Business Development Officer at Heifer

Job description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION

The Business Development Officer under the overall guidance of the Project Coordinator, will provide overall leadership in designing and implementing appropriate interventions within the project with the objective of developing the producer organizations in the project into strong and profitable farmer business organizations and entities. This will be achieved through capacity building of the organizations in business planning and management, development of management structures and systems, the provision of business advisory services and the development of key marketing and financial linkages in financial services, input services and strong partnerships with both public and private organizations. The interventions to be led by the Business Development Officer seek to increase the overall level of competitiveness of the dairy production business within the farmer producer organizations

Essential Character Traits

Intellectual curious, Professional judgement, Effective communicator, pragmatic, inspirational and Team player

Responsibilities And Deliverables

• Business Development (30%)
• DELIVERABLES
  • Provide direct technical assistance to farmer-based hub businesses through research and development of business plans, strategies and other business advisory.
  • Facilitate development of business planning guidelines and conduct of strategic business planning sessions for Producer Organizations.
  • Provide support the hubs in exploring new business opportunities and innovations
  • Guide and assist undertaking of business and feasibility analysis and in preparing business plans for the new opportunities.
  • Develop business models, clearly showing the value proposition of hubs to members and how it will leverage the opportunities in the production and market environment to deliver value.
  • Provide advice and assistance in the establishment and maintenance of business and financial records keeping systems.
  • Undertake regular monitoring and business performance analysis.
  • Develop the capacity of the 7 farmer producer organizations to implement plans and adopt best business practice.
  • Identify and develop investment and financing options in for the farmer producer organizations with a view to increasing returns to their members.
  • Prepare periodic reports and document best practices and lessons learned.
• Cooperative Governance and Management (30%)
• DELIVERABLES
  • Provide support in establishing and operating market structures (e.g., collection centers, market centers, processing facilities, chilling centers, etc.).
    Facilitate the transformation of producer organizations (POs) into formal dairy collective enterprises that will stimulate dairy production.
    Facilitate and monitor pre-cooperativeproducer association orientation activities in the self-help groups (SHGs) and clusters of SHGs as they develop into cooperatives/producer associations and Associations in the AVCD II project.
    Assist to develop guidelines for the formation, management and governance of cooperatives/Hubs/Producer groups.
    Coordinate and build up linkages and networks with the appropriate government Cooperative Office and other organizations, as required.
    Provide ongoing support to member organization with the view to increase production and business capacity.
• Capacity development (30%)
  • Facilitate the capacity building of the Cooperative/union governing board and management in effective and efficient decision making, financial management, human resource management, operation and strategic planning and implementation, conflict management and democratic governance.
  • Support the Producer Organizations to put in place and implement efficient financial management systems and build their capacity in all aspects of financial management.
• DELIVERABLES
  • Design, develop and deliver business management training packages/modules, in liaison with other relevant project staff.
  • Identify and carry out a comprehensive capacity assessment of the potential farmer producer organizations for the project to partner with and thereafter develop and deliver a capacity building program.
  • Develop capacity building and operationalization of the business and marketing plans of the producer organizations/Hubs through joint planning, monitoring, and collaboration with the Training, Animal Well-being and
  • Enterprise Development manager.
  • Facilitate the capacity building of the Cooperative/union governing board and management in effective and efficient decision making, financial management, human resource management, operation and strategic planning and implementation, conflict management and democratic governance.
  • Build capacity of the Board and Management of the producer organizations to monitor and track their key business management parameters.
• Collaboration towards a common goal (5%)
  • With the Enterprise Development manager, develop the business hubs of the cooperatives with backward and forward linkages into the total value chain.

DELIVERABLES

• Incorporate within the framework of the project, potential ‘win-win’ business opportunities which can attract different value chain actors to engage in transnational relationships with the farmer producer organizations and develop a platform for the achieving these partnerships.
• Identify key private sector actors in the dairy value chain for the project and farmer business organizations to partner with that include financial, input service providers, extension service providers and all other relevant actors.
• Work in close coordination with the relevant project staff on quality assurance and control for all livestock-based products for processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution.
• Participate in the organization and implementation of Business development related Training of Trainers for project partners, cooperatives and project farmers.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor (5%)
• This will be dependent on the specific duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business management, Rural Development, Animal production with post graduate diploma or experience in Business management or a related field is required.
• Experience implementing activities in large, complex projects in challenging environments.
• Minimum 4 years field and technical experience working on agribusiness development projects.
• Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the dairy sector.

Required Skills

Required Experience

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Strong business skills, leadership, strategic and innovation skills.
• Strong communication skills both in English, Swahili, and other local languages of the cluster area.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, the poor, and underprivileged.
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the value chain (e.g. the concept of quality-based pricing).
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to key partner institutions with a view to build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable livestock industry.
• This requirement is in line with the need to have in-built ‘exit strategies’ within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project end.
• Knowledge of and experience in setting up cottage industries for processing locally branded dairy products (e.g. cheese, butter, fortified milk and yoghurt among others), poultry (eggs and meat) and vegetables for onward supply to niche and markets as well as implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of the sub-sectors.
• Experience in facilitating establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign processors.
• Knowledge and experience in strategic business planning and business analysis.
• Demonstrate ability to undertake market assessments and use the information generated to support the producer organizations to leverage these opportunities to remain competitive.
• Knowledge of equity financing (e.g. venture capital and/or private equity investing).
• Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions And Physical Demands

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
• Ability to integrate financial services within the value chains with the view to foster trust and build strong relationship between chain actors and financial service providers.
• Must be courteous, honest and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills with ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
• Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural and multi-sector setting.
• Must be a team player and have the ability to execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to follow directions and independently complete assigned tasks (written or verbal).
• Ability to work a varied schedule to include early mornings, weekends and some evenings.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) floor to waist.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality