KCSEED Foundation Business & Enterprise Development Officer Job in Keringet, Kenya

Job Title: Business & Enterprise Development Officer 

Location: Keringet, Kenya

KCSEED foundation is a community owned foundation based at Keringet Location of Kuresoi District in Kenya. 

Keringet Community Social Economic and Environmental Development Programme is an initiative of the KCSEED foundation modeled on Global Management Approach (GMA) where community members start by mapping the available resources and asking themselves what they can do to effectively and efficiently use the resources for community member’s health and prosperity.

 The 5 year programme commenced in April 2012. 

The programme is funded by Gorta. 

The overall aim of this programme (achievable in 5 years) is a healthy community which is socially, economically and culturally developed, living in harmony with their environment. KCSEED foundation wishes to recruit a Business & Enterprise Development officer to based at KCSEED office in Keringet.

Job Title: Business & Enterprise Development Officer 

Location: Keringet, Kenya

Main Purpose of Role: To drive and manage the sustainable development of micro and small businesses within Keringet.

Terms: Contract, Full time  

Job Outline: The job holder will be drive and facilitate the establishment of  micro (and small) enterprises within Keringet community. 

The jobholder will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager and will be based at KCSEED Kimalany office 2 kilometers from Keringet town along Keringet Molo tarmac road. 

S/he will work with a team of community facilitators and other private service providers in crop and livestock sector. 

S/he will also ensure close collaboration with the national and county governments line ministries and in forging strong partnerships with local leaders, administration, business associations and representatives of targeted communities.

The jobholder will be responsible for the following activities:

General Micro & SME Development

• Conducts economic, commercial, and market baseline and action research for the relevant sectors.
• Conducts and/or facilitates feasibility studies of proposed enterprises, to include the writing of feasibility ToR, the short listing of candidates, overseeing the feasibility study, etc.
• Business and management skills development among the Keringet Trust and community: This will involve facilitating beneficiaries to acquire appropriate business skills that will put them at the forefront of understanding consumer needs and wants, deliver goods and services in the quantities and timing schedules required and forge reliable and mutually supportive relationships up and down the supply chain.
• Identify, training and mentoring of IGA activities of community members through either direct provision of services and or establishing linkages with relevant technical advisors.
• Identifies and promotes  value adding techniques like processing, grading, and packaging, etc. in consultation with the agriculture advisor
• Identifies and facilitates linkages to savings and credit facilities for emerging enterprises (e.g. if appropriate credit and savings schemes or formal loans from micro-credit banks. Build linkages with financial institutions).
• Identifying market/sector opportunities for on farm & off farm activities, as well as and facilitating linkages for small scale rural producers
• Generate new sustainable business enterprises.  Assist community members in elaborating business and strategic plans. Organize business clinics to shape and support the development of entrepreneurial ideas
• Analyze financial statements of proposed Keringet Foods Company businesses and make recommendations for Improvements in liason with the programme Accountant and general manager.
• Plan and implement/facilitate workshops on financial services available /required of businesses
• Plan and implement (and or facilitate) awareness/training sessions on research of markets, marketing, positioning, branding, pricing for specific products, etc.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date statistical and financial records relating to micro &sme emergence and the impacts of same on the communities’ prosperity in collaboration with M&E officer.
• Provides inputs to the quarterly and annual reports and communication materials as well as generating human interest stories and reports for updating of KCSEED Website.
• Monitors and evaluates sector performance, progress and impacts in compliance with set targets as well as licensing laws, health and safety and other statutory regulations
• Advocates for improved marketing and trade policies: Facilitate and support Keringet CSEED Trust to lobby and advocate for pro-poor policy options. And develop partnerships with specialist agencies in Business Development Services that contribute towards policy development in support of enterprise and business options for small scale rural producers.
• Identify CSR/ capacity building/trainer opportunities for Irish individuals and companies (at least 1 per year).

Reporting to: Programme Manager (Team Leader) Keringet Global Village

Qualifications and Experience:

• 1st level Degree in business, marketing, production, manufacturing, agri-business or related subject
• At least 5 years field experience in enterprise development projects. Those with experience in milk or potato value chains will have an added advantage.
• Industry experience in agri-food manufacturing, production
• Business planning experience.
• A proven track record in business development would be highly advantageous
• Strong financial analysis skills;
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Very strong IT skills required with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office/Excel, email

If you meet the above requirements please write via email by 4:00 PM of 11th April 2014 to; Chairman BOT, Keringet CSEED Foundation Trust, P.O. Box 118-20131

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Keringet, e-mail- info@keringetcseedfoundation.org, subject-application for employment Business and enterprise development officer.