Business Services Support Manager at African Agricultural Technology Foundation

• The Corporate Services Team is a centralized team that aims to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and quality control across the management of AATF grants and business operations. The primary goal of this team is to align capacity and capabilities while driving efficiencies by establishing consistent, high-quality standards and best practices for improved budgeting, grants and contracts management, business development, and data collection and analytics. The Corporate Services Team strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels that, as individuals and as a group, creates a working environment characterized by critical reflection, responsibility and accountability sharing, conversation, and objectivity in order to achieve our collective objectives and provide the best possible service to our clients.
• The Business Services Support Manager is in charge of keeping track of the operations and performance of the Social Enterprises (AHYRA, AGRIDRIVE, ECOBASIC & QUALIIBASIC).   Successful candidates must have a thorough understanding of business models, market dynamics, and the KPIs of the Social Enterprise personnel.  They will be responsible for development and monitoring of the key performance indicators, and advising the shareholders (AATF) on progress, monthly, quarterly, and annually.  They will advise the shareholder on the commercial viability of the social enterprises and maintain a risk profile of each of them.
• This position reports to the Director, Corporate Services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic leadership and work planning:

• Develop a coherent Business strategy in close collaboration with the Social Enterprises management, board, AATF management and other stakeholders.
• Formulate and deploy long-term strategic plans for acquiring and enabling innovative, efficient, and cost-effective information processing, communications and reporting.
• Manage operational and strategic long-term and short term planning, including business requirements, project planning and organizing the allocation of resources.

Coordination of Operations and Reporting:

• Review performance of business systems to determine operating costs, productivity levels and potential areas of intervention.
• Benchmark, analyze, report on and make recommendations for optimising the business processes and productivity.
• Participate in the development of business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for ICT initiatives.
• Develop and follow up on the implementation of policies and procedures.
• Oversee workforce planning from strategic planning to day-to-day operations.
• Ensuring the Social Enterprises operations and business processes are aligned with the shareholder’s (AATF) priorities.
• Ensuring the accountabilities of all the personnel within the social enterprise are aligned with the desires of the shareholder (AATF)
• Working with internal stakeholders and enterprise collaborators to produce strategic options analysis, and business challenges.
• Developing Strategies for promoting growth, and discuss the same with the leadership and management of the Social Enterprises.
• Providing the shareholder (AATF) with Monthly performance reports (Financial and Technical) for consolidation and upload in the system.
• Providing the shareholder (AATF) with the management reports – Budget vs actual for analysis and review.
• Approval of the monthly/Quarterly/Annual cash disbursement request
• Preparation of the progress on the KPIs for the Social Enterprises.
• Preparation of the performance DASHBOARD for the Social Enterprises for presentation to the Executive Management Team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

• Undergraduate degree from a recognized University in Social Sciences, Business, Economics, or related fields.  A postgraduate degree, including an MBA, would be an added advantage.
• Proven working experience in managing operations of commercial entities.
• At least 7 years of work experience in commercial enterprises is an added advantage.
• At least 10 years of relevant management experience managing large teams in a comparable organization.
• Extensive experience working within a multicultural environment is desirable.
• Proven experience in developing policies at a strategic corporate level.

OTHER SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to understand and use data to drive decision-making and strategy
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously amid ambiguity and without
• A proven track record of effective team coordination, first-rate interpersonal abilities, and demonstrated success in building, inspiring, and managing diverse teams of skilled professionals.
• The capacity to handle confidential and private information in a discreet manner.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines effectively
• A high level of self-discipline, capacity to multitask, and function well under pressure.
• Cross-cultural competency