Afghanistan: Business and Marketing specialist

THE RECRUITING ORGANISM

GERES (www.geres.eu) is a French NGO working worldwide for the improvement of people’s living conditions through preservation of environment and fair and sustainable energy access. In Afghanistan, GERES has been working since 2002 in energy efficiency and rural development.
In the Central Highlands of Afghanistan, GERES, in partnership with MADERA and Solidarités International, is implementing a 10 million euro programme (Called CHP) funded by the French Agency for Development (AFD) for 3.5 years. It aims at the general improvement of living standards through agriculture and livestock development, natural resource management, and energy efficiency. Following a preliminary assessment phase, programme activities started in March 2014.
This program has 4 components, this position is to join the component 2 team.
Component II of the Programme targets the improvement of energy resilience and living conditions of rural households, through the development and dissemination of energy-saving solutions (ESS).

OBJECTIVES AND TASKS

The Business and Marketing Specialist works under direct supervision of the Project Manager of the Component II, and in close collaboration with the technical team in Bamyan. (S)he directly manages and builds capacity of the Business and Marketing unit comprised of Business and Marketing, and Awareness Raising Team.
The Business and Marketing Specialist is in charge of management and supervision of activities, programs, process and results of the Central Highland Business and Management Unit. (S)he provides strategic business and marketing support to the programme, works in close collaboration with Project Manager and Skills and Technology Manager, in the framework of GERES knowledge production and transfer.
The Business and Marketing Specialist’s objectives are:

1. To ensure the project ’s business and marketing strategy is in compliance with expected results
2. To structure and animate business and marketing expertise on CHP
3. To identify resources and/or provide direct support to project teams
4. To ensure a sustainable approach to the promotion, dissemination and craftsmen

His/her main tasks can be summarized as follows:

Coordination and technical support to Business and Marketing Unit on CH Programme 50%

• Proposition a strategy adapted for each ESS to local context and in line with GERES mandate;• Writing of business and marketing guidelines;

• Management and capacity building of awareness raising teams in Bamyan and processes;
• Liaison with Technical team to study potential market during design process to develop relevant products.
• Liaison with the Technical Team in GERES Bamyan Office for the launch and promotion of newly developed technologies;
• Support the analysis of the results of business and marketing activities
• Support the field teams for business strategy in each district
• Organise and animate trainings in specific areas of expertise, particularly for awareness raising teams and craftsmen;
• Monitoring and support of sustainable dissemination of ESS
• Support national supply chain and local retailer to facilitate the work of local craftsmen Business and

Marketing monitoring of Central Highland Component II project 30%

The Business and Marketing Specialist is responsible for:
• Supervising the technical work to reach the projects LFA expected results in collaboration with Project Manager
• Participation to design of training and implementation methodology to support craftsmen’s businesses and sustainable dissemination of technologies;
• Proposing a comprehensive methodology and milestones to reach the objectives
• Business and marketing monitoring of disseminated techniques (in collaboration with monitoring and evaluation staff)
• Design of process to increase the business and marketing capacity of craftsmen;

Technical support 15%

The Business and Marketing Specialist will provide support to the project team in:
• Advising project managers in their strategy and resources
• Finding the technical resources available within GERES or outsourced
• Participation to knowledge production and transmission
• Design internal and external technical documents (positioning documents, best practices, methodology, etc)
• Providing technical input for the strategy process
• Facilitating internal and external consultancy (participation to writing of terms of reference, technical management)

Business and marketing watch 5%

As the Business and Marketing Specialist, (s)he has to keep him(her)self up-to-date on GERES’ activities :
• Being in charge of the technical watch on topics linked to GERES activities
• Looking at other existing solutions to enable constructive comparisons and enhance existing solutions

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Compulsory skills: Rigor, capacity of adaptation, empathy, patience, diplomacy, team-working spirit, stress resilience.
Education : University degree in a relevant field such as Business and Marketing;
Experience : Minimum of 3-year of working experience in cross-cultural development projects required; including a minimum of 1 year in Project management.
International work experience (especially in developing countries)
Business experience in private sector or SME or work in SME business related position.
Knowledge of project monitoring and evaluation systems and methodologies.
Knowledge of environment, energy efficiency & saving, bioclimatic constructions an asset.
Technical skills : Mastery in Business and marketing
Technical pedagogical skills and capacity to adapt it to the people.
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Editorial skills, ability to analyse and summarize information (be synthetic and clear)
Very good interpersonal skills and ability to work with multi-cultural teams
Languages : Fluent in English mandatory
Local languages (Dari/Farsi) would be appreciated
Computer skills : Computer literacy with command of :
- MS Office Suite, mail;
- Mapping software (QGIS) an asset
- Picture editing software, as photoshop, publisher, gimp… at intermediate level
Personal skills : Very motivated by challenges
Responsive, dynamic, analytical mindset and autonomous
Organised and able to prioritize; Capacity to travel to remote areas
Knowledge of Islamic environment is a plus

CONDITIONS

• Contract: French fixed-term contract (CDDU) of 12 months, renewable;
• Start date: Beginning of mission march 2016
• Salary: according to profile and experience
• Location: Position based in Bamyan;
• Paid Leaves: 26 days of paid leaves + 5 R&R days per intermediary break;
Other Advantages:
• Accommodation in GERES guesthouse with a monthly living allowance of USD 330 (based on the time spend in Afghanistan);
• 2 return tickets between Afghanistan and home country and 2 lump sum allowances of EUR 400 for intermediary breaks in the sub-region;
• Covered and managed by the employer: Afghan visa & work permit costs; health, retirement, and unemployment insurances costs (partly); repatriation insurance.

Responsible: C.Isabel ROBLES FUMAROLA
Please send your résumé and cover letter (in English), no later than February 15th by email at mailto:recrutement@geres.eu (applications by phone are not accepted).
Reference to be indicated in email subject: GAF_BusMark.Spec
Or apply directly at www.geres.eu