African Cashew Alliance Secretariat Managing Director

About the ACA

ACA was initiated in 2005 and inaugurated in 2006 in Guinea-Bissau. Among the 23 founding members were cashew farmers, processors, traders and associations from Africa as well as Ahold, GIZ, Kraft Foods, Olam, Richard Franco Agency and USAID. Today, ACA is a business association of more than 150 member companies from more than 25 countries worldwide from along the value chain.

Vision

A globally competitive African cashew industry that benefits the value chain – from farmer to consumer

Objectives

• Increase processing
• Improve competitiveness and sustainability
• Facilitate public-private cooperation

ACA supports the African cashew industry by :

Providing technical assistance and facilitating investments
Promoting standards and market linkages
Partnering with national and international institutions

Duties and responsibilities

The crucial duties and responsibilities of the Managing Director will be the following:

1. Manage the ACA Secretariat’s budget and report to the Executive Committee and donors
2. Supervise and support implementation of ACA Public Relations and Communications Strategy
3. Represent ACA and national partner associations from Africa’s cashew producing countries at international industry events, trade fairs, including at the Global Cashew Council
4. Develop and implement an ACA institutional growth strategy in cooperation with the Executive Committee
5. Manage technical assistance programs for cashew stakeholders, including business advisory, food safety, quality and sustainability standard implementation, access to finance and investment promotion
6. Develop new industry service offers on the basis of technical assistance programs, market information and other services.
7. Design and implement public-private partnerships for cashew, tailored to country-specific contexts
8. Engage with and advice the African cashew producing countries on developing and nurturing effective stakeholder platforms
9. Provide strategic advice on organizational development, trade and investment policy-related issues to public and private stakeholders in the cashew industry
10. Mobilize public and private resources for ACA and cashew-related programs in Africa

Requirements

• 5+years experience managing a business/business unit or organization
• 10 years work experience in agribusiness, finance or related field
• Solid understanding of development assistance in Africa
• Strong leadership skills
• Demonstrated skills in entrepreneurship, strategic and institutional growth
• Adaptable to a multitude of cultural settings
• Ability to travel frequently and remotely
• Fluent written and spoken English, excellent written and spoken French essential, Portuguese desirable.

Interested persons should send CV and cover letter to aca.cashew@gmail.comby the 25th November, 2012.