Organization: techfortrade
Country: Kenya
Closing date: 21 Mar 2016
Background
Since early 2012 techfortrade has been actively involved in the co-creation and development of social impact ventures that have the potential to create systems change in trading value chains. We have observed the challenges that many social start-ups face in developing markets, with very few receiving the support to reach investment readiness, and investors generally not wishing to get directly involved in steering the business development required. However, through our work, we’ve gained first hand experience and had the opportunity to test different approaches to taking ideas from initial concept to the point of validation, as well as supporting a newly launched venture as it explored different growth strategies.
For the past two years we have been validating the business model for Open Book Trading, a business service, supported by trading software which is designed to reinvent the role of the middle-man in agricultural trading, bringing professionalism and transparency to smallholder trade and potentially putting millions of dollars of additional income into the pockets of East African farmers. By 2020 Open Book Trading hopes to recruit and support a professional and profitable trader network that will link at least 40,000 smallholder farmers in East Africa to reliable markets, and improve farmer incomes by at least 20%.
The Role
Open Book Trading is recruiting a Business Development Manager who will support this goal by recruiting Farmer Cooperatives and Farmer Groups to use Open Book Trading in line with agreed sales forecasts and support these newly recruited businesses to achieve anticipated trading volumes. The role will report to the Chief Executive of Open Book Trading.
Key responsibilities
• The BDM is responsible for planning and implementing recruitment strategies to achieve the agreed sales targets in line with the Open Book Trading Business Plan.
• The BDM is responsible for carrying out a needs assessment with newly recruited networks, identifying areas of capacity building and support required to ensure that trading networks are able to fully exploit the Open Book Trading Service.
• The BDM is responsible for ongoing relationship management of Cooperative and farmer group clients to ensure they remain satisfied with the service and are making full use of the service in their trading activities.
Skills and Academic Qualifications:
• 5-10 years’ work experience in agricultural sector sales and marketing with good knowledge of cooperative sector and farmer organisations.
• BSc. or MSc. degree in (agri) business, marketing, agricultural economics or related fields.
• 5-10 years’ work experience in agricultural sector with good knowledge on cooperative sector and farmer organisations.
• Agricultural sector development experience, including building strong stakeholder networks.
• Experience working with a start-up organisation desirable
• Strong IT skills and knowledge of MS office suite.
Person Profile
• Target driven, self starter
• Excellent presenter, communicator, relationship builder and networker.
• Pleasant, positive attitude and ability to interact well with others.
• Work independently to a high standard and integrity.
• Well-structured and organised with ability to write reports and business correspondence.
How to apply:
If you fit the profile of candidate we are looking for please send a copy of your CV and a motivation letter [no copies of scanned certificates at this moment] to kevin.kinusu@techfortrade.com by close of business 21st March 2016.
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