Business Development Advisor Market Linkage - Garissa, Kakuma, Lodwar & Mombasa at Inkomoko

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inkomoko seeks a highly talented, organized, and serious individual to help implement our market linkages strategy. Please note, we are hiring for Garissa, Kakuma, Lodwar and Mombasa. Should you be successful, you will be based in either of the locations mentioned above. The BDA will take on the following responsibilities: 

Buyer Engagement

• Identify and build relationships with new buyers to expand sales opportunities for our MSME clients. This will entail conducting research to understand market trends (demand and supply gaps in the market), challenges and opportunities.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with our existing buyer network. 
• Facilitate connections between buyers and our MSME clients, including sending supplier shortlists and matchmaking reports to potential buyers. 
• Work with Location Leads to identify and recruit entrepreneurs with potential to be linked with markets. 
• Represent Inkomoko in different entrepreneur forums, always aiming to build relationships with potential buyers
• Coordinate and organize events and activities for market linkages. These may include networking events, online and offline communities, market days, and tours.

Tender Distribution:

• Directly manage the tender distribution service for our clients, including tender scrapping, tender vetting, and distribution to clients 
• Provide bid preparation support to clients. This will entail explaining tender requirements and providing bid preparation support where necessary. 
• Work with field teams to identify clients that are a good fit for our tender distribution service and encourage them to apply. 

Research 

• Conduct monthly site visits to assess market linkages needs and opportunities for clients and to provide support to field teams. 
• Monitor market trends, including demand and supply, identify gaps and opportunities in the market and generate actionable for the market linkages programs 

Value chain integration 

• Help design value chain integration programs, including identifying clients that are a good fit for these programs and mapping and bringing onboard external partners.  
• Drive implementation of value chain integration programs for our clients

Management 

• Supervise & train the Graduate Trainees and Interns as needed.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal candidate will fulfill the following requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, or a related field 
• 3+ years of experience in consulting, business planning, and providing business advice to MSMEs
• A strong desire to learn market systems approaches to business development. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain partnerships with buyers
• Basic understanding of tender and procurement processes - bid preparation and application process
• Flexible and able to deliver results under pressure.
• Excellent computer skills, especially with MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English & Swahili
• Good presentation and training skills
• Shows perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills.
• Access to a smartphone 24/7 is a plus.