Jordan: Business Development and Livelihood Officer

For 100 years, NEF has worked to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through education, governance, and economic development initiatives. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently operates in nine countries: Armenia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Senegal and Sudan. Our programs are organized around four themes: Peace building, Civic Engagement and Education, Sustainable Agriculture, and Microenterprise Development.

Position Description

The Business Development and Livelihood Officer is a member of Near East Foundation team in Jordan, reporting to the Project Manager. The purpose of the Business Development and Livelihood Officer position is to coordinate all business development activities for the target beneficiaries and partner CBOs for the “Reducing Vulnerability of Iraqi Refugees, Jordanians and Vulnerable Groups in Zarqa Governorate” project. The project aims to reduce vulnerability to negative coping strategies among Iraqi refugees, poor Jordanians, and other vulnerable groups. At the grassroots-level, NEF will improve the economic security of Iraqi refugees, Jordanians, and adolescents.

The Business Development and Livelihood Officer will: (a) manage the financial literacy training and coaching activities; (b) support field coordinators to screen entrepreneurs, support business planning, and coordinate the evaluation committees; (c) provide partner CBOs with technical and capacity support. The Business Development and Livelihoods Officer will perform his/her duties and responsibilities in accordance to the project proposal and budget in addition to the programmatic, administrative and financial policies/ regulations of the Near East Foundation. In consultation with the NEF Project Manager for Jordan and in collaboration with the project staff including local partner organizations, s/he will allocate appropriate resources to accomplish the plan, manage staff and ensures that an appropriate monitoring system is in place to track progress and deviations of project implementation.

Responsibilities

The Business Development and Livelihood Officer will:

• Implement business trainings and activities in line with donor and NEF requirements including proposing necessary changes;
• Produce monthly progress reports in coordination with volunteers, CBOs, and NEF project staff;

· Coordinate all business development activities of the target beneficiaries and partner CBOs;

· Supervise the implementation of a niche market assessment in order to identify market sectors that will identify marketable small businesses and guide the project trainings;

· Review, assess, and provide recommendations on the business plans of beneficiaries to help them in identifying and developing income generation projects and improve their businesses;

· Manage direct follow-up coaching activities and the organization of the bi-monthly bazaars to enhance beneficiaries business development skills;

· Identify skills-gaps amongst beneficiaries in order to provide relevant trainings (e.g. marketing, purchasing, saving management, etc.);

· Develop clear plans for conducting the financial literacy, adolescent saving, and ToT (for CBOs and volunteers) trainings, including preparing all materials and tools for the trainings and follow-up evaluation;

· Support field coordinators in the creation of an evaluation committee and the screening of potential entrepreneurs;

· Maintain ongoing communication with project stakeholder regarding project progress and challenges;

· Compile an organized list of the beneficiaries business plans with additional information and clear recommendations to the Cash Assistance and Grants Officer about the amount of assistance to be disbursed to each beneficiary;

· Work as a team player providing relevant assistance to colleagues and ensuring that project components, for which he/she is responsible, are interlinked;

· Ensure to take and maintain minutes of meetings; accurately draft and provide training or workshop summaries;

· Ensure security and appropriate use of project and NEF assets;

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The successful Business Development and Livelihoods Officer must be a self-directed individual with the following qualifications:

· Bachelor degree in development, business studies, social science, economics, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

· 3-5 years of experience in development and/or humanitarian organizations, including significant experience working as a certified business development trainer in the UN/INGO sector;

· Expertise in income generation, SMEs, poverty alleviation, livelihood development, social inclusion, etc.

· Proven record of effective project management, including project planning, implementation and managing a budget;

· Fluency in English and Arabic and ability to effectively write reports;

· Strong facilitation skills, including the design and management of effective trainings, workshops and meetings with a diverse population;

· Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across a wide variety of cultural contexts;

· Effective team player, able to develop and maintain effective working relationships;

· Flexible, creative and problem solving-oriented;

· Competence with MS Office applications, including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Please apply by sending to recruitmentjordan@neareast.org the following documents:

1. Cover letter outlining all relevant experience, availability and salary history
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (including one from current, or most recent, employer)

Application deadline: 31 August 2015

Subject line: Business Development and Livelihood Officer, Jordan

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at www.neareast.org.

The Near East Foundation will conduct pre-employment background checks that may include contacting off-list references from past employers.

The Near East Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.