Vacancy title:
Senior Market Development Advisor

Jobs at:
Mercy Corps

Deadline of this Job:
Thursday, 11th May 2017

Duty Station:
Lira. Uganda

Job details:
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Operating in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps has field officer in Kitgum, Pader, Kotido and Kaabong and implements programs that cover a wide variety of program sectors including food security, health/nutrition, water/sanitation, peace building, youth, agriculture, and econ development

Senior Market Development Advisor- Lira. Uganda
PROGRAMID EPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps‘ works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutntion, and improved govemance and conflict management. We implement programs in the districts of Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Agago, and Lamwo in Acholi and entire Karamoia as well as eastem Uganda with funding fiom USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Market Development Advisor will work to enhance DYNAMIC‘s ability to deliver high impact market development programming; development of market development interventions, tools and resources; and the empowerment and up skilling of other DYNAMIC team members to implement market development interventions, particularly the 16 Market Development Officers and their supervising Program Managers

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Direction of Market Development:

• Lead technical oversight and direction on market development for or in collaboration with all aspects of DYNAMIC program activities for nine districts in close coordination with Deputy Program Director and Program Managers.
• Develop and proliferate tools and resources to assist with market development analysis, program design, activities‘ implementation and M&E. Develop system to manage complex concept note process across nine districts and four international NGOs.
• Design and conduct refresher and specialized trainings as needed with staff and partners and design necessary didactic materials (manuals, handouts etc.).
• Engage in development and rollout of agency tested tools and initiatives to ensure consistent high-quality implementation.
• Lead in sector identification, intervention design and strategy development of the DYNAMIC program with coordination from the Deputy Program Director and other advisors (financial services, youth, skills and teaming and MEL).
• Conduct continuous market intelligence and assessments to inform programming including identification of sectors and value chains that have high potential to benefit the youth.
• Develop and manage relationship with private sector partners working across program targeted sectors. Negotiate and sign agreements related to share value activities with the private sector at a national and regional level
• Conduct pilot studies and research relevant to the program and aimed at informing implementation and teaming with the support of the MEL team.
• Mentorship and coaching of partner higher and medium level flm1s and enterprises.

Contribute to, Capture and Champion Market Development Best Practices

• Expand DYNAMIC's role as a thought leader in the Making Markets Work for Youth space. r
• Act as a leader tor collaboration and collective decision making across districts.
• Contribute to the suite of market development resources available to support and promote quality practice in the field.
• Help mentor and develop technical skills in Market Development Officers and other staff across program field teams, support in building a more dense, diverse and collaborative network of relationships tor market development practitioners and other stakeholders and to broker effective relationships at the country and regional levels.
• Connect best practices and teaming from programs across MC countries to ensure an evolving and effective learning system for improving program implementation.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of Mercy Corps Uganda‘s commitment to organizational teaming and in support of our understanding that teaming organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve
• we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to teaming activities that benefit the DYNAMIC program as well as themselves.
  KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor’s Degree in business, agribusiness, economic development or other relevant field required; Master’s Degree strongly preferred.
• Background in business or market/economic development, with a minimum act 10 years practical experience in the private sector, market development and/or related industry. At least 6 years of experience specifically on market systems development/'M4P/market facilitation REQUIRED.
•  Dynamic leader who can guide teams to believe in and follow a strong market development philosophy.
• Experience with a wide range of stakeholder and partner management with national/regional companies; international agencies; community-based organizations; agribusinesses, etc. needed
•  Strong group process design and facilitation skills including developing and leading workshops, as well as group consensus building around market development philosophy. Experience in consortium programs with other international NGOs REQUIRED.
• Knowledge of agricultural development required.
• Proven track record in adaptive management in fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment required.
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with various district-level program teams.
•  Knowledge and experience in business financing for SME's and/or youth engagement is highly valued

Job application procedure
Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorgs.org  addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda. Include a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Thursday, 11th May 2017. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.