Peace Dividend Trust recently launched its award-winning Peace Dividend Marketplace (PDM) model in Liberia. PDM is an innovative approach to market development in countries recovering from conflict and
disaster. Through targeted services that link international, regional and local buyers with capable national suppliers, the PDM works to increase and leverage the economic impact of international assistance and investment efforts. This in turn helps drive money into the domestic economy, restoring livelihoods, generating competition in the marketplace, and contributing to wider growth and development. (see www.buildingmarkets.org) In Liberia, the PDM will support the ability of international organizations and donors and multinational corporations to buy local. The Business Development Manager will need to be comfortable liaising with international organizations, multinational corporations, and government partners, analyzing their procurement needs and translating this analysis into a business development plan against which PDT’s services can be applied. He/She will also be responsible for managing the business development team and overseeing accurate and efficient data collection and management.
Position Overview:
PDT is seeking an entrepreneurial Business Development Manager (BDM) who will support the scale up of the Peace Dividend Marketplace project in Liberia. This includes both material and personnel aspects of scaling up activities, including setting up business processes and establishing relationships with institutional buyers. The BDM will preferably have experience with private sector-related programs in West Africa and knowledge of procurement practices.
He/She will also have the following core competencies:
• Creative mindset: initiative-rich, energetic and efficient, results-oriented
• Critical Analysis: an ability to structure and find solutions to complex problems
• Communications: good interpersonal skills and ability communicate to external counterparts and internal colleagues
Responsibilities and Duties
The BDM reports to the Country Director and is responsible for internal operations of the Business Development team, which includes business matchmaking, business verification, the online portal, tender distribution, training, and data management. Specific responsibilities and duties include:
Strategic Planning
• Develop a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge base of key Liberian markets including their size, accessibility, the major institutional buyers and local Liberian vendors;
• Develop forecasts for existing and future procurement needs in priority sectors and of each major institutional buyer and monitor procurement needs on an ongoing basis;
• Translate this information into strategic plans for the business development team to produce efficient business processes and effective partnerships with institutional buyers and local vendors;
• Develop familiarity with the procurement procedures of major buyers in order to identify key areas where local businesses require additional support;
• Prepare relevant and realistic “Liberia First” policy proposals for target institutional buyers;
• Provide input to improve the overall strategy and efficiency of the PDM project.
Business Development
• Develop and implement business development plans for each viable target sector and institutional buyer;
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with major institutional buyers in country, including the promotion of other PDT services to them;
• Represent PDT at events, including official dinners, trade fairs, meetings, etc.;
• Act as Officer in Charge when required.
Staff Management
• Supervise and mentor Business Verification team, Call Center team, Matchmaking team, Tender Distribution Team, and Training Team;
• Participate in recruitment of national staff;
• Carry out annual performance appraisals of direct reports.
Tracking and Reporting
• Ensure efficient systems are in place to track results and impact;
• Oversee data gathering, follow-up with buyers and vendors, and ensure accuracy and effectiveness of data management;
• Gather, verify and compile monthly quantitative and qualitative reporting by business development team;
• Ensure results and success stories are catalogued and provided to communications team in a timely manner.
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Business, Private Sector Development, related field or substantial equivalent in professional experience;
• Minimum 3 years field experience, preferably in Liberia or other countries in West Africa;
• Experience in relations with international private and public sector organizations;
• Demonstrable experience in organizational representation and business development;
• Experience in successfully managing national and international staff;
• Experience working on projects funded by public and large private donors;
• Willingness to learn basic Liberian English and other local languages.
Package Competitive salary and benefits.
How to apply:
Application If you have the talents to contribute to an award winning organization as it moves into its next phase and to build PDT’s reputation for changing the way aid works, send your CV and a cover letter, clearly explaining how you would meet these qualifications to: vacancies@peacedividendtrust.org with subject line “Liberia Business Development Manager”. Only applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted. To learn more about our activities see: liberia.buildingmarkets.org
Closing Date: Sunday, 15 April 2012
