TechnoServe Deputy Regional Director (SAFE) Job in Nairobi Kenya

Deputy Program Director, Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE)

Position Location and Travel Potential: Based in Nairobi, Kenya, with significant regional travel (up to 50% of time)

Duration: 4 year position beginning as early as possible

Background Information: TechnoServe Inc. is an international nonprofit development organization founded in 1968. Its mission is to help entrepreneurial men and women break the cycle of poverty by building businesses that create jobs, income, and economic opportunities for their families, their communities, and their countries. 

Our work focuses on identifying promising business opportunities with a positive economic role for and impact on the rural poor. 

Our approach is based on hiring high-performing people who share our vision of private sector solutions to generate sustainable solutions to poverty. 

We believe in hard work, creativity, and leveraging the dynamism of talented people. 

We are committed to innovation, learning, and results, with a global team drawn from world-class industry and management consulting firms. 

We are currently working in more than 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. 

TechnoServe is seeking a Deputy Program Director (DPD) for a USAID-funded regional program, Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE). 

This regional program will be implemented across Kenya, Malawi and Zambia in partnership with several of the world’s leading food companies. 

SAFE aims to increase the competitiveness of the African food processing sector and to expand availability of nutritious foods. 

SAFE will build on the success of the existing African Alliance for Improved Food Processing (AAIFP), a partnership currently being implemented by TechnoServe in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.

Position Description

The DPD will work closely with the Program Director providing regional management support and will assume responsibility for implementation of all program activities at the country level, including core activities to achieve the outputs of: 

• Increased knowledge and technology transfer to build the capacity of food processors 
• Sustainable value chain and sector linkages established 
• Local environment to sustain and scale processor growth and competitiveness 
• Learning agenda in place

S/he will work closely with dedicated food technologists and business advisor teams in each country who will be responsible for identifying suitable local food processing companies, developing specific capacity building project charters with each company, and linking with volunteer experts from global food companies to provide customized solutions. 

As well as customized technical assistance this will include developing short term trainings for broader groups, supporting market and financial linkages and strengthening sustainability through inclusion of local universities and BDS providers. 

S/he will also be responsible for identifying potential issues in implementation that may affect timely delivery against project targets and developing solutions to be presented to the Project Director. 

S/he will liaise closely with our implementing partner to ensure alignment and the use of best practices and will lead knowledge-sharing activities between country teams, ensuring efficient and effective dissemination of learnings. 

S/he will liaise closely with the program M&E manager to track progress and support report generation for the program partners and donor/USAID.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Project Management or Food Technology related fields 
• Strong market orientation, grasp of business concepts and proven management skills
• Innovative thinker that can identify opportunities, develop appropriate solutions to challenges and take action that is consistent with available facts and probable consequences 
• At least 5 years relevant project management experience (e.g., within a multinational food company, international development programs, USAID project management, private sector agro-processing, or other related industry)
• Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary and challenging field operations in developing countries and to deliver strong results within appropriate timelines 
• Experience leading and managing multi-cultural teams, preferably with some experience managing remotely. 
• Demonstrated successful experience mentoring and building staff capacity 
• Experience in food processing or commercial food industry and/or managing USAID projects an added advantage
• Experience living and working in sub-Saharan Africa an advantage
• Verbal and written fluency in English 
• Ability to develop and present well-written, cohesive analyses and reports

How to apply:
 

Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word formatted resume and cover letter with salary history to; rwilson@tns.org. 

Please indicate; "Deputy Program Director-SAFE" in the subject line. 

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be considered. 

No phone calls please.
 

Closing date: 28 Feb 2013

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Women are encouraged to apply.