Program Manager – Technoserve
Job Description
TechnoServe in Botswana implements an enterprise development program called Tokafala, which focuses on helping existing micro, small and medium enterprises in Botswana to grow their businesses. For entrepreneurs looking to develop their company, Tokafala offers the following support:
- Personalised business mentoring and advisory support tailored to the specific needs of the enterprise
- Help clients evaluate their financing needs, building financial models and preparing loan applications
- Market access support, helping enterprises establishing linkages to potential buyers
Since inception Tokafala has supported over 350 SMMEs, raising revenues by 39% and supporting over 2000 jobs. Building on the success of its enterprise development support, Tokafala expanded its scope to support Botswana youth through a dedicated youth development programme called STRYDE (Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise). The STRYDE program delivers a comprehensive model of support to youth (18-35) including personal effectiveness, professional effectiveness, entrepreneurship and personal finance management.
Position Description
The Program Manager will be responsible for overall coordination of the STRYDE programme activities and provide support to STRYDE teams in both Letlhakane and Maun. The Program Manager will be based in Gaborone, with regular travel to Letlhakane and Maun.
Project Management:
- Lead the implementation of STRYDE and ensure excellence in execution, being responsible for all STRYDE deliverables in Botswana, including specific outputs and outcomes laid out in the program proposal. For Both Maun and Letlhakane.
- Deliver formal training in; Personal Effectiveness, Personal Finance, Professional Effectiveness, Entrepreneurship, Business Planning, Youth Savings and Business Groups
- Conduct mobilization and recruit qualified beneficiaries for STRYDE program
- Conduct 6 months’ aftercare activities, including employment and market linkages
- Conduct one on one coaching with STRYDE Beneficiaries to enhance coordination and collaboration with each other
- Assist young entrepreneurs in developing implementing their business growth plans,
- Ensure the project is implemented with sound managerial, technical, financial, human resources and overall programmatic practices
- Hold regular team meetings to track implementation progress and share relevant program and administrative data
- Oversee planning and budgeting process
- Manage STRYDE budget to ensure responsible stewardship of donor funds
- Ensure accuracy, integrity and rigor of program monitoring and evaluation systems
- Conduct strategic and operational reviews to address project and organizational priorities and adjust implementation approaches as necessary
- Produce a narrative report for internal and external consumption on lessons learned, recommendations for further rollout
- Provide strategic and thought leadership to the team and other actors in the youth market systems to ensure scale and sustainability of STRYDE interventions
Team Leadership:
- Provide leadership, direction, and coaching support to country team members to achieve results and to assume greater levels of responsibility over time
- Manage performance of STRYDE team members through the establishment of goals in line with the project objectives and work plans, monitoring performance against those goals, providing feedback on an ongoing basis and delivery of annual performance appraisals
- Work with program staff to identify TNS technical assistance needs at the country level
- Work with the Tokafala programme director to ensure appropriate support for STRYDE teams
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with the country-level management team, ensuring information is shared and flows transparently within the program team
- Facilitate communication of technical program staff with other STRYDE program and regional staff
Stakeholder management and outreach:
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with local partners in Botswana including relevant government departments, NGOs, youth organizations and technical training institutions to promote cross sectoral collaborations.
- Secure the support of relevant private sector firms, financial institutions, professional business councils/associations, and other stakeholders to support the initiative as advisors, sponsors, mentors, and volunteers
- Identify and pursue opportunities for TechnoServe to be a leader in the sector
- Represent STRYDE and TNS at internal and external functions
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in a Business related field with 7 years’ work experience or Masters in Business Administration or a relevant discipline with 5 years’ work experience.
- At least 5 years’ work experience should be in financial or business management
- Good knowledge of enterprise development
- Business plan writing and evaluation
- Strong project management skills
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Results orientated
We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.
With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.
We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.
If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.
