Team Leader in Zambia
, Zambia
About Nathan Associates
Nathan Associates (Nathan) is a leading international development consultancy firm headquartered in Washington DC. Founded in 1946, the company uses economic principles and data to guide policies and operations in a way that improves people's lives. Our employees are motivated by the belief that we can make a difference and over the years the company has expanded its services and geographical reach while remaining small enough to personally ensure the quality of its work. We currently have offices in the United States (Washington DC, California), United Kingdom (London) and India (Delhi, Chennai).
Nathan provides services in five areas:
• Private sector development: Nathan designs, implements and evaluates pro-poor, inclusive market systems strategies and programs, supports global value chains and links exporters to new markets. Through challenge funds and grants, we foster private sector innovation and catalyse private investment. Nathan also supports investment and export promotion agencies and designs initiatives to advance women’s economic empowerment.
• Financial sector development: Nathan uses a systemic approach to understand and work on financial systems to overcome the challenges the poor face in achieving financial literacy and inclusion and businesses, particularly SMEs, face in accessing finance.
• Economic policy and governance: Nathan’s services in economic policy and governance include macroeconomic analysis; budget preparation, execution and evaluation; legal/regulatory reform and anticorruption.
• Trade and logistics: Nathan advises public and private sector clients on trade negotiations, harmonizing trade policies to promote economic integration, modernizing customs procedures and improving trade corridor efficiency.
• Infrastructure planning and finance Nathan provides services in economic analysis and environmental impact assessments, competitive and regulatory environment analysis, developing master plans and feasibility studies and financial analysis including structuring PPP transactions.
About the Private Enterprise Programme in Zambia
The Private Enterprise Programme-Zambia (PEPZ) is a five-year programme (2014-2019) funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and is being implemented by Nathan in collaboration with Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). PEPZ aims to build the capability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in order to deliver inclusive economic growth through job creation and diversifying the economy. PEPZ aims to achieve these goals by addressing underlying market failures through an integrated approach that has four components:
• Business Linkage Programme (BLP), which facilitates linkages between large businesses and MSMEs and help the latter supply the large businesses competitively thus helping them to grow and create jobs.
• Business Development Services (BDS), which helps to improve access to markets, governance, management and business planning services for large numbers of potentially transformative MSMEs to help them access loan finance and enable them to grow.
• Business Plan Competition (BPC), which supports new start-ups and helps innovative businesses grow, crowding-in the banks into the market, generating wealth and creating jobs. The BPC aims to raise the profile of entrepreneurship in Zambia helping to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs to set up transformative enterprises.
• Accelerator Fund, which provides patient capital, technical assistance and mentoring support to investment-ready MSMEs capable of transformative growth that increases competitiveness as well as create jobs.
Scope of work
The Team Leader will manage the delivery of the PEPZ programme in Zambia. S/he will undertake the strategic and technical oversight of the programme as well as operational management of the team. S/he will represent the company in the delivery of the programme in Zambia and endeavour to ensure that good relationships are maintained with DFID Zambia and with other key stakeholders as well as between members of the team. The Team Leader will work closely with Nathan’s Programme Manager and Project Director, both based in London.
The position
The team leader’s overarching responsibilities will include the following:
• Provide technical and strategic oversight to the management of each of the programme components and take corrective action to ensure they are on track against milestones and budgets.
• Ensure that DFID and Nathan are kept abreast of all strategic issues and buys into suggested course of action.
• Effectively manage all PEPZ’s full-time staff and ensure that they are well motivated and deliver on time.
• Take hands on, proactive approach to guide and support the BDS Manager to deliver the revised BDS strategy
• Represent the programme at all forums and build the profile of the programme as the champion of entrepreneurship and small business in Zambia. Also, effectively communicate the aims and achievements of the programme
• Liaise with other programmes to ensure synergy where possible.
• Look for new opportunities to promote entrepreneurship and develop MSMEs.
• Lead on the drafting of all reports to DFID, including quarterly and annual reports on programme performance, and strategic documents.
• Continuously monitor and advise on the most efficient use the programme’s resources to ensure we achieve value for money.
• Ensure that effective management and administrative systems for human resources, procurement, logistics and finance are adhered to.
Candidate profile
We are looking for an experienced consultant with a track record of successful leading and delivering programmes. The Team Leader is expected to fit the following profile:
• At least 15 years’ experience in the field of private sector development and/or working with the private sector.
• Master’s degree in a private sector development-related field (economics, business, international development, finance).
• Previous team leadership/managerial experience in donor-funded programmes. Specific DFID experience would be an advantage.
• In-depth technical knowledge in at least one of the following areas: entrepreneurship development, business linkages, and/or business development services.
• In depth technical knowledge of SME growth and experience in Zambia in key sectors for PEPZ, e.g. agribusiness and/or mining
• Experience: leading programmes in developing countries
• Experience of flexible and adaptive programming based on lesson learning.
• In depth knowledge of DFID - structure, systems and procurement rules would be an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and oral).
• Experience working in developing countries. Specific Zambia experience would be an advantage.
What do we offer?
We offer an exciting work environment within a smart, dynamic and passionate team based in our Zambian project office. We offer a highly competitive package.
Applications will close on the 30th January 2017.
Vacancy type Long term/ Full time
Location Lusaka, Zambia
Service areas(s) Private Sector Development, entrepreneurship development, business linkages, business development services
Note: This is a job advertisement, applications will be forwarded to the employer for selection. The employer will do the recruitment process himself. JobnetAfrica believes all applicants should get feedback, good or bad, but we don’t have any influence on this concerning this job.
Expiring: Mar 03, 2017