Agribusiness Manager, MAEF

Farm Africa is an international non-governmental organization working to increase the incomes and improve food security of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and forest dwellers in East Africa.

The Kenya country office is currently recruiting highly qualified persons to fill the following position:

Job Title: Agribusiness Manager, MAEF
Reports To: Head of Market Engagement
Staff Reporting to Post Holder: Portfolio Officers, Grants Specialist
Location: Nairobi with regular travel locally and within East Africa
Duration & Hours: One year, renewable

Purpose of the Role:
To provide leadership and oversight of all enterprise development and capacity building activities of Farm Africa’s Maendeleo Agricultural Enterprise Fund (MAEF).

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Define and implement an investment strategy based on market research, and ensure that work is consistent with Farm Africa’s strategies and business plans

• Identify priority areas for investment and plan market interventions where MAEF can have highest impact
• Set and take full responsibility for achieving overall and individual grantee targets related to sales, income and company profitability

2. Identify and select MAEF investments (grants)

• Source for business opportunities through various methods, including networking, advertising and other solicitation means
• Working with the Advisory Committee, review and shortlist concept notes and business cases
• Work with potential grantees to develop business plans
• Lead the final selection process including subsequent budget and contract negotiations with selected grantees

3. Oversee grantees in project implementation, providing business capacity building and other support, as needed

• Monitor grantees’ progress against targets through regular report reviews, site visits and third-party verification
• Assess capacity building needs of grantees and ensure proper support is provided, either internally or through external consultants/specialist firms
• Liaise with and create partnerships with relevant companies, organizations, financial institutions and government agencies, to ensure success of project outcomes
• Document and disseminate lessons learned

4. Provide leadership in overall management of the MAEF programme in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets

• Responsible for the preparation and implementation of budgets and work plans
• Write or review and approve narrative and financial reports to MAEF donors
• Comply with Farm Africa internal processes and procedures

5. Supervise MAEF staff members and collaborate with Farm Africa’s other projects and senior managers in East Africa and London

• Provide guidance and mentoring to MAEF programme and support staff
• Conduct regular appraisals, set and monitor objectives, assist with work planning
• Liaise and collaborate with other Farm Africa country offices involved with the MAEF project, including CDs, Communications, M&E and any other relevant staff

6. Increase visibility through promotion and marketing of the MAEF programme and grantees’ commercial activities

• Assist the Country Director and London-based fundraising staff to actively seek new funding opportunities for MAEF
• Contribute to writing funding proposals and preparing budgets
• As directed by the Country Director, liaise with current and potential donors

7. Any other duties as directed by the Head of Market Engagement or the Country Director

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject
• Demonstrated knowledge of rural enterprise development and/or small business management
• Minimum 5 years’ professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness or related sector
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable

• MBA or equivalent
• Private sector experience
• Experience in banking, finance, investment or related field
• Fluency in Swahili or other East African language

Experience
Essential

• Capacity building of organisations and companies
• Financial management and budgeting

Desirable

• Business planning and company growth strategies

Skills & abilities
Essential

• Networking, collaboration and convening capacity
• Communication (both verbal & written)
• Report writing

Desirable

• Negotiating and managing partner relationships
• Fundraising and policy influencing

Values
Farm Africa seeks to employ those who believe, as we do, that farmers can and will play a key role in achieving long-term rural prosperity in Africa and who seek to deliver on those beliefs by:

• being experts in our field, delivering insightful/impactful evidence-based solutions
• pushing boundaries, being creative with new and old solutions
• acting for the long-term, building relationships and delivering long-lasting change for farmers
• working flexibly, taking advantage of the most effective solutions, whether from the communities, private sector or government
• sharing knowledge with others, reaching more farmers than we do alone, ensuring effective technologies are widely accessed.

To apply please submit your CV, salary history and one-page application letter with the reference being the post title in the subject line to: kenyarecruitment@farmafrica.org by 8 August 2014.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.