Business Development Assistant- TMPP at Heifer International

Business Development Assistant- TMPP, Tanzania

Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Tanzania Milk Processing Project (TMPP) is an ambitious project that aims to increase the incomes of smallholder dairy farmers in Tanzania through better access to reliable, high-value markets while ensuring processors have access to increased supply of high-quality milk.

FUNCTION
Business Development Assistant (BDA) will support the implementation of project activities and the achievement of the business development goals of the project. S/he will be responsible for supporting the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and the Dairy Interest Groups (DIGs) to increase the collection of high-quality milk to meet the needs of off-taker processors. He/she will also provide technical support to FPOs with the relevant systems and structures. The job entails over 80% field-based activities working closely with, dairy interest groups and FPOs to enhance value-chain actors’ benefits; and leverage service delivery at each level of contact with both farmers and customers. This position may also involve close collaboration with farmers’ groups, input suppliers, large processors and development partners on the ground in order to implement appropriate business development interventions within the cluster to increase milk collection and overall business performance of the FPOs.

Ensure 26 Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) in the Tanga Region collect at least 60,000 LPD per day and supply the milk to off-taker processors through supply agreements entered between the FPOs (through the TDCU) and the off-takers by December 2020
Working with the Social Capital Development Coordinator and Dairy Quality Advisor and PO extension staff, mobilize and increase the active milk suppliers base from 6,200 to 7,000 in Tanga region by Dec. 2020.
Ensure 26 FPOs within the Tanga Region have in place an efficient and functional milk supply chain by either starting milk bulking or have additional milk collection centers by December 2020.
Ensure at least 26 FPOs within his/her jurisdiction have access to inputs, services, and markets that are important to increase milk production, productivity and incomes.
Ensure at least 26 FPOs under his/her jurisdiction have functional systems and structures including the requisite policies and standard operating procedures.

Supporting the building capacity of at least 26 POs in Tanga to become profitable and sustainable entities. (30%)

Ensure at least 26 FPOs in the region have a viable business focus, with strong leadership, management, and succession systems, in an environment of transparency and ownership
Ensure at least 26 FPOs have developed strategic and operational plans and, understand holistically the dairy value chain landscape and the key drivers of growth. The focus to be on taking a quantum leap in milk collection and marketing, to ensure FPOs in Tanga collect and supply at least 70,000 LPD to off-taker large scale processors by Dec. 2020.
Improved governance, financial and management skills of at least 26 FPO boards and management through the design and delivery of business-related training programs by Dec 2020.

Employ Social Capital Development (SCD) as a foundation for strong and sustainable hubs (10%)

Increased membership and milk supply at the hub level by mobilizing farmers into 200 DIGs by December 2020 and converting them to active milk suppliers using the SCD approach.
Support 7 input suppliers, 30 community facilitators and 13 Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) to provide inputs and services to farmers and enhance adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies and consequently increase milk supply to DIGs and Hubs/MCCs.
Improved leadership and governance in at least 300 DIGs and at least 26 FPOs to increase the quality and amount of milk collected and overall business performance of the DIGs and POs.
Ensure increased women participation as shareholders, leaders, and suppliers at DIG and PO level (by at least 30%).

Planning, reporting, and documentation (10%)

Ensure business performance and progress reports developed and shared by 5th of each month to the Cluster Office for onward submission to the Country and Regional office and review with the FPO boards
Participation in cluster level team meetings and country-level business meetings, to help plan and deliver on the project objectives.
Participate in learning forums at the cluster level and contribute to the development and sharing of best practices.

May perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelors’ Degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related fields,
One (1) years field and technical experience with agribusiness development in commercial sector, value chain competitiveness, or agribusiness development.
Experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the dairy sector
Strong implementation skills.
Experience working with farmer group programs.

Preferred Requirements:

Experience in establishing and strengthening partnerships with private sector players.
Knowledge of basic Accounting and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards rules.
Strong consumer marketing, financial analysis, and management skills.
Experience in supporting and monitoring field-based programs in the country.
Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and advocate within the industry
Excellent command of Report writing, analysis and presentation skills using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Track record of building strong client and stakeholder relationships;
Ability to generate innovative solutions in work situations;

Most Critical Proficiencies:

A clear understanding of the dairy value chain.
Innovative, analytical, and solutions-oriented.
Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.
Strong interpersonal/people management skills and excellent oral and written communication skills a must;
Excellent organizational skills.
Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.
Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

Preparing and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
Ability to understand, appreciate and implement Heifer’s Value-Based Holistic Community Development.
Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions.
Quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation and ability to communicate MLE concepts clearly with leadership, partners, and staff at all levels.
Willingness and ability to assign and review the work of direct reports and to use participatory management skills with junior and senior staff.
May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office environment activities while on the road and/or in remote conditions.
Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines.

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