Beirut - Retail Associate (Marker Analysis & Field Coordination)

Job Context:

The post will be based in Beirut Country Office. The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Head of Retail.

Job Purpose:

To optimize the Retail Food E-card programme by providing insights into the market and implementing market development activities to improve access, price, quality, and service to WFP beneficiaries.  

Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Retail, the Retail Associate (Marker Analysis & Field Coordination) will be responsible for managing the following activities:  

Conduct market analysis to optimize retail network and Food E-card Programme

• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidance for conducting a gap analysis for the retail network based on Programme Targeting results, ensuring sufficient coverage of retailers across Lebanon to serve beneficiaries; review regularly to enhance the process.
• Plan and coordinate all Shop Assessment exercises with relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with the Field Offices (FOs) the selection recommendations of new retailers.
• Produce monthly reports and market analyses to understand how market trends could affect WFP retail operations
• Escalate any issues or risks to management and propose mitigating factors as needed
• Work closely with programme team to ensure any adjustment to food e-cards programme can be implemented (scale-up, moving beneficiaries to another region, etc.)

Implement Market Development Activities to improve access, price, quality, and service

• Work on initiatives to improve the purchasing power of beneficiaries
• Set up and reviewing the SOPs and guidelines for mandatory range prices, price index calculation and evaluation & escalation.

• Create a price index and mandatory range of prices for retailers to abide by to ensure beneficiaries have access to the cheapest prices
• Follow up with FOs on the implementation of any follow up activity in accordance with developed mandatory range and price index SOPs

• Implement the Action Plan and Capacity Development Activities for Retailers

• Develop SOPs and guidance for retailers’ development activity; review regularly to enhance the process.
• Coordinate with the relevant units the regular evaluation of retail network
• Place retailers who are not meeting WFP standards on Action Plans to improve their performance
• Monitor and follow up on the implementation to measure the progress of the retailers under action plan.
  • Coordinate with FOs to ensure timely delivery of training to retailers
• Report the outcome of Action Plans along with the recommendations to the head of unit and relevant stakeholders.
• Develop new training packages for retailers to improve their performance 
• Conduct Supply Chain Mapping and optimize suppliers for WFP contracted retailers
• Map the Supply Chain of key commodities and their main suppliers
• Implement preferred suppliers programme to increase purchasing power for WFP retailers that can be passed onto beneficiaries
• Link retailers to preferred suppliers

Act as main focal point with Retail Associates in the field to coordinate their work

• Coordinate with Field Offices to plan their weekly tasks, split amongst day-to-day work and special projects
• Coordinate the implementation of any initiatives or new project with relevant stakeholders (VAM, FOs, Retail CO, etc.)
• Consolidate information from various field offices to report on progress of initiatives (ex. Action Plan, Capacity Building, Pilot projects, etc.)  

Other 

• Perform other duties as required  

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Completion of secondary school education. University degree in business management, economics, supply chain, retail, or other related field is a plus.  

Experience: At least Seven (7) years of experience in the field of retail, category management, especially in grocery or food. Experience with sales, negotiating, partnership and management experience is a plus

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in Arabic and English.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:  

• Experience with procurement practices
• Knowledge of retail sector, shop management, and retail standards  
• Good organizational, communication, and collaboration skills 
• Ability to coach and train others, ability to influence a team  
• Good knowledge of data management and analysis 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Powerpoint)