Market System Manager at TechnoServe

Job Details

Description 

Market Systems Manager, ReGenerate Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda

About TechnoServe: 

TechnoServe is a pioneer in using the resources of the private sector to assist individuals in escaping poverty. As a nonprofit operating in 29 nations, we help entrepreneurial men and women in the developing world establish profitable farms, companies, and industries. We have aided millions in building long-lasting prosperity for their families and communities by connecting individuals to information, capital, and markets.

TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization that was established more than 50 years ago, has been recognized as the best charity battling poverty by Impact Matters.

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

Program Overview:

In order to break the cycle of vulnerability, poverty, and gender inequality in some of Rwanda's poorest and most environmentally vulnerable regions in the Western and Southern Provinces, TechnoServe is collaborating with a significant bilateral donor to create and implement a multi-year initiative. Tens of thousands of impoverished people, mostly women, living in Western and Southern Rwanda will benefit from the program's use of a market systems approach to accelerate systemic changes that lead to sustained, improved earnings. To lower the economic, environmental, and social barriers that keep impoverished women, youth, and men trapped in poverty and open doors for their full participation in and profit from economic opportunities, ReGenerate Rwanda will employ an environmentally sustainable/regenerative business approach.

ReGenerate Rwanda will collaborate closely with a wide variety of market participants to support a portfolio of interventions within priority sectors or cross-cutting market functions in order to achieve its goal. Over the course of a six-month Inception Phase, which is anticipated to start in early 2022, the emphasis of these portfolios will be determined.

Job Summary:

TechnoServe is looking for highly skilled individuals to work as Market Systems Managers in charge of partnerships and interventions within a chosen market sector or cross-cutting function (such as international trade, small livestock, financial services, etc.). During the Inception Phase, the Market Systems Managers will be in charge of leading the market system mapping and analysis, supporting the final selection of priority market sectors and functions for program intervention based on relevance, opportunity for growth, and better access;and viability of inciting modification to the market system. Market Systems Managers will create and carry out plans for one or more market systems within the ReGenerate Rwanda program. They will be based in Kigali and frequently travel to Western and Southern Rwanda. The approach will typically include a number of interventions. To make the case for changing their strategy in favor of more gender-inclusive and environmentally sustainable/regenerative business solutions and models, the Market Systems Manager will collaborate with a small number of private and public sector actors within the market system for each intervention. Partnership Officers located in the Rusizi field office will be carefully supervised by and under the direct control of Market Systems Managers.

primary responsibilities and functions:

• During the six-month Inception Phase, lead the mapping and analysis of the market system to support the final selection of the most important market sectors for program intervention.
• Establish and manage strong relationships with market system actors that ReGenerate Rwanda will partner and collaborate with in a to-be-determined priority sector, such as representatives of the target group, local government offices, and private companies operating in the relevant value chains.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of market system development (MSD) partnerships and interventions within the sector of priority; collaborate closely with the program director and financial controller to ensure adherence to corporate and donor regulations and procedures.
• Ensure that gender, youth, and environmental inclusion are consistently and thoughtfully mainstreamed within ReGenerate Rwanda's portfolio of MSD interventions and activities within the prioritized sector by working closely with the Gender and Youth Lead and the Regenerative Business/Resilience Lead; adhere to the Do No Harm principles.
• Lead and/or assist the creation of partnerships and pertinent enabling environment actions to remove social norms that prevent women, young people, and the impoverished from accessing markets.
• To inform program goals and approaches, the Learning Agenda, and adaptive management, lead and/or support continuous assessments, research projects, and stakeholder discussions of MSD, gender, and youth inclusion, as appropriate.
• Increase the ability of players in the private sector to comprehend the economic justification for gender equality and unconscious prejudice; offer partners technical assistance (TA) to enable the creation of fair hiring and recruitment practices.
• In coordination with the Regenerative Business/Resilience Lead and Partnership Officers, support efforts to increase the capacity of the commercial sector, providing TA to partners to help them better grasp the business case for regenerative and ecologically sustainable solutions.
• As necessary, contribute technical information that is pertinent to program work plans, budgets, and MEL plans, including learning agendas.
• actively engage in MEL (monitoring, evaluation, and learning) activities for the program, such as outcome reviews and other learning interactions.
• Together with the MEL team, provide critical support for data collection and analysis to ensure that interventions are outcome-focused and appropriately adjusted.
• Attend networking and relationship-building events with private and public actors on behalf of the program, as necessary.
• Contribute pertinent technical information to donor reporting and communications about external programs, such as through technical reports, case studies and business cases, audio and video content, blogs and postings on social media, etc.
• Control, edify, guide, and mentor Partnership Officers based in the Rusizi field office. 

Basic Qualifications and Competencies:

• Master's Degree + 5 years of experience in Economics, Statistics, Agribusiness, Business Management, Marketing, Finance, and Accounting or similar subjects, or Bachelor's Degree + 7 years of relevant experience.
• At least five years of experience working in the private sector, preferably in the fields of management consulting, market research, banking, or a related one, or in a government or non-governmental organization position with a focus on the development of the private sector in Rwanda. It would be advantageous, but not necessary, to have experience implementing private sector or micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development assistance programs.
• demonstrated knowledge of and dedication to removing obstacles that disadvantage the weak, such as women and young people, and keep them out of the workforce.
• Good systemic awareness of market processes and their function in reducing poverty; practical experience in market research for financial or business decisions. Understanding political economy analysis (PEA) is regarded as advantageous. 
• a high aptitude for coming up with original ideas and solutions as well as the ability to foresee potential results.
• prior experience creating programs that local partners may independently lead and own using MSD principles.
• Experience leading and directing collaborative planning processes that incorporate input from a variety of experts and stakeholders in order to promote evidence-based programming and decision-making is a must.
• Strong adaptive management abilities, including the ability to think critically, anticipate issues, and see the big picture in order to actively assess program operations, test presumptions, and make choices.
• Strong relationship-building and conflict-management abilities in a multicultural context. Experience working with people from various backgrounds.
• In the presence of senior executives, self-assured, diplomatic, and quick-witted.
• able to interact with low-income communities while maintaining a high level of humility.
• Ability to develop solid connections; track record as a competent manager and persuasive motivator of workers, partners, and stakeholders.
• the capacity to manage various activities and programs while working under tight deadlines. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with Market Systems Development (MSD) programs sponsored by donors is preferred.
• A background in managing and overseeing staff is preferred.
• Fluency in French or Kinyarwanda desirable 

Languages needed:

• English fluency and superior written and verbal communication abilities are necessary. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and quantitative skills, as well as a focus on the details.
• Outstanding proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other administrative software.
• Strong market orientation for the business sector; inventive and enterprising thinker.
• strong analytical abilities; capacity to gather data, analyze it, and draw conclusions.
• Strong interpersonal and management abilities are necessary, as well as prior expertise in personnel management.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities were on display.
• Strong commitment to high-quality, error-free final goods and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to write analyses and reports in English that are swiftly and effectively coherent, clearly structured, and well-written.
• Strong talents in financial and analytical analyses.
• A love of learning and an open mind to new things. 

Responsibilities for supervision: 

• one or more Partnership Officers under your control. A background in multidisciplinary teams is preferred.

Please take note that final donor approval is mandatory for this opportunity.

All competent candidates who share TechnoServe's mission of enhancing people's lives through tested business solutions are encouraged to apply.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer because we value diversity. We also do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

We are also proud of our dedication to preventing abuse and exploitation of our partners, employees, and beneficiaries, and we extensively screen all final candidates through demanding background and reference checks.

Please email or phone Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org if you have a disability that prevents you from using our online application method to apply for a job at TechnoServe. The number is +1 202 785 4515.