Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS: www.pass.ac.tz) is a non-bank financial organisation that has a vision of facilitating provision of business development and financial services and credit guarantee to commercial farmers and agri-businesses that operate as small and medium scale enterprises (SM Es) in Tanzania. As a continuous process of striving to attain this vision, PASS has launched an Agribusiness Innovation Centre (AIC: www.aic.co.tz) with support from DANI DA and infoDev of the World Bank Group.
The AIC aims at promoting growth of agro-processing enterprises in Tanzania that !A have the potential to become local, national, or regional market leaders. It will achieve this goal by helping pioneering growth~oriented entrepreneurs to access knowledge, networks, technology, markets and capital they need to grow their enterprises.
PASS is now looking for a Director to head the AIC, first formed as a department of PASS. The Director will be responsible for developing and executing the centre strategies, recruiting and managing the team, developing and managing a diverse set of partnerships, continuously adapting and refining the AIC service delivery and sustainability model, overseeing the planning and administration of the centre, and directing all activities which support the AIC’s growth and mission.
To this end, PASS is looking for candidates with result-oriented mind-set, entrepreneurial experience and demonstrated understanding of issues relating to entrepreneurship. In addition to their thorough understanding of the local agribusiness/food processing sector, candidates should demonstrate that they can motivate and lead teams and engender trust amongst all stakeholders along agribusiness value chains. If you feel you measure up to the challenge of leading the establishment of Tanzania’s first private service provider that targets the growth of local pioneering agro-processing enterprises, please review thoroughly the detailed job description below and apply by sending a cover letter and an elaborate Curriculum Vitae and certificates by email to: pass@pass.ac.tz
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Director, Agribusiness Innovation Centre (AIC)
Responsible to: PASS Managing Director
Overall Purpose of Position
The Director of the Agribusiness Innovation Centre (AIC) will lead the establishment of Tanzania’s first private service provider targeting the growth of local pioneering agro-processing enterprises. The Director will be responsible for developing and executing the AIC strategies, recruiting and managing the team, developing and managing a diverse set of partnerships, continuously adapting and refining the AIC
Context
The Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS) organisation has launched the Agribusiness Innovation Centre (AIC) in Tanzania with support from DANIDA and infoDev of the World Bank Group. The AIC aims at promoting growth of agro-processing enterprises in Tanzania that have the potential to become local, national, or regional market leaders. It will achieve this goal by helping pioneering growth-oriented entrepreneurs to access the knowledge, networks, technology, markets and capital they need to grow their enterprises. Entrepreneurs will pay for the services rendered by the AIC through a range of options, largely premised on success sharing.
The AIC clients will be selected using a competitive process akin to that used by angel investors. The success of the AIC will first be measured by the growth of the agro-processing enterprises it serves. Other important measures include the effects these growing agro-processing enterprises have on the incomes of smallholder farmers and indirect job creation in sectors like transport and packaging. The AIC also plays a critical role in “paving the way” for others; by developing innovative partnerships with key stakeholders in the agro-processing eco-system, including corporations, financiers, farm-level organisations, academia and government. The AIC will contribute to the creation of new business models, instruments and policies that benefit a broader group of agro-processing entrepreneurs beyond those directly served by the AIC.|
The AIC concept was derived by infoDev in consultation with over 200 Tanzanian stakeholders. The implementation in Tanzania will be the first of AIC in infoDev’s Agribusiness Innovation Program. Several others will be launched in the coming years, with the aim of deriving a new and improved approach to advancing the growth of pioneering agro-processing enterprises. The AIC Director will thus not only be contributing to real business results in Tanzania, but also to global knowledge of how to best catalyze the growth of the vibrant agro-processing sector. DANIDA has committed to provide the seed financing for the establishment and operations of AIC for a 4-5 year period, subject to satisfactory progress by meeting performance and sustainability goals as set out in the business model.
The Director of the AIC will report to PASS Managing Director who will ultimately report to PASS Board ofTrustees. An AIC Steering Committee has also been set up, comprising of representatives of all key actors in the agro-processing eco-system. The Director and PASS Board can call upon the Steering Committee for guidance on key decisions pertaining to the advancement of the centre.
Qualifications and relevant experience required
i. Entrepreneurial experience in having successfully started and/or run a business preferably in the agribusiness sector.
ii. Minimum working experience of 5 years, including several years in East Africa and at least 5 years of middle to senior management experience (either in a small, medium or large business) preferably in an agribusiness company. A proven track record of general management must be evident in the career without excluding:
a. Strategic management such as demonstration of substantial responsibility for strategic direction setting and implementation.
b. Evidence of business growth resulting from managerial activities and negotiation.
c. Human resource management, including organisational development, career development, mentori ng and coaching experience.
d. Financial management. e. Agribusiness operational management.
iii. A business degree (BA /or MBA), from a recognised educational institution.
iv. Demonstrated understanding of issues relating to enterprise development. It will be an advantage to have been involved in the management of a seed fund, business incubator, accelerator, or SME support organisation.
v. Proven interpersonal and leadership skills, results-oriented mindset including ability to motivate and lead teams and engender trust amongst clients, employees and partners.
vi. A proven experience of working as part of a small team, preferably an agribusiness team.
vii. Evidence of networking ability. It will be an advantage to have established networks with the business community in Tanzania and East Africa at large.
viii. Demonstrated rigorous understanding of the local context and ability to interact with key stakeholders, from both public and private sectors.
ix. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English. Ability to speak, read and write in local languages (Swahili) being an advantage.
x. Problem solving abilities and ability to use computers to simplify and modernise ways of working and communicating.
If you feel you measure up to the challenge of leading the establishment of Tanzania’s first private service provider, targeting the growth of local pioneering agro-processing enterprises, please review thoroughly the detailed job description above and apply by sending a cover letter, copy of certificates and an elaborate Curriculum Vitae by email to: pass@pass.ac.tz
Closing date for receipt of applications is 14th August 2017
Source: Daily News 3 August 2017