Business Advisor at TechnoServe

Requisition Number: BUSIN002062
Job Category: Operations

About the Project 

• Prosper Cashew is a five-year, $26 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Food for Progress Program that aims to catalyze investment for the West African cashew processing sector.
• Over the next five years, the project will strengthen and revive existing cashew processing facilities across Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria and support the development of new processing facilities and other value chain enterprises as part of the project’s overall goal to increase the share of raw cashew nut that is processed in the region from about 8% to 50%.
• Over five years, Prosper Cashew will improve the capacity of 60 processing units who source cashews from approximately 34,000 farmers, facilitate $497 million of investment in the cashew sector, and generate $1.5 billion in cashew kernel sales. The project expects to create more than 26,000 new jobs (at least 50% for women) and indirectly benefit more than 133,000 women, men, and children in West Africa.
• A key component of the project will be to strengthen and increase commercially viable cashew enterprises through technical support.
• The project will build processor capacity in business management, financial management, investment facilitation, HR and workforce management, marketing, and supply chain development. It will also identify and address specific constraints related to particular sections of cashew processing (raw cashew nut drying, warehousing, calibration, steam cooking, shelling, oven drying, peeling, grading, fumigation, packing, and storage) and provide support to processors to install food safety management systems, support the introduction of traceability, and support the introduction of environmental practices and effective waste management. 

Description

• TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets.
• Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs, and wealth for their families and communities.
• With over 50 years of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

Primary Purpose and Function

• Reporting to the Business Support Lead, the Business Advisor will deliver capacity building efforts targeted at improving the profitability of cashew processors and other emerging value chain enterprises such as, supply chain management companies, and by-product processors.
• S/he will support up to 10 processing units to develop robust supply chains, from sourcing of raw nuts to sale of processed kernels.
• S/he will implement tailored technical assistance plans that focus on building profitability, supporting processing units to scale-up their processed volumes and increase their sales.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Advise and encourage implementation of strategies by processing units on risk management, raw material sourcing strategy, etc. 
• Support the implementation of direct supplier programs with interested farmers’ groups/cooperatives/traders and processors. Support processors to procure and implement ICT-enabled systems to help manage these relationships
• Support the development of a market information system to keep processors updated on market trends and prices
• Advise processors to develop organic and fair trade certification programs with interested value chain stakeholders
• Support processors to promote and market their products at large regional and international food fairs, trade shows, and conferences
• Support processors to access international markets through obtainment of relevant food safety certifications in conjunction with the technical team
• Initiate/promote buying visits from international buyers to processors and support them to make the visits successful.
• Support processors to conduct market analysis and develop new product lines, including cashew byproducts
• Participate in market analysis and support project efforts to develop local markets for domestically processed cashew kernels
• Identify and support entrepreneurs to launch new processing units and other ecosystem enterprises such as, supply chain management companies, and by-product processors
• Coach management on best practices to make cashew processing units supportive and empowering places to work for women and youth

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or other related discipline, with a minimum of 3 years' experience in food processing, agribusiness, or supply chain management, or Master’s degree with a minimum of 1-year experience
• Experience in a management position at a profitable medium or large size company
• Experience providing training to people of diverse levels of education

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in large cashew or other food processing unit (10,000-15,000 MT capacity)

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required
• Knowledge of local languages and French is a plus

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet demanding deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills
• Proficiency in MS Office & presentation skills are required
• Willingness to spend up to 40% of time travelling domestically and/or to relocate in Nigeria.