Senior Business Development Advisor-Coffee

Job Details

Description

TechnoServe Background

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Program Background

TechnoServe is implementing a 5-year, multi-million-dollar USDA-funded coffee sector development project in Burundi. The Burundi Better Coffee Initiative (BBCI) aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Burundi’s coffee sector by improving on-farm production, local processing, marketing, and the supportive ecosystem. We are actively recruiting for various positions to manage and deliver different program components including finance, human resources, and field project operations. The inclusion of women and youth in all components and activities of the project is critical.

Position Description 

Reporting to the Chief of Party, the Senior Coffee Business Development Advisor is a proactive driver of initiatives designed to strengthen Burundi's coffee sector. The Advisor will not only analyze, develop and implement strategies to enhance coffee production, processing, and marketing, including specialty coffee development, but also actively champion these changes by collaborating with stakeholders, building capacity, and fostering critical relationships within the industry, from washing stations to international buyers. This role demands a self-starter who can independently analyze information, propose actionable solutions, and drive their implementation to achieve sustainable growth within the Burundian coffee sector.

In this role, their main responsibilities are:

Explore and pursue strategic initiatives for the sector

Work with key coffee industry stakeholders and TechnoServe consultant partners to conduct an analysis of the Burundi coffee business landscape, to inform discussions aimed at developing a Burundian coffee marketing plan

• Explore specialty and other high-value coffees and identify options (including as low-carbon, regenerative and profitable coffee), Perform in-depth analysis of each option to validate and quantify the opportunities, detail the operational requirements and lead on implementation.
• Analyse the available sector data, Identify bottlenecks, and propose solutions/upgrades to improve product offering and connection with the (high value-added) coffee market;
• Maintain an accurate and up-to-date database of pulping-washing stations, clients of the “Burundi Better Coffee Initiative” project and extend their actions for all aspects of promotion and marketing of their coffees;
• Actively participate in industry initiatives and partnerships with key industry stakeholders in the project area; Support stakeholder relationships geared towards the strategic growth of the coffee portfolio in Burundi.

Define and implement capacity-building programs for the TNS cohorts of washing stations

• Work with the CWS team to pinpoint the training needs of the CWS partners, focusing on how to better reach customers and focus on business development (this could focus on topics such as market access, quality, relationship building, and negotiation skills).
• Develop and identify methods for implementing training to address these identified needs.

Lead on the strengthening of the Coffee Service Provider model in Burundi

• Analyze existing service delivery model providers, their strengths, weaknesses, and the business opportunities they offer to their customers as well as the washing stations.
• Analyse the potential for new CSP service providers
• Refine and adapt the business case of the CSP model in Burundi to create linkages and build trust between washing stations and exporters through a sustainable and paid business model in which exporters provide the stations with services such as working capital financing, export logistics, and direct links with buyers in the international market; Identify new candidates and work with existing ones to grow their capacities

Other

• Over time, liaise with international buyers to seek market opportunities for specialty and high-value coffees produced by the washing stations; support initial transactions and the establishment of long-term partnerships.
• Analyze added value and implement coffee promotion initiatives such as “Cup of Excellence”, industry conferences, and other actions deemed useful; ensuring a sustainable business and financing plan to ensure that the events will continue in a financially viable manner under full local ownership and management after the end of the project
• Lead on cupping training, in collaboration with CQI
• Provide support for any other tasks deemed useful by the supervisor.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, (e.g., agriculture, sciences, International Business Management) with 5 years of related work experience; or, Master’s Degree with +3 years of related work experience
• Excellent analytical skills, able to look for market data, analyze a sector and suggest strategies
• Excellent project management skills including influencing without authority, planning, time management
• Excellent communicator and problem solver, with a proactive approach
• Willingness and aptitude to learn about the international coffee sector, with experience in the sector being a strong plus
• Excellent computer skills, especially in Google Suite, Excel, and PowerPoint 

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and French
• Proficiency in Kirundi

Success Factors:

Competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) directly related to successful performance on the job.

Core Competencies include:

• Integrity and honesty: Is widely trusted; seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidence; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain. 
• Teamwork/ Relationships: Works cooperatively and flexibly with other members of the team with a full understanding of the role to be played as a team member and/or leader, to achieve a common goal.  Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and networks.
• Learning attitude: Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn. Actively identifies new areas for learning; applies and shares new knowledge and skills appropriately.
• Diversity/Inclusiveness: Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts. Interacts effectively with and inclusively with people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, ages, and genders. 
• Communication: Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations. Listens effectively; shares information, ideas, and arguments; adjusts terminology, language and communication modes to the needs of the audience; ensures accurate understanding; acts in a way that facilitates open exchange of ideas and information; uses appropriate non-verbal communication.
• Decision making/Problem-Solving: Is able to analyze situations, diagnose problems, identify the key issues, establish and evaluate alternative courses of action and produce a logical, practical and acceptable solution.  Can make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, and demonstrating sound judgment in escalating issues where necessary.
• Results Oriented/High-Quality Deliverables:  Stays focused on the efforts necessary to achieve quality results consistent with programmatic or departmental goals. Demonstrates the ability to achieve effective results; works persistently to overcome obstacles to goal achievement. Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; and accurately checking processes and tasks.
• Planning & Time Management: Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Effectively plans, schedules, prioritizes and controls activities; identifies, integrates and orchestrates resources (people, material, information, budget, and/or time) to accomplish goals. Prioritizes work according to the program or department’s goals, not just own job responsibilities; manages own time effectively.
• Business Acumen:  The ability to use information, ask the right questions and make decisions that make an impact on the overall business performance.

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 the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

NOTE:

• Only selected candidates will be invited to take the recruitment tests.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for the position.