Business development related responsibilities

• Analyse the current business status of cooperatives, efficiency, customer base and identify potential business opportunities,
• Develop and test useful business strategies and plans for cooperatives for creation of new and innovative opportunities,
• Build strong partnership within cooperatives and connects them with customers/stakeholders and outside business to widen business opportunities and benefits for cooperatives
• Collaborate with colleagues and technical team of the project on the marketing and product development to improve overall market base, demand and customer satisfaction,
• Contact potential clients to establish rapport and arrange business meetings,
• Plan and oversee new marketing initiatives for commodities of cooperatives/farmers,
• Track or research business organizations and individuals to find new opportunities,
• Endeavor to increase the value of current customers while attracting new ones,
• Prepare business training packages for farmers and/or cooperatives and train cooperative leaders and members on business and business development and continuity,
• Asist farmers and cooperatives in preparation and implementation of business plans,
• Support the Coops and Value Chain Actors to have viable business focus with strong leadership, management and financial systems,
• Assess and provide a sound market information/ communication system among the Value Chain actors to communicate demand and supply forces on time
• Prepare and share business performance and progress reports and keep records

FINANCE RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide financial and administrative support to cooperatives to ensure business profitability and sustainability,
• Asist Cooperatives and members on financial planning and check their accuracy and progress,
• Regularly tracks and guides coops and members on appropriate management of loans, repayments, collection of interests, purchases and fair distribution of loans among members,
• Assess business/investment opportunities and advise cooperatives and members,
• Promote relationships of cooperatives with business and financial institutions, and assist in designing and preparation of development plans
• Regularly supervise transactions and serve as internal auditor of financial management of cooperatives
• Build evidence at field level for advocacy to enhance the access to finance for smallholder farmers
• Train and enable cooperative leaders and members on finance and financial management
• Support SACCOs to prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial report and share the report with the project office
• Track and update awareness of latest legislative changes that may affect financial planning and management of cooperatives

JOB REQUIREMENT

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Accounting or related fields,
• 5 years’ experience in business, marketing and finance development is acceptable (working experience with cooperatives is an advantage),
• Familiarity with relevant financial software and Microsoft Office with excellent computer skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills/ skills of persuasion (both verbal and written),
• Critical thinking skills, analytical, organized, creatively-minded, good at thinking ‘outside the box’,
• Willingness and ability to travel when necessary to meet with customers and/or stakeholders and build business relationships,
• Experience of NGO and knowledge on Gender are additional advantage.
• Qualified and/or experienced female applicants are highly encouraged.

Duty Station:  Arerti Town (130Km from Addis), Minjar Shenkora Woreda, Semien Shewa, Amhara Regional State

• Closing date: 10 consecutive days after this announcement is posted on the News Paper
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted,
• Please send your application to EWNRA Head Office to the following address:
• Only CVs should be sent in digital form through the email address (Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
• All other supporting documents (copies of credentials) should be sent through post office ( O. Box 1518 code 1110 Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association, Addis Ababa