VACANCY: The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is Recruiting for Business Development Officer 432 views

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit institution. that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable applicants for the

Job Title: Business Development Officer

Contract: 2-year renewable contract

Location: Abuja

QUALIFICATION:

BSc/HND in Economics, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, or related discipline with a minimum of five (5) years’ related experience performing the related role.

DUTIES

• Lead the development of training content and tools for agribusiness management and coordinate their delivery through the state coordinators and training officers in three states in Nigeria.
• Conduct geographical agribusiness value chain analysis for the project’s target value chains and work with the state coordinators to identify business opportunities for entrepreneurial-track youth to develop business models.
• Lead the efforts of the state coordinators in guiding entrepreneurial-track youth to develop and implement fund-worthy business plans
• Lead all efforts directed towards attracting funding for young agripreneurs, work with credit institutions to design youth-sensitive financing instruments for business start-up and expansion.
• Coordinate the day to day management of pilot learning enterprises through the state coordinators in three states in Nigeria, ensuring the effectiveness of the learning experience they are to provide.
• Coordinate the efforts of identified project partners in providing mentorship, business support, and advisory service to young entrepreneurs. Ensure compliance of partners with all deliverables.
• Assist in the development of a bankable business plan and recommendations for funding linkages.
• Develop and nurture a network business partnership with private sector companies and associations that entrepreneurial-track youth can leverage on to grow and improve their businesses. Maintain an updated database of these partners
• Provide monitoring of the businesses established and identify challenges to be addressed/provide the required advice.
• Provide technical support to the trainees and assist them while they are starting their business and ensure smooth business take off.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

COMPETENCIES:

The ideal candidate must:

• Show ability and strong experience in the development of viable business plans
• Be computer literate with a good working knowledge of computer-based control systems, shared network drives, and excel packages
• Have practical experience in agribusiness, business management especially working with youths
•  Have a good understanding of marketing linkages and strategies in agribusiness
•  Have excellent communication and supervisory skills.
•  Show the ability for efficient and harmonious team leadership
• Be able to mentor budding entrepreneurs to build relevant entrepreneurial skills.
•  Be able to link youths to private sector and finance partners for financial and enterprise development support.
•  Have a good understanding of the Nigerian financial system for entrepreneurs
• Have experience working with private sector agribusiness partners.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by using the “Login as candidate” button below.