Market Systems Manager at TechnoServe: (Deadline 28 July 2023)

Market Systems Manager at TechnoServe: (Deadline 28 July 2023)

Job Details

Description 

Market Systems Manager, ReGenerate Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda

About TechnoServe: 

TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A nonprofit organization operating in 29 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.

Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the Impact Matters charity rating agency.

Program Overview:

TechnoServe is working with a major bilateral donor to design and implement a multi-year program that aims to break the cycle of vulnerability, poverty, and gender inequality in some of Rwanda’s poorest and environmentally fragile districts in the Western and Southern Provinces. The program will use market systems approach to catalyze systemic changes that result in sustainable, increased incomes for tens of thousands of poor people, particularly women, living in Western and Southern Rwanda. ReGenerate Rwanda will apply an environmentally sustainable/ regenerative business lens to reduce economic, environmental, and social barriers that keep poor women, youth, and men trapped in poverty and unlock opportunities for their full engagement in and benefit from economic opportunities.

To achieve its objective, ReGenerate Rwanda will work in close partnership with a diverse range of market actors to support a portfolio of interventions within priority sectors or cross-cutting market functions. The focus of these portfolios will be identified over the course of a six-month Inception Phase, expected to begin in early 2022.

Job Summary:

TechnoServe seeks highly qualified candidates to serve as Market Systems Managers responsible for interventions and partnerships within a specific market sector or cross-cutting function prioritized for focus (e.g., cross-border trade, small livestock, financial services, etc.). The Market Systems Managers will drive the market system mapping and analysis during the Inception Phase, supporting the final selection of prioritized market sectors/functions for program intervention based on relevance; opportunity for growth/improved access; and feasibility of stimulating change in the market system. Based in Kigali with frequent travel to Western and Southern Rwanda, Market Systems Managers will define and execute strategies for one or more market system/s under the ReGenerate Rwanda program. Typically, the strategy will involve a series of interventions. Under each intervention, the Market Systems Manager will work with a small number of private and public sector actors within the market system, to prove the business case for changing their approach in favor of more gender-inclusive and environmentally sustainable/regenerative business solutions and models. Market Systems Managers will work closely with and supervise Partnership Officers based in the Rusizi field office.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Drive the market system mapping and analysis during the six-month Inception Phase, supporting the final selection of prioritized market sectors for program intervention.
• Establish and effectively manage strong relationships with market system actors (e.g. private companies operating in the relevant value chains, representatives of the target group, local government offices, etc.) with whom ReGenerate Rwanda will partner and collaborate within a to-be-determined priority sector.
• Develop and oversee the portfolio of market system development (MSD) interventions and partnerships within the prioritized sector; work closely with Program Director and Financial Controller to ensure compliance with company and donor regulations and policies.
• Work closely with Gender and Youth Lead as well as the Regenerative Business/Resilience Lead to ensure that gender, youth, and environment inclusion is consistently and thoughtfully mainstreamed within ReGenerate Rwanda’s portfolio of MSD interventions and activities within the prioritized sector; follow Do No Harm principles.
• Lead and/or support relevant enabling environment interventions and development of partnerships to address social norms which exclude women and youth and the poor from accessing markets.
• Lead and/or support ongoing MSD and gender and youth inclusion assessments, research studies, and stakeholder consultations, as appropriate, to inform program strategies and approaches; Learning Agenda; and adaptive management.
• Build the capacity of private sector actors to understand the business case for gender equality and unconscious bias; provide technical assistance (TA) to support partners to develop gender equality policies and help them establish equitable hiring and recruitment processes.
• Support private sector capacity-building efforts, including TA to partners to build their understanding of the business case for regenerative and environmentally sustainable solutions, in collaboration with the Regenerative Business/Resilience Lead and Partnership Officers.
• Provide relevant technical input for program work plans, budgets, and MEL Plan, including Learning Agenda, as appropriate.
• Actively participate in program monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities, including results reviews and other learning exchanges.
• Provide key support for data collection and analyses in collaboration with the MEL team to ensure interventions are impact-oriented and adjusted.
• Represent the program at networking and relationship meetings with private and public actors, as appropriate.
• Contribute relevant technical input for donor reporting and external program communications, such as technical reports, case studies/business cases, video/radio content, social media blogs/posts, etc.
• Manage, supervise, mentor, and coach Partnership Officers based in the Rusizi field office. 

Basic Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s Degree + 7 years’ experience, Master’s Degree + 5 years of experience in Economics, Statistics, Agribusiness, Business Management, Marketing, Finance, and Accounting or related fields.
• At least 5 years of experience working in the private sector in management consulting, market research, banking, or related fields, or in an NGO/government role with an orientation towards private sector development in Rwanda; experience in implementing private sector or micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development assistance programs considered an asset, but not required.
• Demonstrated understanding of – and commitment to challenging – barriers that disadvantage the vulnerable, women and youth, and exclude them from economic opportunities.
• Good understanding of market systems and their role in poverty reduction from a systemic perspective; experience conducting market analysis in order to make business or investment decisions. Familiarity with political economy analysis (PEA) is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated orientation toward innovative thinking with a strong ability to generate creative ideas/solutions and predict possible outcomes.
• Prior experience applying MSD principles to develop interventions that local partners can independently lead and own.
• Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating consultative planning processes that involve input from a range of experts and stakeholders toward strengthened evidence-based programming and decision-making.
• Strong adaptive management skills, including critical thinking, foresight, and vision to actively analyze program activities, challenge assumptions, and make decisions.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills in a multicultural environment, including experience building relationships and managing conflict with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Confident, diplomatic, and quick-thinking in the company of senior executives.
• Able to engage with low-income populations with a high degree of humility.
• Track record as an effective manager and influential motivator of staff, partners, and stakeholders; ability to manage strong relationships.
• Ability to work with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on a donor-funded Market Systems Development (MSD) program preferred.
• Experience supervising and managing staff is preferred.
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda or French preferred

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English with excellent oral and written communication skills required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Detail orientation, including strong organizational, analytical, and quantitative skills.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other administrative applications.
• Strong private sector market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker.
• Robust analytical skills; ability to synthesize information and distill insights and conclusions.
• Strong interpersonal and management skills required; Personnel management experience required.
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills.
• Very strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality, error-free end products.
• Ability to develop well-written, clearly structured, cohesive analyses and reports in English, quickly and efficiently.
• Strong analytical and financial analysis skills.
• Learning mindset and a passion for learning.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• Supervise one or more Partnership Officers. Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams is desired.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent upon final donor approval.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.

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