Project Manager Agribusiness Incubation Centres | - 2015

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship, so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their conflict-affected society into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit development organization with 80 staff members that helps young entrepreneurs to start or grow their own businesses. SPARK is achieving its mission by organizing business plan competitions, business skills training, SME coaching and mentoring, business incubation, SME financing, intensive higher vocational summer courses, curriculum development and quality assurance at universities and higher vocational education institutions.

SPARK focuses on small and growing businesses, in post conflict states such as, and not limited to: Burundi, Kosovo, Liberia, Mali, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Somalia and South Sudan.

SPARK Burundi is currently looking to fill the position of:

Project Manager (m/f) (full-time)

to lead and manage the programme for establishing Agribusiness Incubation Centres in Cibitoke, Bururi and Rumonge provinces in Burundi. The successful applicant will be based in Bujumbura, Burundi. This is a new programme (starting in 2015), financially supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Burundi.

Tasks and responsibilities

· Project management, administration and reporting.

· Establishing centres and operationalization of the programme objectives;

· Establish a network of business development service providers in the regions;

· Elaborate on how the target groups can be reached, constructively involved and benefit from the programme;

· Develop and oversee the suite of services to be offered at the centres.

· Establish viable and sustainable partnerships with local authorities and institutions for the incubation centres;

· Recruit incubation centre staff and develop jointly with local partner BBIN the training and coaching programme;

· Conduct (together with local experts) value chain studies and market/feasibility studies;

Requirements and skills

· More than 7 years of experience in project management and in international development;

· More than 2 years experience working with business incubation centers, preferably with an agribusiness focus.

· Masters diploma or equivalent, preferably in a field related to agribusiness, international development or business administration, or significant work experience in the field;

· Good knowledge of the (rural) business environment in Burundi and the region;

· Experience in conducting value chain analysis and market research;

· Experienced trainer/coach, with a particular focus on business development;

· Fluent in French and English;

· Responsible and honest;

· Excellent computer skills and good knowledge of outlook, excel, ppt and word;

· Good team worker while able to work independently;

· Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;

· Excellent communication and social skills and able to work in multicultural setting

SPARK offers

· Contract for 40 hours/week for 1 year with possibility for extension;

· Salary negotiable to a maximum of 4000 Euro gross per month, depending on experience;

· A contribution in housing costs of 800 Euro monthly will be provided

· International environment and dynamic working experience.

HOW TO APPLY:
For more information, please visit the SPARK website: www.spark-online.org. If you are interested, please email your letter of motivation and your CV to bujumbura[at]spark-online before 23 March 2015. Reference: Vacancy Project Manager SPARK Burundi. Inquiries about the position can be made through email only.