Community Partnerships Specialist, Accra, Ghana

SSG Advisors is an international consulting firm based in Burlington, Vermont, USA, that works with a variety of government and commercial clients on market-driven sustainable development solutions around the world. Since 2005, we have completed assignments in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. We are the leader in developing and managing catalytic international development partnerships. SSG is seeking qualified candidates with experience leading community partnership, livelihoods, and/or enterprise development in Ghana.

Program Description

SSG Advisors will provide tailored guidance and technical assistance for the development of innovative partnerships with the private sector for a proposed sustainable fisheries project in Ghana.

The Community Partnership Specialist will lead development of community partnerships, small-scale partnerships that will be identified, developed, and managed by local stakeholders in target communities. Community partnerships will be generated as a result of a Partnership Team's tailored capacity building in target communities. Community partnerships will range across a broad area of project issues including livelihood and income enhancement, enforcement and conservation, and others.

Partners and resources may come from any sector with community interests, including the private sector. Partners and resources may also be drawn from government agencies and civil society organizations, so long as they clearly contribute to partnership goals and address community needs. Private sector and public sector partners in community partnerships may be local and well rooted in communities themselves, or they may be from outside communities. The key defining element is that the resource partner relationships will be held and managed by communities themselves.

Position Description

The Community Partnership Specialist leads community engagement initiatives and activities by exploring, implementing, and advocating for partnership among community groups, local government units, and the private sector.

The Community Partnership Specialist will hold the following responsibilities:

1. Close collaboration with the project to develop community partnerships within the broader context of the project.
2. Establish community partnerships towards income generating enterprises and/or livelihoods through:
   • Mobilizing and networking community partners including POs, NGOs, universities and other relevant organizations and institutions towards income generating enterprises and/or livelihoods
   • Facilitating and conducting training and skills-building relevant to community partnerships
   • Monitoring and providing continued coordination and support to community partners as necessary
3. Identify and secure opportunities towards funding and establishing sustainable financing for communities across communities, among others:
   • Coordinating with a Private Sector Engagement Specialist towards strategic partnership development in support of community partnerships
   • Support of enterprise development in support of community partnerships
   • Support facilitating the bottom-up budgeting process towards supporting projects directly contributing to sustainable fisheries management objectives
4. Provide reports on a monthly, semi-annual, and annual basis and as necessary.
5. Provide thought leadership in support of public-private partnerships and alliances, including the development of new alliance modalities, preparation of outreach and communications material and participation in relevant industry events.
6. Provide timely and accurate reporting to SSG, implementing partners, and USAID on all partnership project activities and results.
7. Maintain records and databases of business prospects and contacts.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• At least 5 years of experience with community development, community mobilization and/or micro-enterprise development;
• Demonstrated ability to work with rural and low-income stakeholders in a collaborative and empowering manner;
• Citizenship or permanent residence in Ghana;
• Strong oral and written communications skills; and
• Fluency in English

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and 2 references to jobs@ssg-advisors.com. Please include 'Community Partnership Specialist' in the email subject line, and save documents (cover letter, resume, and references) in 1 PDF as 'Last Name_First Name.pdf' (e.g., Smith_Jane.pdf). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please. SSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.