Heifer International Business Development Manager Job in Eldoret Kenya

Business Development Manager - Eldoret

Summary: Our Client Heifer International is a global nonprofit humanitarian development organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the Earth by empowering small holder farm families around the globe to become self reliant and attain sustainable livelihood through economically viable animal agricultural enterprise.  

Dairy value chain development is one of the key inventions of Heifer International in the East Africa region and Kenya in particular. The intervention has been implemented through a major umbrella project, the East African Dairy Development project (EADD) which started in 2008 with the objective of doubling household dairy incomes.  
The five year pilot project which has just ended (EADD-1) was implemented by a consortium of five partners including Heifer International (the lead partner), Technoserve, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and African Breeders Services-Total Cattle Management. The project is now embarking on the second phase, EADD-2.

In Kenya, the second phase of the project will adopt a more private sector led strategy with the overall objective of building significant partnerships with public and private organizations for co-funding, innovative design and overall project expansion. 

In addition to focusing on institutional capacity building to potential partner institutions, the project will also pilot innovative techniques and approaches in the industry to provide important lessons on improving dairy cattle feeding, breeding and animal health practices.

Function

The Business Development Manager, under the overall guidance of the Country Project Manager, will provide the overall leadership in designing and implementing appropriate interventions within the project with the objective of building significant partnerships with both public and private organizations. This position entails provision of specialized business advisory services and training to address the commercial needs of various value chain actors within the dairy subsector. Under the leadership of business development manager, the project is expected to develop inclusive coordination mechanism which will foster transparency, trust and loyalty within the value chain. In sum, the interventions to be led by the Business Development Manager seek to increase the overall level of competitiveness of the dairy sub-sector in the country.  EADD-2 is an ambitious five-year program designed to transform the lives of resource poor farming families through a competitive and inclusive dairy value chain in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Responsibilities

Work with other key industry actors to identify potential strategies to accelerate increased investments in the subsector.Incorporate within the framework of the project, potential ‘win-win’ business opportunities which can attract different value chain actors to engage in transactional relationships with each other.Facilitate the transformation of producer organizations (POs) into formal collective enterprises that stimulate rural dairy business hubs. Identify critical investment needs among key producer organizations. Mobilize POs improve value proposition for members.Identify and develop investment and financing options in dairy value chains with the view to increase net returns to actors. Design and roll out appropriate support intervention to improve milk quality and value addition capacity.Facilitate development of business planning guidelines and conduct strategic business planning sessions for member organizations.Identify MFIs/Banks ready to engage with POs and agro entrepreneurs and assist in developing proposals for funding. Provide ongoing support to member organization with the view to increase production and business capacity.Develop the capacity of input service providers and their linkages with POs. May perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.Master’s Degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related field, plus five (5) years in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development.Minimum of three (3) years’ management level work experience is essential.Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the dairy sector. Demonstrated experience in conducting business, investment analyses, and capital budgeting and sufficient evidence on how the results were used to develop potentially viable business ideas and subsequently tangible businesses. Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and advocate within the industry.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 dairy 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.  Ability to manage training programs targeted at youth and young farmers in animal husbandry, feed and health. This activity seeks to position Kenya as a learning hub .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) for onward supply to niche and markets as well as implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of dairy sub-sector.Experience in facilitating establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign processors.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 DemandsExcellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.Ability to integrate financial services within a value chain 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 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 work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.You should only apply for only one position and your application should include a cover letter that demonstrates why you are the best suited candidate for it; a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience; details of current and expected remuneration; a daytime phone contact, email address, and the names of three professional referees. All applications and enquiries should be sent to

Adept Systems
Management Consultants
P O Box 6416, 

Email: recruit@adeptsystems.co.ke

Closing date: Friday, 13th December 2013

Only short listed candidates will be contacted. 

Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.