Business Development Specialist (3 positions - 1 in Mount Lebanon, 2 in North Lebanon)

Organization:

CARE International in Lebanon

Department/Division:

Program

Unit:

Economic Empowerment

Position Title:

Business Development Specialist

Work Location:

Beirut - Tripoli

Supervisor:

Project Manager

Job Summary:

CARE is a leading relief and development non-governmental organization working to end global poverty. Established in 1946, it is now a confederation composed of 14 members and 4 affiliates. Working in over 95 countries around the world, CARE is reaching more than 83 million people through its programs. With more than 11,000 employees worldwide, we have a strong local presence: 95% of our staff are nationals of the countries where our programs are implemented. 

Care international in Lebanon (CIL) is implementing a regional response to the Syrian Crisis to meet the immediate and most urgent needs of the women, men, boys and girls who have fled Syria. CARE International in Lebanon (CIL) is supporting local communities with their longer-term needs and basic rights through WASH, Shelter, Protection, and longer term economic development solutions and activities in collaboration with local partner organizations in the North, South, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon Governorates.

The BDS Specialist will contribute to the implementation of CIL livelihood projects. This position will specifically be working in a team aiming to support farmers and agrofood processors in North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and the South.

The project approach is to contribute to improvement of access to sustainable livelihoods opportunities benefitting vulnerable households and individuals, particularly women and youth in the agri-food industry.

CARE International in Lebanon (CiL) supports local businesses and individuals. The BDS Specialist will primarily contribute to the achievement of the project by working on strengthening the employability of vulnerable individuals, identifying potential opportunities for farmers and agrofood processors (existing and scalable micro, small and medium enterprises /MSMEs), and facilitating access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability (capacity building on best practices, access to finance and access to market).

Supervises

Youth Officer

Working Conditions:

One based in Mount Lebanon and two based in North Lebanon

Salary:

Based on CIL salary scale

Employment Start Date:

October 2018

Duration of Contract:

1 year

Contract Type:

Fixed Term Employment Contract

Other contract elements:

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.

The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs.

Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and funding availability.

Education & Certification:

BS in Anthropology or Social Sciences or equivalent.

Minimum Education Level:

Bachelor’s Degree Field of education: Business, Economics, Management or other related field.

Proven Experience:

3 years’ minimum experience with INGOs, preferably in Livelihoods, or related sectors

IT / Software / Skills:

Familiarity with MS Office software, such as Excel

Language Skills:

Language                  Speaking                                     Reading                     Writing

Arabic                    Fluent/Mother tongue Professional             Professional

English                      Working Knowledge Professional             Professional

French                       Optional                                   Optional                    Optional

Competencies

• Strong capacities in project cycle management and budget follow-up.
• Strong capacity to coordinate with a team, coalition and consortium.
• Outstanding skills in establishing partnerships and strengthening capacity of local partners with private sector actors and players, as well as with Local Communities and Local & National CSO.
• Excellent capacity to supervise, staff local partner organizations in a sub-grantee relationship and provide information in a timely manner to CARE’s international partners and senior management.
• Strong understanding of the needs and challenges of the Agricultural and food processing SME Sector
• Familiarity with the Lebanese economy, market, Labor Market and Social Entrepreneurship.
• Very good communication, coordination and diplomacy.
• Integrity, fairness and impartiality.
• Ability to manage sensitive cases and confidential information.
• Ability to work under pressure

Detailed Responsibilities & Tasks

Responsibility #1: Project Implementation

• Ensure that overall project implementation as per donor agreement and CARE guidelines and agreed implementation strategy is carried out on time with quality provision of services
• Develop programs and activities to strengthen the employability of vulnerable individuals, identifying potential opportunities and placement arrangements to apply these skills, building the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (farmers and agrofood processors) to access available economic opportunities and facilitating access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability.
• Conduct quality BDS delivery to MSMEs and monitor outputs including the development of an assessment of each food processing beneficiary.
• Conduct business training for farmers
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to provide support to farmers and agrofood processors.
• Ensure the proper implementation of technical training for farmers and agrofood processors, LS, PSS and technical training for youth and vulnerable women.
• Lead in the identification of beneficiary MSMEs and farmers in the designated area of supervision working with the BDS specialists in the other project sites and ensure high quality data collection.
• Other tasks, associated with the above may arise. 

Responsibility #2: Reporting & Information sharing

• Draft narrative and quantitative reports as per CARE internal requirements and donor requirements.
• Ensure internal communication and information sharing on project with relevant staff (Livelihood manager & SME specialist, Communication, Advocacy and Information management focal point, M&E team etc.).
• Representation and Coordination
• Support the Livelihoods Manager in ensuring CARE representation in the relevant technical coordination meetings at field level and all relevant forums at the field level and vis-à-vis relevant actors and partners as relevant to the project (MSME/Private Sector, municipalities, UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, community focal points, etc.).
• Support in the organization of field visits by donors, peer agencies, CARE Members, Media, etc.
• The BDS officer will also have to fulfill any other task as requested by her/his supervisor depending on the programmatic priorities in the Field Office.

Experience required

3 years’ minimum experience with INGOs, preferably in Livelihoods, or related sectors, which would include experience with the following activities:

• MSME support (access to finance, access to market, capacity building, etc.)
• Implementation of skills development and employability trainings programs
• SME and local economy knowledge 
• Community mobilization 
• Training and facilitation for staff and community groups

CARE is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, gender, color, religion, and sex.