Business Sustainability and Upgrading Manager (BSUM)

• Develop strategy for and oversee the team focused on business viability, providing strategic advisory support as needed.
• Provide business advisory and professionalization support to VANEX.
• Ensure an inclusive approach following TechnoServe principles, including equitable benefits for women and men from the program.
• Oversee the training and support of fee-for-service agents providing farmer training.
• Recruit and support the Microenterprise Specialist and ME Counsellors delivering micro-entrepreneurship training to 720 micro-entrepreneurs.
• Recruit and support Business Sustainability and Upgrading Specialists delivering sector-wide trainings and custom advisory to processors and capacity building of Producer Organizations (POs).
• Conduct local, regional and international market analysis for potential agroforestry system crops to support strategies for POs.
• Support a TechnoServe Fellow to complete an Industry Strategic Plan for the vanilla sector.
• Adapt the existing curriculum to targeted groups and develop and execute Training of Trainers for processor-supervised extension agents, supporting a viable fee-for-service business model.
• Lead training for input suppliers, soil testing services, nurseries and other youth employment opportunity activities.
• Lead managerial capacity building of producer organizations (including business plans), improved member relations, managerial capacity building of processors, and improved processor capacity in curing and storing vanilla.
• Provide sector-wide training in market analysis, profitability analysis, value proposition design, business planning, financial record preparation and supply chain upgrading plan preparation.
• Provide pre-investment support and advice to processors and other supply chain businesses; identify and deliver technical, financial and BDS support complementing commercial finance for partners’ co-investment.
• Lead relationship development with commercial finance providers to leverage additional finance.
• Prepare narrative reports to the prime and contribute to CRS and TechnoServe M&E reporting; coordinate with VINES consortium members and maintain strong stakeholder relationships.
• Participate actively in regular team meetings, ensure high-quality technical training delivery, share best practices, and perform other duties assigned by your supervisor.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree qualifications in business-related studies are required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ field and technical experience with agribusiness development and agribusiness experience in Uganda, OR a Master’s Degree plus 5 years’ experience.
• Track record of building strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience working with food aggregation and processing, supply chain development and out-grower networks; knowledge of the Market Systems Development approach preferred.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong project management and some financial analysis skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills (fluency in English required).
• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports.
• Ability to generate innovative solutions in work situations.
• Proven ability and experience working with teams; collaboration and business strategy skills (advanced).

The BSUM will oversee a team of 7. The role requires travel to remote rural locations.