Export and Business Development Promotion Team Leader at CARANA Corporation

The Export and Business Development Promotion Team Leader is responsible for providing leadership in the project’s export assistance work.  The Team Leader will be the primary project liaison with exporting firms, ensuring that these have access to the technical assistance, financing and investment necessary to increase their exports.  He/She will also lead the project’s efforts to build a robust network of high quality, Nigerian business development services firms (BDS) who can facilitate the technical assistance demanded by exporters to rapidly increase their exports in the target value chains relevant to NEXTT.

The Team Leader will also be responsible for leading efforts to build the capacity of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to deliver and facilitate export services related to this target value chain.  The Team Leader is responsible for achieving the NEXTT project results related to Export Expansion. This includes (over the Life of Project): supporting at least 200 firms to increase their capacity to export through trainings, direct, and indirect support provided by NEXTT partners; facilitating $30M in exports and $25M in investment in exporting firms; ensuring at least 40 BDS providers have received assistance through NEXTT’s BDS provider network; and, supporting at least 12 firms to obtain certification with international quality control, environmental and other voluntary standards.

SPECIFIC TASKS

I. Build pipeline of exporting firms in target value chains and assist these to increase competitiveness

• Build a robust pipeline of export opportunities, in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders and counterpart USAID projects.
• Lead implementation of an intensive export support strategy, providing technical assistance (either in-house or through external labor) to exporting firms to improve their ability to export greater quantity of high quality products.  As part of this strategy, conduct technical workshops, support quality improvement efforts, support advocacy efforts, and provide assistance to stakeholders as they develop strategies for increased exports. Support firms to access investment capital as needed. Assist firms to apply for PDF funds.

II. Build supply and demand for Export Business Development Services

• Identify services needed for exporting firms in order to facilitate high quality BDS services demanded by exporting firms in the NEXTT exporter pipeline. 
• Lead the development of a Nigerian BDS network of providers that are able to provide high quality support Nigerian exporters, ensuring that these have the skills and tools available to increase exports quickly
• Deliver “training of trainers” modules for BDS providers on critical subjects such as product development, access to finance, market support and project development in collaboration with NEPC and other institutions as needed
• Coordinate semi-annual seminars for BDS providers on growth opportunities and trends in demand for services in non-oil export sectors
• Organize and conduct workshops as needed for Global Shea Alliance and African Cashew Alliance national chapters on integrating BDS providers into their strategies for industry growth

III. Build the capacity of public export promotion bodies to provide quality services to exporters

• In collaboration with NEPC, design and ensure the high quality delivery of trade show participation workshops for exporting firms, in collaboration with lead firms, industry alliances, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved in tradeshow participation.
• In anticipation of trade shows, provide and facilitate technical assistance to lead exporters, together with NEPC, on trade show marketing and logistics, to assure fruitful participation.
• Develop a strategy for increased exports of Shea Butter and Cashew, including trade show prioritization and marketing strategies, in collaboration with lead export firms and NEPC,.
• Assist the NEPC to absorb the coordinating function of trade show preparation and implementation over time.
• Assist the NEPC to assume systemic oversight that can guide donor, state agencies, and NGOs in export promotion strategies.

IV. Other responsibilities

• Contribute to all required data collection and reporting requirements including weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports, as well as the final project report.
• Assist in implementing the gender integration and environmental mitigation plans developed for the NEXTT project, ensuring the implementation of gender, and environmentally-sensitive strategies.
• Liaise with the other project components as required, to ensure that the needs of exporting firms are included in the transport and corridor improvement and policy components of the project. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Post of Duty

Lagos, Nigeria, with frequent trips to the project head office in Abuja.