Position Description: Programme Director
The Wood Family Trust (WFT) is a Scottish registered charity established by UK Industrialist Sir Ian Wood with a key objective to improve livelihoods by stimulating viable market opportunities that will in turn create jobs and generate wealth among the rural poor.
The Wood Family Trust (WFT) is a Scottish registered charity established by UK Industrialist Sir Ian Wood with a key objective to improve livelihoods by stimulating viable market opportunities that will in turn create jobs and generate wealth among the rural poor.
As a private donor, WFT is able to engage in a flexible manner
with a portfolio of strategic interventions including technical assistance,
loan guarantees, match-funding, as well as debt/equity investments.
To date WFT has already launched $9 million sector programs in
the tea industry in each of Rwanda and Tanzania, and is also pursuing a series
of debt/equity investments in partnership with the smallholder farmers.
WFT is now poised to broaden its tea sector presence in
additional countries within East Africa, and is seeking Programme Directors to
manage and drive these programmes forward.
General Position Description:
The Programme Director will have overall responsibility for the
administrative and technical management of a country based programme supporting
the tea industry.
This will require strategic thinking incorporating industry best
practice, dynamic engagement with key stakeholders, and a practical hands-on
orientation to ensure interventions are well designed and actively managed for
the achievement of results.
The Programme Director will possess a firm understanding of
business management through significant private sector experience in an
agriculture-based related industry (preferably tea).
He/she will be a dynamic and energetic individual that is able
to work in a team environment while maintaining a strategic, yet commercial
outlook and managing for results.
He/she will have strong command of oral and written English, and
preferably have an MBA or advanced degree in a related field.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
- Carry
out the day to day management of a country-based program supporting the
tea sector while executing line management responsibilities;
- Oversee
implementation of all field activities supported by the Programme. This
may include: market analysis; identification and due diligence of
prospective investment opportunities; preparation and presentation of
investment materials for consideration; design and contracting of
short-and long-term technical assistance engagements; structuring of matching
grant facilities, loan guarantees, and debt/equity investments; dynamic
management of the existing portfolio; and any other type of support deemed
appropriate;
- Identify
and engage with appropriate delivery partners to ensure that
implementation of tea-specific activities are undertaken in an appropriate
and well-coordinated manner;
- Maintain
active understanding of global tea industry trends and best practices for
potential replication at the country level.
- Maintain
active communication and engagement with key industry stakeholders to
influence competitive thinking and ensure the goals, objectives, and field
activities of the Programme are well understood, while obtaining feedback
from the same on the effectiveness of program interventions;
- Monitor
the impact and efficacy of Programme activities on the greater tea value
chain, including the behavioural response of related market actors.
Identify potential new areas for Programme support based upon engagement
with stakeholders and emerging dynamics within the tea sector;
- Undertake
field visits and spot-checks as required, manage technical and financial
reporting and coordinate overall activity spend. Oversee third party
technical appraisals and financial audits as necessary;
- Represent
the interests of the Programme vis-à-vis tea industry stakeholders and
host country government. Maintain active communication with other donor
partners for harmonization of efforts, development of new programmes, and
potential leveraging of resources; and
- Manage
overall programme office including technical and administrative personnel.
Maintain compliance with WFT processes and procedures.
Mode of Application:
Applicants are required to submit their CV with contact
information for at least two references as well as a covering letter
demonstrating how they meet the required experience and capabilities.
Please submit these via email to
Helen.Emukule@woodgroup.com.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
