Reports to: Senior Program Manager, West and Southern Africa
Location: Washington, DC
Travel: up to30%
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.
The West & Southern Africa (WSA) Division is home to some of TechnoServe’s most established successes and some of our boldest innovations. With country programs in eight countries and additional regional activities in five more, WSA is balancing deepening leadership in established countries and developing traction in new ones. Home to TechnoServe’s oldest program (Ghana), as well as its largest (Mozambique), WSA has a 44-year history of developing, executing and up-scaling innovative programs across a variety of value chains, including cashew, cocoa, poultry, feed grains, horticulture, livestock and tourism.
II. POSITION DESCRIPTION:
TechnoServe seeks a dynamic, highly organized professional with excellent analytic skills to take the lead on developing budgets and cost proposals for new business across its West and Southern Africa division. The individual will also be tasked with developing and disseminating more accurate, efficient costing methods that will enhance TechnoServe’s competitive position and set its programs up for successful execution. Key areas of responsibility are as follows:
- Develop cost proposals and budgets for major bids and proposals throughout the region, helping make a strong business case demonstrating the “value for money” offered by TechnoServe’s services
- Act as budget lead for all new business in WSA’s emerging country portfolio
- Build out and improve on WSA’s new cost metrics system toward a more accurate, streamlined budgeting process
- Develop methodologies to help integrate good financial and program management practices, from budgeting through execution
- Coordinate new business managers, field staff, and partners to get timely, accurate inputs into budgets and liaise with headquarters contracts team during budget review process
- Conduct detailed analysis and assessments of complex financial, budget, and benchmarking data
- Assist in annual budget planning at both the country and regional level
- Train/mentor field staff in budget development and related tools as needed
- Travel of up to 30% time may be required; must be able to travel on short notice for up to three weeks at a time
- Other duties and tasks as assigned
III. REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum education required is a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business, Finance, Economics or related field
- Minimum of 2 - 4 years’ work experience required, preferably in international development
- Proven analytic and budgeting skills, including the ability to quantify ideas
- Advanced proficiency in Excel
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and efficiently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
IV. PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Fluency in English; French and/or Portuguese preferred
- Familiarity/experience with activity-based costing preferred
V. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Qualified and interested applicants should submit cover letter, resume and salary history/requirements 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.
