Job Openings at TechnoServe

Job Summary:

The West Africa Regional Director (RD) oversees the design, development and implementation of our programs in the West Africa Region. The RD is responsible for ensuring a steady pipeline of new business opportunities through proactive relationship building with key donors, and the quality and compliance of all operations. The RD reports to the Chief Program Officer and serves as a member of TechnoServe’s global senior management team.

The RD is expected to have significant management and international experience, a passion for economic development, relevant language skills, and be capable of thoroughly understanding and successfully leading program teams and operations across multiple countries. S/he is expected to be an outstanding communicator and team leader. Previous experience working with organizations of TechnoServe’s size and scope is important and private sector experience is highly desirable. The RD embodies TechnoServe’s values of Lasting Impact, Collaboration, Entrepreneurial and Accountability.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategy and Leadership

• Oversee the design, development and implementation of programs across West Africa and drive strategy for the region as a whole
• Hold responsibility for West Africa $20M annual regional operating budget
• Support country and regional program directors to develop strategies, platforms and budgets
• Ensure country programs meet quality standards and integrate project monitoring, learning and evaluation into decision making and work planning
• Provide sound financial management and ensure contractual and donor compliance reporting

New Business Development

• Generate regional new business, leveraging existing relationships and expanding the range of TechnoServe opportunities
• Support corporate new business efforts for current and new programs in the region and maintain donor relations
• Develop winning proposal strategies: organizing resources, contributing to or authoring proposals and negotiating agreements

Talent Management

• Recruit, retain, supervise and coach country directors and regional team members
• Enable cross-cutting learning, partnership and collaboration between teams
• Support and encourage knowledge sharing and professional development among staff
• Manage regional human resource matters in partnership with the global human resources team

Representation

• Represent TechnoServe to public and private donors of significance globally
• Support country directors in West Africa to effectively manage relationships with stakeholders such as local and district governments, donors, nonprofit organizations and others
• Represent the region internally, updating the Senior Management Team, Program Office and Board of Directors as appropriate of significant developments in the region

Basic Qualifications:

• A minimum of ten years of leadership experience, preferably in strategy consulting, business, finance or international development
• A minimum of three years of work experience in one or more developing countries
• A bachelor’s degree and preferably a post-graduate degree such as an MBA, MPP or MIA
• Fluency in English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage multicultural and geographically dispersed teams in complex working environments
• Proven track record in successful business and program development design and authoring/overseeing winning proposals
• Strong foundation of knowledge in one or more of the following: economic growth, value chains, private sector, agriculture, entrepreneurship and/or SMEs
• French language skills preferred

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Job Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager and a dotted reporting line to the Operations Coordinator, the Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, a high sense of responsibility, courtesy, tact and the ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. His/her support to the project will be centered around reliable and safe driving services to SAY WEE project team members, TNS employees, visitors and administrative services, as required, ensuring high accuracy of work.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

The SAY WEE project seeks to address unemployment in Nigeria through four pathways namely: self-employment, micro and small growing business acceleration, job readiness and ecosystem development.  With a strong learning agenda, the project will pilot methodologies that drive behavior change and successfully link women and youth to relevant and lasting jobs. To achieve its objectives, the project will leverage existing infrastructure, institutions, and organizations where possible. It will also apply lessons learned from other initiatives in the entrepreneurial ecosystem support space by adopting multiple proven approaches. The design will follow a common set of principles, such as being market-driven to help entrepreneurs tap into high-growth sectors, build youth skills, and facilitate linkages to drive job placement for targeted youth. The project targets women and girls and therefore needs a strong accountability and safeguarding mechanism to ensure seamless implementation.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Ensures provision of reliable and secure driving services by driving office vehicles for the transport of authorized personnel and delivery and collection of mail, documents and other items and meeting official personnel and visitors at various locations.
• Interpret travel policy and procedures, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars, financial regulations and rules on travel related matters.
• Maintain and contribute to policy information on fleet management.
• Work within cost-saving methods through proper use of vehicle, accurate maintenance of daily vehicle logs, provision of inputs to preparation of the vehicle maintenance plans and reports.
• Proper day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicle through timely minor repairs, arrangements for major repairs, timely changes of oil, check of tires, brakes, car washing, etc.
• Logs fuel consumption, maintenance etc.
• Work toward availability of required documents/supplies including vehicle insurance, vehicle logs, office directory, map of the city/country, first aid kit, and necessary spare parts. Maintain updated records at all times.
• With good knowledge of defensive driving, apply rules and regulations, internal and external policies.
• Provides physical labor services in relocation of offices and staff moves and provides support for meetings and conferences.
• Be cordial and respectful to clients, visitors and colleagues.
• Tactfully and effectively deal with officials and visitors.
• Ensures steps required by rules, regulations and best practice are adhered to in case of accident.
• Applies good judgment in the context of assignments given.
• Steady compliance with the policy in all conduct of activities.
• Provide basic security management support in applying innovative techniques to assess and mitigate risk especially within the location of work.
• Provide other project related support assistance as may be assigned Supervisor.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum relevant qualification from secondary academic institution, National diploma or higher National Diploma in any Art or social science field.
• Valid Driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in conducting liaison work with government, international agencies or NGOs with minimum 2 years’ work experience as a driver in the north eastern part of the country.
• Safe driving record.
• Knowledge of driving rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repair.
• Familiarity with Kano terrain.

Required Languages: Familiarity with the local language and English

Travel: Mostly within Kano state

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Duties require professional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to type.
• Residents of the Locations stated and environs are encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
• Defensive driving skill
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and telephone protocol.
• Knowledge of air, road, and fire safety programmes /systems and ability to assess risks and identify mitigation measures
• Ability to interpret travel policy and procedures, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars, financial regulations and rules on travel related matters