Micro Retail Sector Lead

Micro Retail Sector Lead

The three-and-a-half year, DFID-funded Mombasa County Youth Employment Project, implemented by Adam Smith International, intends to address selected root causes of youth unemployment in Kenya’s second city, and thereby to encourage productive and sustainable job creation for Mombasa’s young men and women. It consists of a combination of skills development, market development, and policy and advocacy support. The project will be market-led, so that jobs and skills are focused on sectors of the economy that have long-term growth potential, and will align itself with the objectives and plans of the national and Mombasa County governments.

The project is currently recruiting for a Sector Lead to support the project’s work in the micro retail sector in Mombasa.

The Sector Lead will be responsible for managing the project’s interventions in the micro retail sector. This is a full time position, resident in Mombasa, reporting to the project’s Market Development Component Manager and working closely with the rest of the project team.

Background to Adam Smith International

Adam Smith International is a leading professional services business that delivers real impact, value and lasting change through projects supporting economic growth and government reform internationally. Our reputation as a global leader has been built on the positive results our projects have achieved in many of the world’s most challenging environments.

Our wide-ranging experience can be grouped into two main areas that contribute to Government Reform and Economic Growth. Government Reform includes Justice, Security and Peace-building, Public Administration Reform, Public Financial Management, Revenue Reform and Education Reform. Economic Growth includes services in Extractive Industries Governance, Infrastructure, Climate Change and Private Sector Development.

We are headquartered in London, with offices in Nairobi, Delhi and Sydney, along with major project offices in many developing countries worldwide. Our projects are funded by a wide range of donor organisations, including the UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Swedish and Danish Government's development agencies Sida and Danida, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank. In addition, we also work directly for host governments.

Over more than 20 years, Adam Smith International has implemented some of the most complex solutions in many of the world’s most challenging environments. We apply professional standards, technical know-how and cultural sensitivity to every context. We’re proven to bring the best minds together and are known for turning policies into action. Our work is award-winning, such as the most recent 2011/12 British Expertise Development Project of the Year, Major Project of the Year, Consultancy Project of the Year and Young Consultant of the Year.

Responsibilities

The Sector Lead will:

• Manage successful delivery of the project’s interventions in the micro retail sector, including:
• Strengthening market intelligence capacity of major manufacturers and suppliers (predominantly large FMCG companies) to better identify opportunities for engaging with micro retail enterprises;
• Supporting development of alternative route-to-market strategies and distribution models used by manufacturers and suppliers to more effectively target micro retailers;
• Facilitating improved collaboration and coordination among micro retailers, for example to strengthen buying power; and
• Stimulating development of support services (e.g. ice production, distribution services, etc.) to encourage micro retail outlet activation and enterprise growth.
• Develop effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders (including private sector players active in Mombasa, the county government, trade associations, research organisations, other donor funded programmes, academia, etc.) to maximise the prospects for successful delivery of each intervention.
• Proactively identify opportunities for additional sector research and analysis, as well as expansion of interventions within the sector.
• Participate fully in the programme’s M&E function, attending meetings, submitting information as requested, proactively identifying impact as well as areas of strong and weak performance.
• Lead the process of reporting on sector interventions, and in doing so to facilitate wider lesson learning (both within the programme and externally). In addition to progress updates, the Sector Lead is expected to proactively produce research papers designed to shape the dialogue on sector issues, produce impact case studies in collaboration with other team members, participate in sector workshops, conferences and meetings, etc.

Selection criteria

We are looking for dynamic and energetic team players with:

• At least five years’ relevant sector experience, including development of relevant distribution models and market research initiatives. Private sector experience in an executive/managerial capacity at a top-tier FMCG player is desirable;
• The ability to rapidly build strong credibility with key sector players active in Kenya, particularly large international FMCG companies and associated distributors/wholesalers;
• Proven, in-depth knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in the micro retail sector;
• Strong understanding of economic development principles, particularly relating to youth employment;
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as supply chain management, logistics, business management, etc. A postgraduate degree in a relevant field is desirable;
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential. Fluency in Kiswahili is desirable;
• Teamwork, enthusiasm and flexibility.

Duration and timing

The Sector Lead position is a full time role that will commence in April/May 2015. The selected candidate will be based in Mombasa.

To apply

Please send a CV and short cover email, highlighting relevant experience and expertise, and availability, todavid.owens-callan@adamsmithinternational.com , with the subject line “Sector Lead, Micro Retail”. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a CV and short cover email, highlighting relevant experience and expertise, and availability, to david.owens-callan@adamsmithinternational.com, with the subject line “Sector Lead, Micro Retail”. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.