Senior Business Development Advisor - Assosa

Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in order to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and help communities thrive.

Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has worked with more than 60,000 entrepreneurs across East Africa, including thousands of refugee entrepreneurs. Inkomoko provides a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest lender to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.

Inkomoko has +390 staff in 30 offices across Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Through Inkomokos 2030 strategic plan, we are adding 4 additional countries to improve the lives of more than 7.6M people by serving more than 550,000 entrepreneurs and investing $150M into refugee & host communities across Africa.

All staff at Inkomoko are connected to a shared set of organizational values:

• Purpose:be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, be a global leader.
• Achievement:push yourself to reach beyond what you previously thought possible.
• Improvement:be humble, engage in continuous growth through open & accurate feedback.
• Bravery:willing to take risks, create a safe space for others, be compassionate, inclusive.
• We Eat Goat:we celebrate success and support each other in hard times.

Inkomoko is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Refugees, women, and persons who reflect the diverse communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Inkomoko Ethiopia seeks a highly talented and experienced senior Business Development Advisor to work directly with entrepreneurs to help them develop the skills to scale their businesses.

Current responsibilities include:

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (50% time)

• Serve as a coach, mentor, and advisor to Business Associates (BAs) and Business Development Advisors (BDAs) to enhance their business development skills
• Ensure client recruitment targets are achieved in assigned locations
• Assist BDAs/BAs and review work as needed to ensure high-quality work is delivered to clients
• Coordinate the BDAs and BAs activities with other department activities, ensuring the highest quality of organization and client services outcomes
• Work with the Business Development Manager and Inkomoko leadership team to develop annual goals for the BGS department
• Build the capacity of BDAs and BAs team to achieve Inkomoko Ethiopias annual business development service objectives, market linkages, advocacy & access to finance.
• Represent Inkomoko in stakeholders meetings and activities.
• Maintain and develop relationships with partners, business community leaders in Assosa, Sherkole, Bambasi and other locations
• Keep up to date on the latest business and industry trends in Assosa and the refugee communities at Sherkole, Tsorie and Bambasie camp
• Ensure set KPIs on individual business, market linkages and advocacy are met in the locations under his/her supervision

STRATEGIC ADVISING & ENTREPRENEUR RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT(40% time)

• Conduct regular site visits to provide real-time coaching for assigned client portfolio based on business needs, challenges and opportunities
• Provide informed, strategic, and realistic advice to help clients meet their objectives for business growth.
• Ensure up-to-date clients business information across locations in an accurate manner using the applicable project management tools
• Review BDAs & BAs consulting work to define immediate client needs and areas of improvement.
• Assist BDAs & BAs to implement recommendations on learnings/insights within businesses, helping them to navigate challenges, make sound business decisions and achieve their business/growth goals
• Connect clients to other Inkomokoservices, including access to finance, training, advocacy and market linkages
• Manage the schedule and delivery of services throughout client engagements
• Provide the training using Inkomoko training materials in English, Amharic, Arabic, Oromo & any additional language as required within the area of operation
• Coordinate with the training and field teams in organizing training logistics, field activities such focus group activities, refresher trainings and training supplies ensuring all are within budget
• Ensure up-to-date the clients business information is collected and shared in an accurate manner using the applicable project management tools.
• Support and coordinate with the MEL, training and admin teams on location activities.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (10% time)

• General maintenance of entrepreneur files, reports, and coordination with colleagues.
• Contribute to staff meetings, annual retreats, and monthly entrepreneur Services meetings.
• Participation in ongoing entrepreneur tracking and implementing Inkomokos impact evaluation programs every quarter/year
• Represent Inkomoko in partners' meetings and any other events in camps as assigned
• Participate in the development of Inkomoko goals, strategies, and planning
• Represent Inkomoko in the local business community and at conferences or other events
• Keep up to date on the latest business and industry trends in Ethiopia and across Africa
• Regularly track and report on the progress of client work and project deliverables, gathering learnings/insights and reporting to management for improvement.
• Review & submit weekly, monthly and quarterly program reports in a timely manner.
• Communicate program priorities/details to clients, in line with Inkomoko policies.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about entrepreneurship and have the skills and experience to help entrepreneurs make lasting changes to their businesses. We are seeking candidates who work quickly and thoroughly, collaborate, and are both kind and serious.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• 5+ years experience, in working with MSMEs or applicable fields is required;
• Experience in consulting, business planning, and providing business advice
• Excellent computer skills including Powerpoint, Word, Excel, Odoo, Kobo-collect, Google Drive, etc;
• Good written and oral communications skills
• Good presentation and training skills
• Shows perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills
• Skilled/ with expertise in market linkages and value chain management to MSMEs;
• ExcellentArabic, Amharic, and English and other local languages spoken at operation area
• Experience working in refugee settings with different nationalities in Assosa and being a native of the Assosa region such as Bambasi, Tsore Refugee camp. would be an advantage;
• Background in finance or ability to produce financial reports/projections for entrepreneurs;
• Deep understanding of go-to-market strategies and growth strategies for businesses in the area of consumer goods;
• Past experience writing business plans in preparation for investment;
• Ability to work with high-profile individuals and companies by demonstrating exemplary levels of professionalism;
• Strong presentation and training skills, and ability to teach others business concepts;
• Possess business acumen, and original thinking;
• Bachelors degree required in a Business related field;
• Additional Masters studies or CPA skills preferred;
• Good at translation from English to local languages (Amharic, Arabic, other local language), would be an advantage
• Ready to reside in Assosa, Bambasi, Tsore Refugee camp

This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, youll access:

• Competitive salary, and potential Goal-based bonus
• Incredible company culture, including deep investment in your learning and growth
• Diverse colleagues and policies that show our commitment to equity and inclusion
• Talented, passionate, and committed team colleagues across the region
• Ability to make a significant social impact to your community
• Generous health insurance, staff savings, parental leave, sabbatical, and more benefits.