Senior Business Opportunities Manager

POSITION TITLE: Senior Business Opportunities Manager

LOCATION: Kathmandu and designated district or municipality, Nepal

UNIT: Agriculture, Resilience & Water

REPORTS TO: Business and Market Systems Director

Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Inputs (USAID Agricultural Inputs) is a new five-year activity which aims to increase the availability, accessibility, and use of agricultural inputs and technology to improve Nepal’s agricultural productivity. USAID Agricultural Inputs’ focus on seed, fertilizer, irrigation, and mechanization market systems will contribute to improved resilience, competitiveness, and inclusion in the agriculture sector. USAID Agricultural Inputs is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with five Nepali and international organizations.

USAID Agricultural Inputs will enable lead firms, agrovets, input suppliers, local machinery service providers, and the Government of Nepal to catalyze agricultural productivity, input supply chain efficiency, market system competitiveness, and strengthen the enabling environment in a way that equitably addresses the needs of farmers, women, youth, and members of marginalized groups. USAID Agricultural Inputs will support more than 200 lead firms which will benefit 200,000 farmers in Sudurpaschim, Lumbini, Karnali, Bagmati, and Madesh Provinces.

USAID Agricultural Inputs will recruit three Senior Business Opportunities Managers, two based in Kathmandu and one based in a designated district or municipality.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The position will lead activities related to strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, and inclusiveness of agricultural market systems as well as to ensure the application of market system principles to project interventions. The position will work with private sector companies to enhance their capacity to improve availability and accessibility of agricultural inputs to farmers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establish a network of lead firms and engage with market actors in four agricultural inputs sectors (seed, fertilizer, irrigation, and mechanization). 
• Assess sector-level gaps, gather market intelligence, and design interventions in four agricultural inputs sectors. 
• Identify and work closely with private sector firms, facilitate capacity building plans, and build their capacity to roll out firm-led services reaching smallholder communities.
• Liaise with financial institutions, insurance companies, digital services companies, business development service providers, and facilitate private sector investment in embedded services, expansion of services to rural areas, and promote innovative solutions through ICT technology.
• Collaborate with major commodity associations such as Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, Pesticides Association of Nepal, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Agriculture Machinery Entrepreneurs Association.
• Oversee private sector partnerships in collaboration with the field team.
• Support team members on capacity enhancements on market systems development
• Lead research activities and prepare reports/case studies and provide reporting support to the team as and when required.
• Lead and coordinate with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, USAID, and other projects to strengthen the adoption and scale of private sector activities implemented by USAID Agricultural Inputs. 
• Coordinate with technical leads, communications, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), grants, monitoring, evaluation and learning for synergy in program interventions.
• Participate in and contribute to project GESI and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Advanced degree in business, economics, agribusiness, development, or a related field

Experience: The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in agricultural/agribusiness development.
• Proven experience fostering relationships with private sector companies and associations.
• Experience providing firm-level business development support services, business strengthening, and work within select value chains. 
• Track record in designing and rolling out training programs targeting SMEs.
• Demonstrated track record of working with financial service providers, investors, insurance companies, digital services, and private sector.

Language: High level of English and of Nepali is required.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates can post their cover letter and CV to Jobs.AgInputs@winrock.org. Applications will be received on a rolling basis until October 17, 2023. Applicants should reference Senior Business Opportunities Manager in the subject line.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSABILITY (DEIA):

Winrock International seeks to cultivate an environment where all candidates relish equal employment opportunities devoid of discrimination, misconduct, fraud, and abuse. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Localization guides our practices not just in hiring, but also in staff retention, growth, and policy implementation. This commitment signifies that we value diversity in all its forms including age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and cultural background. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, recognizing the rich tapestry of the communities in which we live and work.

DISCLAIMER: Winrock does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (resume submission, interview, processing).