Head of Portfolio Development Job Careers – Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)

Organisation: Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer aBi Trust
Job Ref No: PD001
About US:
The
Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), a group of registered companies namely
aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity co-founded in July
2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA and the Ministry
of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively, with the objective
to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to enhance wealth creation.”
The development objective of the aBi Trust is building a self-sustaining
export-led economy in which the benefits are shared by all Ugandans, and its
immediate objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of Uganda’s
agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does this through Value Chain
Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee, Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture,
Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services Development (FSD). 
aBi
Finance Ltd is the investment arm of aBi that aims to enable the Trust to meet
its programme activities in a sustainable manner by offering financing for
agribusiness development through Lines of Credit, Agribusiness Loan Guarantees
and the Construction Guarantees Fund.
Job Summary: The Head of Portfolio Development takes the primary
responsibility for ensuring the effective and efficient roll out of aBi Trust’s
projects with implementing partners in order to achieve the targets outlined in
the strategic objectives
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Manage the development
of strategies and work plans that will achieve the results of aBi’s strategic
plan:
  • Actively contribute towards the development
    and review of the strategic plan and updated business plan.
  • Work closely with the Chief Operations
    Officer aBi Trust to develop operational work plans and budget for the
    Trust programs.
  • Actively participate in the development and
    review of standard operating procedures.
  • Take personal responsibility for rolling out
    the aspects of the risk management framework that pertain to aBi Trust’s
    programs.
2. Drive the
identification and contracting of a comprehensive portfolio of influential
implementing partners, capable of adding value to the sector”
  • Ensure that a systematic stakeholder analysis
    is carried out and continually updated across all value chains at all
    levels.
  • Manage the team in proactively approaching
    and communicating with potential partners.
  • Ensure that due diligence & capacity assessments
    are undertaken with potential partners.
  • Ensure that BDS Providers assist applicants
    at the business planning stage.
  • Ensuring that all necessary contracts are
    negotiated and signed by all relevant parties; in line with aBi’s policies
    and procedures.
3. Ensure that a
comprehensive portfolio of quality projects are planned and implemented by the
matrix managed teams:
  • The incumbent will deploy the Project
    Managers to carry out participative planning with stakeholders; ensuring
    that the plans developed will deliver against aBi’s strategy.
  • Ensure that plans and budgets that are
    produced represent effective use of aBi resources.
  • Ensure that impact measurement tools are in
    place and fully understood by all staff and stakeholders.
  • Keenly review the Grant Memos and ensure
    quality and consistency before project paperwork is passed to the
    Investment Committee.
  • Identify and address opportunities for aBi to
    act as a convener and investment broker.
  • Ensure that Implementing Partners receive
    their funds on time; reporting any shortfall to the Chief Manager
    Investment Performance & Results.
4. Lead the team in fully
participating in Program Quality and Learning activities:
  • Ensure that learning reviews of projects are
    carried out on a regular basis; working with the relevant Technical
    Experts to identify and bridge any gaps.
  • Lead the team in personal professional
    development; ensuring that learning is applied to make workplace
    improvements.
5. Lead the team in
rolling out the partner-facing aspects of the communications plan:
  • Actively participate in the development of
    aBi’s Influencing and Communications Plan.
  • Take part in the development of
    communications materials as requested by the Communications Manager.
  • Ensure that the team delivers any components
    of the communications strategy and plan that are allocated to them
  • Take personal responsibility for influencing,
    advocacy and communication according to personal interest and priorities.
6. Lead the Programs
Team, in a manner that empowers them to deliver aBi’s goals and objectives:
  • For each project, ensure that an appropriate
    team of staff and consultants is constituted for effective delivery of
    results.
  • Communicate to the aBi Trust Team a clear and
    exciting vision for the work of the organisation.
  • Ensure that each team member is provided with
    clear expectations for achievement of results, standards and behaviour.
  • Plan and organise the work of the department
    so as to accomplish strategic and operational goals in the most cost
    effective manner possible; ensuring that an appropriately sized team of
    competent staff and consultants are in place.
  • Support and build the capacity of team
    members to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and
    praising good performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or
    resolve problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
  • Regularly monitor and review performance and,
    in particular, hold staff accountable for achieving results, meeting
    standards of excellence and delivering any improvement goals which have
    been identified; taking decisive action in the case of poor performance.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The applicant should hold a Master’s Degree,
    MBA or Agriculture Economics. Possession of a Post Graduate Diploma in
    Project Management. The applicant must hold a Bachelors – Agribusiness
    Management if the Masters is not in Agriculture Economics, Agriculture,
    Development Studies, Agribusiness Management.
  • A minimum of ten years post graduate Masters
    experience in Business Development (Portfolio Management) and or Pipeline
    Development & Management
  • Extensive Knowledge and understanding of
    Agribusiness Management
  • Demonstrable knowledge of Agri-Business
    Development and Market Systems Approach
  • Proven experience of working in rural
    development in a generalist role within the sector and in a developing
    country
  • Significant experience and ability to
    network, develop and sustain strategic partnerships
  • Knowledge and skills in program planning and
    development
  • Broad knowledge and understanding of databases
    and Microsoft Office
  • Proven experience to manage and engage teams
    for delivery of results
How to Apply: 
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online by clicking on
link below and following the instructions.
Deadline: 8th July 2016 by 12:00pm  
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