NU-Tec Team Leader – Agribusiness Financial Products, Uganda - 2015

This position is contingent on funding

GENERAL PROGRAMME SUMMARY:

The UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the “Northern Uganda: Transforming the Economy through Climate Smart Agribusiness (NU-TEC)” programme. The programme will provide advice and finance to agribusinesses to support investments which have a beneficial impact on smallholder famers in Northern Uganda. The Team Leader will lead the implementation of the 6 year NU-TEC Development and Provision of Financial Products for Agribusiness in Uganda programme. The programme will design and deliver effective adapted and new financial products for agribusinesses (and businesses that support the agriculture sector) in northern Uganda which minimises subsidy, and maximises the potential for sustained impacts and replication by other Financial Institutions (FIs).

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Team Leader is a senior management position with Mercy Corps in Uganda with supervisory and managerial responsibility for this multi-year project. S/he provides the vision and leadership in project delivery and manages overall project implementation ensuring high quality performance. S/he maximizes budget resources and personnel development and remains flexible in a continually changing environment. Responsible for overseeing performance of the programme, the Team Leader, in close collaboration and in an advisory role with a partner FI, will guide the adaptation and development of financial products for agri-business on the basis of commercial viability for the FI, impact for smallholder farmers and, potentially, replicability of the model by other FIs in Uganda. S/he will be responsible to maintain the aggressive implementation scheduled required by DfID for the loan portfolio in a challenging environment. She/he is also ultimately responsible for overseeing the sound management of the financial product and the capture of data/learning from the programme.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Vision, Leadership and Strategy

Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of programme implementation, development and management.
Develop NU-TEC strategy and vision, maximizing internal and external resources, including hiring and building appropriate staff skills, and partner relationships in order to achieve programme goals and objectives.
Ensure programme strategy is clear and communicated to team members, the partner FI, potential agribusiness clients and government, and the international and financial community;
Collaborate and ensure synergies with other related Mercy Corps programmes with agriculture sector focuses.
Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
Serve as an ‘on-site’ consultant to the FI to move the programme deliverables forward.
Ensure that the Contract-specific requirements of this programme are met (as this funding comes from DFID under the modalities of a Contract and not a Grant).

Programme Quality and Staff Development

Assemble all components necessary to ensure quality programming and recruit, facilitate training of, and manage an informed, motivated and efficient staff including a high focus on national team members.
Ensure that programme implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic plan.
Monitor adherence to donor terms of reference, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.

Representation and Stakeholder Management

Develop close and productive working relationships with the partner FI and other stakeholders – including the primary stakeholders, operations departments, the greater agribusiness sector and private sector- all parties required to establish a shared vision of the project and achieve objectives.
Oversee all activities including financial product development, product launches and management, facilitate agri-business support, M&E, and facilitation with other Mercy Corps programming.
Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting

Facilitate the achievement of programme targets and objectives and lead efforts to design effective M&E systems.
Oversee the scheduling and production of formal and informal reports on all aspects of the programme in a timely and efficient manner.
Ensure adherence to operational imperatives as per internal/ external audit requirements; utilize best practices based on Mercy Corps internal policies.
Ensure accurate and timely programme financial reporting to the donors and Mercy Corps’ headquarters.

New Initiatives

Actively seek opportunities to leverage the programme. Work with other Mercy Corps Uganda programmes, Social Ventures, TSUs, and country field offices to identify areas for programme coordination, as well as opportunities for related new programming.
Identify opportunities, conceptualize and strategize business models for financial products targeting agri-business.

Security

Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
Ensure that programmes are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

ORGANISATION LEARNING

As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

NU-TEC Product Manager and other team members under the funded contract.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director, Uganda

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Partner Financial Institution, Director of Programmes, Finance Manager, Programme-Related Consultants, and other Programme Stakeholders, DPMELC National Manager

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum BA (MA strongly preferred) in business administration, agriculture economics, finance, economics or related field required;
Minimum 10-15 years’ relevant working experience required; preference for experience in private sector banking and a strong working knowledge of financial services, business development and agriculture;
Proven track-record in agricultural finance;
Demonstrated ability to develop sustainable and socially actionable business models through partnerships including extensive development of financial products, pricing, marketing strategies, delivery channels, SWOT analysis, financial projections and building value propositions;
Familiarity with DFID policies and protocols required – specifically with the Contract funding modality;
Strong experience in developing & maintaining complex programmes, organizational relationships & partnerships;
History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, civil society partners in complex environments;
Strong communication, multi-tasking and prioritisation skills; and
Experience in working in Uganda strongly preferred and East Africa required.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The ideal candidate will have proven track record of the Ugandan financial sector, agri-business finance and the intersection of both. Successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. The successful Team Leader will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programmes within the current and future programme structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills with technical skills in financial services and agriculture. S/he will have demonstrated skills in managing programmes in challenging environments, ability to manage ambiguity, frustration and stress in self, partners and others. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential – as well as maintaining a sense of humour.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The Team Leader is based in Kampala with significant travel to northern Uganda. Kampala provides a secure living environment that is suitable for families. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are three reputable International schools in Uganda. Staff have access to medical, electricity, water, etc. This position requires frequent and significant travel by road to the target districts, were conditions are more basic.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.