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Business Development Manager, Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Division

Supervisor:  Regional Director, Latin America & Caribbean Division
Location:   Lima, Peru or Managua, Nicaragua
Travel: 10-20% in the LAC region

I. TECHNOSERVE BACKGROUND:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The TechnoServe Latin America & Caribbean Division (TNS LAC) has long-term country programs in ten countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru). The Division has diversified project portfolio of  over 20 programs across various agricultural value chains and enterprise development . Beyond traditional bilateral and multilateral implementation partners, the region counts on the support of private foundations, national governments, growing contributions from corporate partners and partnerships with leading local and global learning institutions to improve TechnoServe’s capacity to innovate.  

III. POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Regional Business Development Manager will lead the LAC Division’s ongoing efforts to meet its ambitions for growth.  The position is responsible for identifying funding opportunities; developing, leading and strengthening fundraising strategies and tactics; and responding to major contract/grant opportunities from bi- and multi-lateral agencies, national governments, private foundations and the private sector.  This will include implementing processes with public and private sector marketing initiatives, writing, organizing, coordinating and producing competitive proposals that will increase the organization’s new program development in Latin America & Caribbean.  In addition, the Business Development Manager will be responsible for conducting analyses of strategic activities in the LAC Division that will assist new program design and current program execution.
Areas of responsibility/ essential functions:
  • In coordination with the Regional Director and Country Directors, contribute to the design and implementation of comprehensive public and private sector fundraising strategies;
  • Continuously assess and update processes, structures and systems for new business development as they relate to individual countries and contribute to the Corporate learning in these areas;
  • In coordination with TechnoServe’s Development Division, the Regional Director and Country Directors, manage relationships and promote development opportunities with the region’s core and prospective donors with an in-depth knowledge about their mission, organization, policies, procedures and key decision-makers;
  • Provide leadership in developing annual public and private sector regional fundraising plansbased on agreed revenue targets;
  • Manage the proposal writing processes of strategic opportunities with public/private funding;
  • Provide technical guidance to the field and the regional team in developing designated proposals;
  • Coordinate and oversee reviews and maintenance of project lead summaries, new business opportunity assessments and requirements of the new business process;
  • Monitor and evaluate success rates of internal proposals, and disseminate learnings internally on an annual basis;
  • Identify and implement training opportunities to build in-country capacities as appropriate;
  • Manage volunteer consultants in strategic sectors analysis and promote knowledge exchange within the LAC region and with other TNS’s regions

IV. REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

  • Master’s degree in business, international relations, public administration, or a related discipline;
  • A minimum of 5-7 years of work experience in analytical and strategic roles within the private sector and/or development spheres;
  • Proven track record in successful business and program development design, experience in the development consulting industry complemented by broad technical skills in one or more of the following areas:  SME development, agribusiness with preferred focus on coffee, cacao and dairy sectors, or small holder farmer integration into corporate supply chains;
  • Significant experience in designing, developing, researching and authoring quality and winning proposals;
  • Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills in a multi-cultural environment;
  • Ability to work on short-term assignments with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and projects;
  • Ability to work independently, and function effectively as a member of a geographically dispersed team, and adhere to strict deadlines;
  • Interactive and proactive skills especially with field staff, technical staff, consultants and home office support staff as necessary to complete proposals;
  • Creative skills for the development of branding and marketing material to position the organization for a competitive advantage;
  • Knowledge of and familiarity with Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank,  USAID, USDA , EU, bilateral, and other multinational donor agencies proposal processes and contracting mechanisms a significant plus;
  • Deep knowledge of Latin America & Caribbean economic, social and development context; keen interest in economic development work
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish.  Proficiency in Portuguese and/ or French a plus.

V. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Qualified and interested applicants should submit a single Word-formatted document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history to jobs@tns.org.  Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line.
Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be considered or contacted.  No phone calls please.