Business Adviser (MDF)

Job Reference Number

EMR/DP/MDF/Business Adviser

Job Type

International Development Assistance/Emerging Markets

Schedule

Fixed Term

Job Location

Asia; Australasia; Timor Leste; Dili

Job Summary

​The Market Development Facility (MDF), funded by the Australian Government, represents an innovative approach in development, which works with a market systems approach to poverty reduction. MDF aims to:

• Create additional employment and income earning opportunities for poor and marginalised women and men;
• Make sectors of the economy in the countries in which the Facility is active more competitive and unlock growth; and,
• Trigger lasting, 'systemic' changes in the markets systems around these sectors so that constraints to growth are reduced and the ability to make use of growth opportunities, and to innovate and deal with future pressures, increased.

Key Responsibilities

​The purpose of this job is to design and manage interventions with a large variety of strategic private and public players in the economy to stimulate innovate practices that unlock the growth potential of (sectors within) the economy and create additional jobs and income earning opportunities for the poor and the underprivileged.
Results measurement is an integral part of the scope of work of the Business Adviser.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

• Perform economic analyses of key sectors of the economy, in a qualitative and quantitative manner, and develop a 'deep' understanding of their functioning.
• Identify potential for pro-poor growth, constraints to growth and innovative solutions and opportunities to unlock this growth potential, making enterprises more competitive and creating job and income earning opportunities for the poor and underprivileged.
• Develop medium-term growth strategies for sectors.
• Assess the technical and economic feasibility of business plans from potential partners and/or in close interaction with business partners, develop such plans.
• Communicate with, negotiate with and develop partnerships with a large variety of strategic private and public players in these (potential) growth sectors to introduce innovation and unlock the pro-poor growth potential.
• Understanding the market systems approach to development and design and manage interventions in line with its principles.
• Be extensively involved in research activities to assess the performance of MDF’s investment portfolio and its impact on the Timor-Leste economy and society.
• Understanding the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) guidelines for results measurement in order to be able to conduct results measurement in line with these guidelines.
• Contribute to maintaining a results measurement system in line with DCED guidelines and collaborate with the Results Measurement and Communications Manager and the Results Measurement Specialist (CIT) for effective results measurement.
• Develop intervention plans and, in collaboration with the Results Measurement Specialist (CIT), develop results chains and measurement plans for each intervention and sector in which the Facility is active, and execute those plans in collaboration with the Results Measurement Specialist (CIT), applying good research practice.
• Travel extensively to develop a deep insight in the economy, meet the players and potential partners, and verify whether the interventions designed achieve their objectives.
• Work in a flexible, professional, business-friendly manner, driven by a wish to create real collaboration, real changes and real results, and be a team player.
• Be self-critical about the sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency of the results achieved and willing to learn from them.
• Be sensitive to gender equality and actively search for opportunities for women to participate in economic growth.
• Be sensitive to the obstacles faced by persons with a disability and actively search for opportunities for such persons to participate in economic growth, to the extent possible.
• Actively promote environmentally and socially responsible business practices and avoid promoting business practices that are not sustainable from an environmental or social point of view.
• For all interventions, actively avoid doing harm as per the ‘Do No Harm’ checklist.
• Serve as a representative of the Market Development Facility, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and discretion in all interactions with other Facility employees, partners and the wider public.

For more information about this position, please download the Terms of Reference.

Other Requirements

​Essential requirements:

• A university degree in business, agriculture, economics, or other related disciplines. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Very strong analytical skills including the ability to design and execute qualitative and quantitative research projects.
• Ability to communicate, negotiate, and develop good working relations with a wide variety of players in the private and public sector.
• Ability to independently plan and manage work streams.
• Excellent command of English, both verbal and written.
• Enthusiastic team player, hands on, and flexible.

Preferred:

• At least three years’ work experience in a related field.
• International experience, either through work or study.
• Familiarity with the issues affecting the private sector in Timor-Leste as well as international trends in business and the economy.

Employee Benefits

​Rates of pay will be based on local labour standards.

Contact

​To Apply:

• Deadline for submission of applications is 4 April 2014.
• Full position descriptions are available at www.marketdevelopmentfacility.org/current-opportunities
• Applications should be emailed to recruitment@cardnoMDF.org. Please quote ‘Timor-Leste Business Adviser’ in the subject line.
• The position is open to Timor-Leste nationals or permanent residents who have authority to live and work in Timor-Leste.

Apply