Since 1963 and in
146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional
nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA
is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical
and management assistance in agribu
siness, financial services, enterprise
development, community development and food security in order to promote
broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has
approximately 49 projects in 30 countries and total revenues of $151 million.
Business
Development Services Component Lead, Rwanda
The anticipated Nguirza Nshore
project in Rwanda will facilitate emergence of a dynamic off-farm sector and
will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, business development services
and access to finance. By alleviating constraints to entrepreneurship, off-farm
businesses will be expanded in both urban and rural environments and will
stimulate employment opportunities for rural populations. Nguirza Nshore is
a forward-thinking project which is designed for flexibility in response to
learning and dynamism in the environment. The project is funded by USAID and is
envisioned to start in 2018.
ACDI/VOCA seeks a
dynamic, progressive, and private-sector oriented technical component lead who
brings proven experience in Rwanda working on BDS initiatives to grow SMEs. The
BDS Lead will be responsible for project’s engagement with a range of BDS
providers and other similar ecosystem actors, both private and public. S/he
will provide a balance of component management and strategy development,
oversight of a small team of technical staff, grantee/ challenge fund support,
and direct technical assistance.
The ideal candidate
will be familiar with a variety of business models for BDS providers to support
SMEs across a range of growth stages and sub-sectors. The individual will have
exposure to marketplace realities which include off-farm agriculture and
non-farm industries.
Responsibilities
- Provide
technical leadership and strategy development for the project’s support to
BDS providers and other actors in Rwanda’s entrepreneurial ecosystem - Oversee
a small technical team of technical experts and facilitators – which in
turn will engage through a diverse set of activities with a larger number
of BDS providers, networking organizations, and other stakeholders in the
entrepreneurial ecosystem – to achieve the project’s goals and outcomes - Provide
direct technical assistance and advisory services as needed - Track
progress towards core component indicators and learning objectives, and
propose strategic adaptations in response to market shifts - Engage,
coordinate, and collaborate with other donors and implementing partners
active in the BDS focus areas.
Qualifications
- Master’s
degree or equivalent in business, economics, finance, marketing, or
related area. - A
minimum of 5 years of experience in technical advisory initiatives
targeting BDS providers, entrepreneurs, ecosystem development, or a
combination of the above - Expertise
in business planning and strategy development; various business models for
BDS provision, product pricing, investment, and entrepreneurship
development - Demonstrated
passion for using innovative approaches to solve complex development
problems, with practical experience mobilizing and working with diverse
teams - Knowledge
of the landscape of ecosystem actors and understand a range of BDS models
and SME services in Rwanda - Previous
experience working in Rwanda required, with some exposure to other
countries in the region preferred - Some
prior experience managing small teams preferred, with technical strategy
development, activity planning, and relationship building with public and
private stakeholders - Excellent
networking and communication skills - Fluency
in French and/or Kinyarwanda, as well as English, required.
Please apply online
at https://internationaljobs-acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5068/business-developm….
No phone calls please. Only those candidates considered for an interview will
be contacted. ACDI/VOCA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and
people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply.