Business Sustainability & Upgrading Specialist-Processors

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

TechnoServe is recruiting a Business Sustainability and Upgrading Specialist who will support the implementation of TechnoServe’s efforts under the VINES-Project with a particular focus on ensuring business sustainability of the actors along the Vanilla Value Chain, including but not limited to access to access to finance and supply chain development of vanilla Traders, processors and exporters.

• Support implementation of the Vines Project with an emphasis on cross-market functions, tailoring assistance to partners, conducting due diligence, and monitoring implementation
• Capacity Building of actors through the provision of BDS targeting technical, managerial, business, and advocacy capacity;
• Working with partners, facilitate innovation and pilots that promote inclusive business models (e.g., establish/strengthen smallholder sourcing networks and improve efficiency in distribution to increase access for marginalized populations, etc.) and enhance linkages among market actors.
• Managerial capacity building of actors in areas of business planning, marketing strategy development, governance of the board, improved member relations, and development of members in the Farming as a Business concept.
• Provide clients (Processors) with technical assistance, training, tools, and methodologies to ensure their optimal performance and sound management
• Contribute towards Facilitating Stakeholders' engagements, meetings, and forums.

• Provide sector-wide training in market analysis, profitability analysis, value proposition design and testing, business planning, financial record preparation, and general support in how to prepare a supply chain upgrading plan
• Identify and deliver technical and financial training and BDS support that are required to complement any commercial finance for the partners' co-investment
• Provide customized business and technical advisory support to partners

• Contribute to project activity reports and TechnoServe internal monitoring, evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Collect and report data and support Microenterprise Counselors to collect accurate data from beneficiaries based on the project MEL plan.
• Any other duties assigned by your supervisor 

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, economics, business, or related field, excellent academic record
• At least 5 years of experience in the agricultural value chain, rural development, and/or rural finance. Private sector experience preferred
• Demonstrated understanding, skills, and experience in market systems development programs and facilitative approaches
• Detail-oriented, with strong project and team management, organizational, analytical, and quantitative skills
• Significant interpersonal and communication skills, especially in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts, adept at building relationships with multiple stakeholders
• Experience working with MSMEs, producers, producer organizations, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers
• Experience facilitating linkages and relationships between the private sector and the government
• Adept at developing and sustaining high-level relationships
• Strategic thinker
• Strong team player and consensus builder
• Highly computer literate
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills

• Financial and business modeling
• Facilitating Multistakeholder Platforms
• Fluent in at least one local Ugandan dialect 

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 TechnoServ,e please contact Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.