Position Description: Programme Director
The Wood Family Trust (WFT) is a Scottish registered charity established by UK Industrialist Sir Ian Wood with a key objective to improve livelihoods by stimulating viable market opportunities that will in turn create jobs and generate wealth among the rural poor.
The Wood Family Trust (WFT) is a Scottish registered charity established by UK Industrialist Sir Ian Wood with a key objective to improve livelihoods by stimulating viable market opportunities that will in turn create jobs and generate wealth among the rural poor.
The Trust is based in Aberdeen, Scotland, with a regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
As a private donor, WFT
is able to engage in a flexible manner with a portfolio of strategic
interventions including technical assistance, loan guarantees,
match-funding, as well as debt/equity investments.
To date WFT has already
launched $9 million sector programs in the tea industry in each of
Rwanda and Tanzania, and is also pursuing a series of debt/equity
investments in partnership with the smallholder farmers.
WFT is now poised to
broaden its tea sector presence in additional countries within East
Africa, and is seeking Programme Directors to manage and drive these
programmes forward.
General Position Description:
The Programme Director
will have overall responsibility for the administrative and technical
management of a country based programme supporting the tea industry.
This will require
strategic thinking incorporating industry best practice, dynamic
engagement with key stakeholders, and a practical hands-on orientation
to ensure interventions are well designed and actively managed for the
achievement of results.
The Programme Director
will possess a firm understanding of business management through
significant private sector experience in an agriculture-based related
industry (preferably tea).
He/she will be a dynamic
and energetic individual that is able to work in a team environment
while maintaining a strategic, yet commercial outlook and managing for
results.
He/she will have strong command of oral and written English, and preferably have an MBA or advanced degree in a related field.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
- Carry out the day to day management of a country-based program supporting the tea sector while executing line management responsibilities;
- Oversee implementation of all field activities supported by the Programme. This may include: market analysis; identification and due diligence of prospective investment opportunities; preparation and presentation of investment materials for consideration; design and contracting of short-and long-term technical assistance engagements; structuring of matching grant facilities, loan guarantees, and debt/equity investments; dynamic management of the existing portfolio; and any other type of support deemed appropriate;
- Identify and engage with appropriate delivery partners to ensure that implementation of tea-specific activities are undertaken in an appropriate and well-coordinated manner;
- Maintain active understanding of global tea industry trends and best practices for potential replication at the country level.
- Maintain active communication and engagement with key industry stakeholders to influence competitive thinking and ensure the goals, objectives, and field activities of the Programme are well understood, while obtaining feedback from the same on the effectiveness of program interventions;
- Monitor the impact and efficacy of Programme activities on the greater tea value chain, including the behavioural response of related market actors. Identify potential new areas for Programme support based upon engagement with stakeholders and emerging dynamics within the tea sector;
- Undertake field visits and spot-checks as required, manage technical and financial reporting and coordinate overall activity spend. Oversee third party technical appraisals and financial audits as necessary;
- Represent the interests of the Programme vis-à-vis tea industry stakeholders and host country government. Maintain active communication with other donor partners for harmonization of efforts, development of new programmes, and potential leveraging of resources; and
- Manage overall programme office including technical and administrative personnel. Maintain compliance with WFT processes and procedures.
Mode of Application:
Applicants are required
to submit their CV with contact information for at least two references
as well as a covering letter demonstrating how they meet the required
experience and capabilities.
Please submit these via email to Helen.Emukule@woodgroup.com.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.