Job Vacancies at TechnoServe Nigeria

Job Summary

• Reporting to the Regional Business Support Manager, the Local Market Senior Specialist will help develop, execute, and monitor marketing programs targeting, mainly the local/domestic market for cashew products.
• This includes conducting market (outlet) research, analyzing trends to help define marketing strategy, and providing advice as to how to best reach the target market.
• S/he will implement tailored technical assistance plans that focus on building profitability, supporting processing units to increase their sales and market reach.

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 business and technical support. On the business side, the project will build processor capacity in business management, financial management, investment facilitation, HR and workforce management, marketing, and supply chain development.
• Prosper Cashew will support processors to integrate their supply chain to maximize cost competitiveness and capitalize on other value propositions such as single origin, traceability, organic, and certified cashew kernels.
• Prosper Cashew will support cashew processors to develop a robust supply chain, from the sourcing of raw nuts to sale of processed kernels.
• The project will pilot innovative direct supplier programs to guarantee a sustainable source of quality raw material and will support the marketing of kernels from West Africa by bringing together processors and international buyers.

Primary Purpose and Function

• Reporting to the Regional Business Support Manager, the Local Market Senior Specialist will help develop, execute, and monitor marketing programs targeting, mainly the local/domestic market for cashew products. This includes conducting market (outlet) research, analyzing trends to help define marketing strategy, and providing advice as to how to best reach the target market. S/he will implement tailored technical assistance plans that focus on building profitability, supporting processing units to increase their sales and market reach.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research to identify customer trends, competitor offerings and demographic data.
• Liaise with communication teams to come up with branding ideas, graphic designs, promotional materials and advertising copies.
• Explore and identify effective marketing and promotional channels, including media platforms to be used to relay product messages to customers.
• Investigate the performance of processors’ marketing campaigns and strategies through evaluating key performance metrics.
• Create innovative marketing campaigns depending on robust data and present the recommendations to management.
• Establish and maintain relationships with new and existing clients through networking and prospecting.
• Create goals and objectives in order to approach customers through appropriate marketing channels.
• Help in outbound and inbound marketing activities by displaying expertise in certain areas such as events planning, advertising, optimization and content development.
• Support the development of a market information system to keep processors updated on market trends and prices.
• Initiate/promote buying visits from 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.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Journalism, Communication, or other related discipline, with 5 years’ experience in both digital and traditional marketing and sales (preferably food products), or Master’s degree with 3 years’ experience
• Strong experience operating data analytics software
• Strong experience with web analysis tools
• Strong communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, content management software and customer relationship management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience and knowledge of the Nigerian Market, especially retail market and/or cashew kernel market
• Experience working on and with a regional and or virtual team
• Should be able to work independently (evidence/experience of previous work in an environment when the majority of collaborators including supervisor was not based in the same location)

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required
• Proficiency in local languages preferred
• Knowledge of 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 traveling domestically and/or to relocate in Nigeria

Travel:

• Willingness to spend up to 40% of time traveling domestically and/or to relocate in Nigeria

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Requisition Number: ASSOC002901
Location: Asaba, Delta
Job type: Full-Time
Job Category: Program Development
Grade: 5
Required Language: English
Travel: 30% Local

Job Summary

• The Business Advisor will work with the Senior Business Advisor/Project Lead to provide capacity building and aftercare coaching support to the businesses. S/he will facilitate business linkages, gather market intelligence and monitor performance.
• It should be understood that the tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities, but the employee will be expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.
• The BA will also support with project work plan, Area mapping, mobilization and recruitment of program beneficiaries using set criteria.

Program / Practice / Department Overview

• The Pan African Youth Entrepreneur Development (PAYED) Project supports youth owned micro-retail business owners in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania in gaining business and financial management skills, foster business support and connections, optimize financial performance, improve store aesthetics, product ranges and display.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Implement the digital strategy of the project and ensure adoption by the beneficiaries
• Engage the beneficiaries consistently on the selected social media platform– TalentLMS and WhatsApp
• Support beneficiaries training sessions on the TalentLMS and WhatsApp platforms as well as monitor attendance according to the program guidelines.
• Provide linkages support to the micro retailers including connection to financial institutions, to suppliers and other ecosystem player according to the program guidelines.
• Work with identified partners during the aftercare phase.
• Identify with stakeholders and perform a thorough assessment (initial and subsequent) of existing and envisaged problematic situations and offer solutions.
• Support in all types of monitoring and evaluation activities, surveys and in reporting, weekly, monthly and in developing program success stories and lessons learnt.
• Follow and maintain the program work plan
• Work closely with the Senior Business advisor/Project Lead to ensure program deliverables are met through critical review of project activities in the field and eliminate any risks that may hinder effective implementation of the Project
• Understand, respect and promote Techno Serve’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Business Advisor and Project Lead.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or HND in Social Sciences, Humanities or any related discipline with a minimum of 2 years post NYSC work experience.
• Demonstrated ability of working in and conversant with trends in the micro-retail industry for at least 1 year.
• Proven skills with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Knowledge in the use of Comcare, KoBoCollect will be an advantage.
• A working knowledge of Asaba and environs will be an added advantage

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working with communities living on less than $5 a day and willingness to frequently visit these communities.
• Demonstrated experience with digital training and delivery mechanisms.
• Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders on the field.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and analyses.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None involved

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Requisition Number: PROJE002902
Location: Asaba, Delta
Job type: Full-Time
Job Category: Operations
Grade: 5
Travel: Occasionally

Job Summary

• The Project Administrator will support the project team with logistics, administrative backstopping, workshop events and day-to-day support.

Program / Practice / Department Overview

• The Pan African Youth Entrepreneur Development (PAYED) Project supports youth owned micro-retail business owners in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania in gaining business and financial management skills, foster business support and connections, optimize financial performance, improve store aesthetics, product ranges and display.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Coordinate meetings with project team, consultants and country office staff.
• Arrange meeting rooms, drafts and disseminates meeting agendas, prepares briefing notes and where necessary takes meeting minutes which may include preparing and disseminating materials as instructed.
• Organize meetings and workshops for the project, including travel arrangements and security.
• Draft correspondence including reports, contracts, and other administrative documents.
• Assume responsibility for document filing and develops office administrative procedures as required.
• Respond to general inquiries to the field office.
• Manage timesheet entries and maintains timesheet records.
• Oversee transportation and vehicle management; coordinates domestic travel arrangements for the project team
• Day-to-day facilities management of the office, developing and maintaining good relationships with suppliers
• Supervise support staff such as drivers, security guards, and cleaners
• Manage procurement as per TechnoServe’s procurement policy and national standards, liaising with the Operations team.
• Work with the TechnoServe Nigeria financial accountant to implement all financial management policies and procedures
• Prepare accounts payable documents (e.g. invoices, payment requests) for approval
• Ensure all documents are filed and maintained for auditing purposes
• Manage payment of office bills and petty cash and ensures that receipts are kept for all expenses.
• Perform small-scale procurement, ensuring adequate stocks of all necessary supplies (e.g. stationery, water, etc.)
• Monitor travel and expenses reporting by all project team members, including processing expense claim forms.

Basic Qualifications
These are the requirements that any qualified candidate must meet. Typically includes:

• Minimum of 2 years of documented experience in an administrative /office operations management role
• Bachelor’s Degree or HND in Business Administration or relevant Social Science related field.
• Fluency in English
• Ability to develop well written and cohesive reports
• Knowledge of office software packages (MS Word, Excel) and procurement digital tools.
• Good knowledge of procurement processes especially within the NGO space.
• A working knowledge of Asaba and environs will be an added advantage

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
This section should highlight the competencies that would make a candidate successful in the role such as:

• Good knowledge of procurement processes especially within the NGO space.
• Self-starter, energetic, and friendly
• Comfortable with new ways of thinking and working
• Maintains integrity and personal reputation
• Reviews information quickly and does not hesitate to try out solutions
• Passionate about knowledge learning and sharing.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None directly.

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Requisition Number: PROJE002899
Job Category: Operations
Grade: 5
Reports to: Program Manager (TAAP/DQAQC)
Travel: Occasionally

Job Summary

• The Project Administrator will support the team with logistics, administrative backstopping, workshop events and day-to-day support.

Program / Practice / Department Overview

• The one-year Technical Assistance Accelerator Prelude (TAAP) investment will lay the foundation for a potential five-year Technical Assistance Accelerator (TAA) program main grant to increase relevant and sustained large-scale coverage of fortified foods. Under the initial TAAP, TechnoServe will develop, implement, and refine the model for the larger TAA program: establishing a PPP platform; building and managing relationships with private sector partners; and developing scalable tools and program elements. It will also serve as an opportunity to explore industry-owned innovations in the enabling environment for food fortification that harness digitalization.
• The vision for the TAA, is a public-private partnership (PPP) with Fortification Partners providing technical assistance (TA) and high-quality inputs to over 100 national food processors per year in 9 countries, helping to close gaps in their motivation and ability to comply with national fortification regulations.The TAA will set up a platform to link these Fortification Partners with specific local food processors, matching Fortification Partners’ technical expertise and strategic interests with the identified capability gaps of the TA recipients. The TAAP will focus on 6 countries namely, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, of which India, Kenya and Nigeria will serve as operational nodes.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Coordinate meetings with project team, consultants and country office staff.
• Arrange meeting rooms, drafts and disseminates meeting agendas, prepares briefing notes and where necessary takes meeting minutes which may include preparing and disseminating materials as instructed. 
• Organize meetings and workshops for the project, including travel arrangements and security.
• Draft correspondence including reports, contracts, and other administrative documents.
• Assume responsibility for document filing and develops office administrative procedures as required.
• Respond to general inquiries to the field office.
• Manage timesheet entries and maintains timesheet records.
• Oversee transportation and vehicle management; coordinates domestic travel arrangements for the project team.
• Day-to-day facilities management of the office, developing and maintaining good relationship with suppliers
• Supervise support staff such as drivers, security guards, and cleaners
• Manage procurement as per TechnoServe’s procurement policy and national standards, liaising with the Operations team.
• Work with the TechnoServe Nigeria financial accountant to implement all financial management policies and procedures
• Prepare accounts payable documents (e.g. invoices, payment requests) for approval
• Ensure all documents are filed and maintained for auditing purposes
• Manage payment of office bills and petty cash and ensures that receipts are kept for all expenses.
• Perform small-scale procurement, ensuring adequate stocks of all necessary supplies (e.g. stationery, water, etc.)
• Monitor travel and expenses reporting by all project team members, including processing expense claim forms.

Basic Qualifications
These are the requirements that any qualified candidate must meet. Typically includes:

• Minimum of 2 years of documented experience in an administrative /office management role preferably in an NGO/INGO
• Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized institute in Business Administration or relevant social science related field.
• Fluency in English
• Ability to develop well written and cohesive reports
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
This section should highlight the competencies that would make a candidate successful in the role such as:

• Good knowledge of operational processes in NGOs.
• Good interpersonal and public relations skills.
• Ability to approach work with energy and a positive constructive attitude.
• Self-starter, energetic, and friendly
• Comfortable with new ways of thinking, working with clear communication.
• Maintains integrity and personal reputation
• Passionate about knowledge learning and sharing.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None directly attached to this position