Product Scaling Officer - ASCEND Project

Deliver on project Outcomes

·  Meaningful increase in the wellbeing of participant households – transformed lives (increased HH income, increased savings, increased net assets, increased dietary diversity, increased women’s agency and improved perceived wellbeing).

Deliver on project activities and outputs

· Design and implement a project work plan that integrates digital technology as a core means of delivery.

·Launch 300 businesses and 20 savings groups by the end of each fiscal year.

·Ensure that strategic programmatic priorities (SPPs) such as youth, gender and climate-smart adaptations are effectively integrated throughout program implementation.

·Ensure all training, coaching and mentoring activities exceed the minimum program quality standards.

·  Use adaptive management data for decision-making and implement strategies that drive business health and impact at household level.

· Document learning and incorporate analysis and lessons learnt into new strategies and program adaptation work.

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

· Work with the different stakeholders to map out geographic villages for implementation, considering all constrains and effectively communicating them.

·Maintain regular reporting to the 1:300 steering committee, ensuring all deliverables and milestones are met within prescribed timelines. 

·Coordinate with relevant partners and stakeholders, including private sector actors, and facilitate meaningful linkages with the communities.

· Work collaboratively with other functional teams (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, People and Culture, Product and Service and the Finance teams) to drive program impact.

·  Represent Village Enterprise at community meetings, events, and at the government level when needed.

In close collaboration with the Country Director, take full responsibility for the delegated budget management on programmatic aspects of the program and contribute to decision making, ensuring that value for money can be effectively demonstrated.

· Work closely with the Finance team to ensure timely disbursement of funds to entrepreneurs.

· Provide reporting to the F&A team on disbursements and any grants that go unfunded.

·Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or steering committee.

 Safeguarding: "Safeguarding at VE is everyone’s responsibility"

•  Ensure program participants are continuously sensitized about possible risks of child abuse, sexual/financial exploitation, prevention and response mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with VE’s safeguarding policies and Code of Conduct in all programs, operations and practices.
• Report any child or adult safeguarding incidents in program operations for appropriate action and follow up.

Living Our Values

• Ubuntu: We serve people living in extreme poverty with respect, empathy, and dignity regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or education level, and value our common humanity.
• Passion: We believe passionately in our mission and the ability of people living in extreme poverty to improve their lives.
• Integrity: We operate with the highest levels of integrity and trustworthiness.
• Innovation: We value innovation as a means to reduce poverty and treat new ideas, new technologies, and new partners as opportunities to grow our impact.
• Sustainability: We are committed to ensuring that our businesses and our organization are sustainable in the long-term.

Qualifications and Experience

·      University degree or equivalent in development, program management, international development or other relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

·      At least 3 years’ experience in development programming in an NGO.

·      Experience working in Poverty Graduation or Market Systems Development is a STRONG advantage

·      Experience in dealing with a diverse group of stakeholders representing government, external partners, and others.

·      Excellent oral and written communication skills, with fluency in both English and Kiswahili. Proficiency in a local language spoken within the target geography will be an added advantage.

·      Computer literate and proficient in basic Microsoft packages and email and other technology, including project management software. Experience using Salesforce, Wrike, Box, Dashboards, etc., a strong advantage.

Key competencies and behaviors

• Ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to exercise diplomacy and tact as demonstrated in previous roles that required communication with a broad and diverse set of partners.
• Demonstrated skills in working remotely and delivering quality results with minimal supervision
• Exhibits consistent excellent judgment, develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues and external partners and stakeholders.
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and takes responsibility for their own personal development 

To Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates who meet the set criteria are invited to send their Cover Letter and CV (Maximum 3 pages) including 3 referees, on the online platform. 

Village Enterprise is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Village Enterprise provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Village Enterprise does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Village Enterprise will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations. Village Enterprise is a corruption, solicitation, and bribery-free organization. Neither Village Enterprise nor any of its employees or associates’ charges money to job applicants before, during, or after the recruitment process. Please report any malpractice through our safeguarding toll-free hotline 0800724810

Safeguarding Statement:

Village Enterprise is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees, volunteers, Visitors, associates (consultants, service providers and suppliers) and partners to uphold this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding policies and code of conduct. Village Enterprise has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, exploitation, or harassment.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include reference checks with previous employers, verification of qualifications, and criminal record or background screening where required by law

To be communicated