyclers to ensure they are operating within the terms and conditions of the program’s agreement.
• Participate in monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, contributing to the program's reporting and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure adherence to the program work plan, identifying and mitigating risks to successful project implementation.
• Collate feedback from the program beneficiaries through the program’s feedback mechanism.
• Embody and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy, ensuring these are integrated into all program activities.
• Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree/HND in Business Management, Marketing, Business Enterprise, Project Management, or relevant Social Sciences/ Humanities related discipline with at least 3 years’ experience working with communities living on less than $2 a day in educating clients/beneficiaries on business development and marketing goals while nurturing relationship with relevant stakeholders. Alternatively, at least 1 year experience in similar field with a Masters degree.
• Demonstrated ability in working with small and growing businesses for at least 2 years post NYSC as a plus.
• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, digital training delivery, and report writing.
• Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management of private sector companies, donor representatives, and others;
• Demonstrated experience in report writing.
• Experience in the waste management or recycling sector.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); familiarity with Comcare and KoBoCollect is advantageous.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Required Languages:

• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English. Proficiency in the local languages of Anambra and Lagos states is highly desirable.

Travel:

• At least 40% of the time with willingness to travel to the project communities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experienced in writing excellent reports.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven skills with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Knowledge of the use of Comcare, and KoBoCollect will be an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.