Business Development Officer 91 views1 application

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CARITAS Switzerland (CACH) has been working in Ethiopia for more than 30 years. Currently CACH cooperates with four partners in Ethiopia. CACH has been registered as an International Non-Government Organization in Ethiopia and has therefore since 2015 become operational at project implementation level. CACHs main working fields are: agricultural development and food security, i.e. agricultural value chain and market development, WASH as well as emergency and relief operations. Our current working areas are mainly in Southern and Eastern Oromia Region, where CACH currently implements different projects in these regions.

Summary Of Duties

The Business Development Officer will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the overall implementation of activities expected to contribute to the successful implementation of the project “Social Innovations to Heighten Innovative Resilience-building Opportunities (SHIRO)” at woreda and district level as part of the Project Implementation Team (PIT) at Medawolabu, Bale zone, Oromia Region.

The Business Development Officer will work under the direction and guidance of the Field Project Coordinator. The post holder will work in close coordination and alignments with implementing partners, government and private stakeholders.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Develop business proposals for existing and new women and youth customers
• Develop business strategies and working business models (market linkage, value chain) for women and youth entrepreneurs and WASH Cos
• Provide insight into product development and competitive positioning
• Develop innovative strategies for retaining clients; this includes undertaking interviews in order to get feedback and incorporate it into the growth plan
• Develop comprehensive knowledge about the business and its development practices, its marketing activities, prospective clients, and the trends for the industry
• Analyze current and past expense budgets, sales, product deficiencies, and revenues. this enables him/her to provide recommendations for the company’s growth and resolution of problems
• Choosing, training, and guiding business development for women and youth cooperatives
• Engage in market research in order to identify new opportunities for businesses
• Explain to potential customers about the various benefits offered by company products or services; following them up to close the business deals
• Participate in multi -stakeholder platform to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of lessons learned between public and private actors along the water and energy value chains
• Collaborating with company executives to determine the most viable, cost-effective approach to pursue new business opportunities.

About You

The ideal candidate represents the majority of the below mentioned areas;

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, finance, accounting or related fields
• At least five years working experience in similar positions in value chain development/job creation and entrepreneurial  skills development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in facilitating TOT training on entrepreneurial skills development  at community level  approaching and knowing local context is a plus
• Very good analytical skills – must look a details
• Good understanding and firm belief in gender equality and experience at grass-root level within communities in the area and Knowing local language is a plus
• Familiarity with systemic/ market system development approaches, experience in implementing EU-funded and innovation-oriented projects are an advantage.