GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Working in consortia with GOAL, VSO and Restless Development, the Driving Youth-led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise (DYNAMIC) program will strengthen systems and facilitate creation of sustainable economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The goal is to increase the number of youth in secure employment/self-employment and to promote agricultural market systems for youth. DYNAMIC will reach 125,000 out-of-school youth aged 15–24 in eight districts of northern Uganda over five years. The Market Development Advisor will work to enhance DYNAMIC’s ability to deliver high impact market systems development and M4P programming; development of market development interventions, tools and resources; and the empowerment and upskilling of DYNAMIC team members to implement, particularly Market Development Officers and Program Managers. The Market Development Advisor is an integral member of the Program Management Unit and will contribute to strategic and technical direction for the program. The Market Development Advisor will work closely with the Financial Services Advisor to identify and enable access to financial services as part of the DYNAMIC approach.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Set strategic direction and provide technical oversight and direction on market development.
• Develop tools and resources to assist with market development analysis, program design, and activities.
• Conduct refresher and specialized trainings as needed with staff and partners.
• Conduct pilot studies and research relevant to the program and aimed at informing implementation and learning.
• Mentorship and coaching of partner higher and medium level firms and enterprises
• Contribute to suite of market development resources available to support and promote quality practice in the field.
• Advise market development team in field activities that may include conducting light due-diligence on potential partners and supporting the negotiation process, as requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements; identifying capacity gaps of potential private sector actors, designing and implementing most feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps; and providing continuous support and oversee activities of the private sector partners.
Contribute to, Capture and Champion Market Development Best Practices
• Contribute to the suite of market development resources available to support and promote quality practice in the field.
• Help mentor and develop technical skills in Market Development Officers and other staff across program field teams.
• Support in building a more dense, diverse and collaborative network of relationships for market development practitioners and other stakeholders and to broker effective relationships at the country and regional levels.
• Connect best practices and learning from programs across MC countries to ensure an evolving and effective learning system for improving program implementation.
Organizational Learning:
• As part of Mercy Corps Uganda’s commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit the DYNAMIC program as well as themselves.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:Deputy Program Director, DYNAMIC
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: DYNAMIC program team members, finance officers and manager, Mercy Corps program team, director of programs, operations and finance teams
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor’s Degree in business, agribusiness, economic development or other relevant field required; Master’s Degree strongly preferred.
• Background in business or market/economic development, with a minimum of 8 years practical experience in the private sector, market development and/or related industry.
• Dynamic leader who can guide teams to believe in and follow a strong market development philosophy.
• Experience with a wide range of stakeholder and partner management with national/regional companies; international agencies; community-based organizations; agribusinesses, etc. needed.
• Strong group process design and facilitation skills, including developing and leading workshops, as well as group consensus building around market development philosophy.
• Knowledge of agricultural development required.
• Proven track record in adaptive management in fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment required.
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills with a full knowledge of office applications.
• Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with various district-level program teams. Knowledge and experience in business financing for SME’s and/or youth engagement is highly valued
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your E-mailed application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates through the Human Resource Manager to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org. Deadline for Submission:Close of business on October 16, 2015Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.