Business Development Specialist - Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII)

Job title: Business Development Specialist

Employment type: Full time
Country: Uganda
City / Location: Kampala
Min. years of experience: 5 years
Minimum degree: Masters degree
Closing date: July 19, 2013 - 5pm
The job holder will offer technical support the Cassava Team and other actors in the development of the Cassava Value Chain. His overall responsibility will be to undertake Business and Market Development for Cassava Value Chain and Products.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Business development of cassava agro-enterprises.
Expanding the market base for cassava products.
Linking cassava producers and processors and other intermediaries to markets.
Capacity building and technical backstopping of producers and processors on business and market development.
Promote commercialization of cassava.
Ensure that appropriate contractual relationships are made between farmers, processors, intermediaries and end-users.
Offer support value chain actors in overcoming any problems encountered on a day to day basis.
Support the awareness-raising activities on cassava commercialization.
Undertake other tasks required to achieve the objectives of the program.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The candidate should be a holder of MSc in Agri-Business Development, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, or MBA in Business Development or Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Possession of a PhD or Post-graduate Diploma in any of the above fields will be an added advantage.
At least five years experience in any of the above fields working with a reputable organisation is required.
Experience in cassava value chain or similar commodities, agro-processing and marketing, agri-business development and management as well as agricultural commodity trade is also required.
Experience of working with and supporting the private sector and farmers. The preferred candidate should have the ability to manager staff and resources.
Good communication, interpersonal, resource mobilisation, proposals and report writing skills are a must.
Contact/How to apply:
Applications of suitably qualified candidates should be sent with an updated CV and photocopies of all supporting documents and names of three referees with their current addresses, email and telephone contacts.
Applications should be submitted either electronically Email: info@afrii.org or hand delivered to
The Chairman, Africa Innovations Institute,
Plot 78 Old Kiira Road Bukoto,
P.O. Box 34981, Kampala, Uganda.