Business Advisor - Prosper Cashew at TechnoServe

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 - Prosper Cashew

Location: Lagos
Job type: Full time

Job Summary

• Reporting to the Regional Business and Certifications Manager, the Business Advisor will deliver capacity-building efforts targeted at improving the profitability of cashew processors and other emerging value chain enterprises such as local equipment repair services and manufacturers, supply chain management companies, and by-product processors.
• S/he will support up to 10 processing units to develop robust supply chains, from sourcing of raw nuts to sale of processed kernels.
• S/he will implement tailored technical assistance plans that focus on building profitability, supporting processing units to scale up their processed volumes and increase their sales.

Responsibilities

• Identify new cashew processors to be enrolled in the project programs.
• Advise and encourage the adoption of strategies by processing units on risk management, currency risk mitigation, raw material sourcing strategy, etc.
• Support the implementation of direct supplier programs with interested farmers’ groups/cooperatives/traders and processors.
• Guide processors to procure and implement ICT-enabled systems to help manage these relationships.
• Contribute to the development of a market information system to keep processors updated on market trends and prices.
• Advise processors to develop organic and fair-trade certification programs with interested value chain stakeholders.
• Support processors to promote and market their products at large regional and international food fairs, trade shows, and conferences.
• Ensure aid for processors to access international markets through obtainment of relevant food safety certifications.
• Support/prepare local processors to receive visits from international buyers.
• Assist processors to conduct market analysis and develop new product lines, including cashew byproducts.
• Participate in market analysis and ensure project efforts to develop local markets for domestically processed cashew kernels.
• Identify and support entrepreneurs to launch new processing units and other ecosystem enterprises such as local equipment repair services and manufacturers, supply chain management companies, and by-product processors
• Coach management on best practices to make cashew processing units supportive and empowering places to work for women and youth

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or other related discipline, with 3 years’ experience in food processing, agribusiness, or supply chain management, or Master’s degree with 1 year’ experience.
• Experience providing business model training to people of diverse levels of education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the cashew processing industry

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet demanding deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills
• Proficiency in MS Office & presentation skills are required

Travel: 

• As required by program activities.  Willingness to spend up to 40% of time travelling domestically.

Required Languages: 

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Proficiency local languages is preferred.
• Knowledge of local languages is a plus.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.