Value chain Development Manager

Value chain Development Manager(VCDM)

The VCDM will support the Trust to directly contribute to the realization of three aspects of the Trust mission; namely: 1)delivering business development services to agribusinesses and agribusiness financiers; 2) providing leadership and technical assistance to the development of Uganda's key agricultural value chains, from input supply, through production, processing and export (including standards); and, 3) providing services on a basis that covers the operating and financial expenses of the aBi Trust. The position wiil supervise two other contracted staff (the Enterprise Development Officer and the Market Development Officer) and multiple specialist consultants. The position will play a counterpart role to the aBi Programme Contractor that will supply specialised technical assistance to the Trust. The day-to-day roles for this position will include, but will not be limited to;
• Develop operational plans in accordance to goals set by the BoT for the Value Chain Development component;
• Prepare and update the procedural content of Operations Manual relating to Enterprise services;
• Participate in recruiting permanent staff members for the Enterprise services section;
• Establish and maintain relationships with private sector organisations, development partners, governmental institutions and other stakeholders for the Trust's Financial Services Program to establish how these institutions might be assisted to further the Trust's mission through technical assistance, grants and guarantees;
• Participate in recruiting national, regional and international long and short term consultants supporting the partnered Financial Institutions;
• Liaise with the aBi Programme Contractor to provide technical oversight, monitoring and evaluation of technical assistance to the supported enterprises;
• Based on the set Trust guidelines oversee grants to supported enterprises including:
• Screen and appraise grants and technical assistance applications for compliance with the program criteria;
• Prepare standard grant recommendations for BoT approval;
• Inform partners in writing of grant application approvals or
- Arrange all legal and related documentation for all approved grant;
- Liaise with the beneficiaries to ensure full understanding and acknowledgement of their role;
- Maintain a database for all approved grants; and
- Monitor grant recipients activities to ensure they meet the performance and reporting targets as set out in the relevant agreements.
- Arrange for regular training/coaching for contract staff, specia1ist consultants and development partners, as necessary;
- Prepare annual business plans and budgets in collaboration with other members of the management team; and
- Prepare reports, as required,

Qualifications and experience:
The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following qualifications:
- Graduate degree in business administration, agricultural economics or similar relevant field;
- A post graduate degree in a relevant field;
- Minimum of 10 years of proven experience in private sector agricultural development, with focus on agricultural productivity or commodity trade involving SMEs;
-Direct experience in Africa-based agricultural/rural development initiatives;
- High levels of skills in:
- Management for results, inclusive of managing permanent technical staff and supervising short term consultants;
- Developing and strengthening agricultural inputs distribution networks;
- Developing agricultural value chain support strategies, including industry clusters;
- Supporting smallholder productivity;
- Strengthening farmers' organisations;
- Documenting and reporting successful stories, best practices and impact of technical assistance programmes and development projects;
- Spoken and written Engiish;
- Quantitative analysis;
- Effective Communication;
- Staff Development and coaching; and
- Use Microsoft Office.

The offer:
The successful candidate will be compensated by an attractive package that will include both a base salary and performance-based compensation paid against the overall achievements of negotiated performance targets,
Tenure;

The positions will initially be contracted for two years subjact to a six month probationary period, and shall be available for renewal on satisfactory performance.