Duma Works

Business Development Advisor

Duma Works is recruiting for a Business Development Advisor for our client Ongoza.

Ongoza is a Kenyan accelerator that recruits high-potential young entrepreneurs and provides one year of highly subsidized, customized weekly business advisory,market linkages, and debt financing in order to propel their growth.

Your role is to provide practical, strategic advisory and assistance to youth-led enterprises to drive their growth as measured by increased revenue, jobs, and social impact. Your consulting will span all aspects of business growth and structure, from financial modelling to marketing to business strategy and operations. Reporting directly to Ongoza’s Program Manager, you are Ongoza’s primary client-facing role, responsible for the success of our client entrepreneurs.

Business Development Advisor Job Responsibilities

Please note other responsibilities may be required based upon the growth of Ongoza.

Strategic Advisory Services (80%)

• Work closely with clients in your portfolio to articulate growth plans to scale their businesses.
• Provide practical, strategic advisory and technical assistance across the areas of finance, sales & marketing, operations, and HR to help clients harness opportunities, structure their businesses more effectively, and catalyse growth.
• Advise and assist clients in product development, sales and marketing strategy, and customer acquisition. Connect clients to market opportunities.
• Advise clients on investment needs and connect them tofinancial services, including via our exclusive partnership with Key Partners, Ltd.
• Facilitate trainings, workshops, and other events for Ongoza clients and the wider community as needed.
• Liaise with the rest of the network of Business Development Advisors on a regular basis to learn and share best practices.

Process Design and Improvement (10%)

• Provide and implement recommendations that can improve the effectiveness of you and your colleagues on the business advisory team.
• Support client recruitment efforts in liaison with the Entrepreneur Relationship Officer. This will include identifying potential partners, conduct site visits to screen the applicants and inducting the new cohorts.

General Administration (10%)

• Maintain client files and collect data as needed for Ongoza’s learning team.
• Maintain appropriate expense reporting, comply with administrative policies and procedures, and conduct logistical arrangements as needed.

Requirements for the Business Development Advisor Job

• 5+ years of experience in SME development, financial services, consulting, business operations or marketing, with relevant university or graduate degree. Work with entrepreneurs and small businesses highly preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent understanding of strategies for how to help businesses grow, with expertise in one or more of the following areas: business finance, business planning and strategy, sales and marketing, product development, or human resource management. Ability to produce financial reports/projections for clients highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of go-to market and growth strategies for businesses in consumer goods, professional services, retail, and manufacturing.
• Worked in a start-up or small business environment, and/or have direct experience supporting start-ups. Willing to wear many hats and help wherever needed.
• Have passion for and excellent understanding of the Kenyan entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Previous coaching, teaching, training, or facilitation experience preferred.
• You have excellent business knowledge and judgment. You are able to quickly analyse the gaps and opportunities within a business and sketch the best way forward. You know what you don’t know, and how to look for that information.
• You thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. You are an independent self-starter who flourishes in a changing environment and can manage yourself. You have excellent collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• You are a systems builder and/or optimizer. You are process-oriented and always looking for ways to improve systems to not solve the same problem twice. You will be called upon to build structures for your team as Ongoza continues to grow.
• You make things happen. You have a proven track record of meeting targets on time and within budget. You are creative, solutions-oriented, and willing to put in the time it takes to do a great job. You follow through.
• Most of all, you believe in our vision and mission – the power of youth-led businesses to transform Kenya.

How to Apply

To apply online click here or send your Cover Letter and detailed CV to apply@jobs.dumaworks.com marking the subject as “3430”, Your Full name & Phone number e.g. 3430 Barack Obama, +2547xxxxxxxx. If you don’t follow these instructions, your application will not go through.

Deadline for receiving applications: Wednesday, 01 August 2018

N.B.

* You will receive a confirmation email and an alert to take a basic screening test over SMS or online. The email with the test may not arrive immediately. Please be patient. The email/SMS test will typically be 5-8 questions to help us understand your background. Regular SMS rates apply to the test.

If you apply and don’t meet these minimum qualifications, we will not be able to move forward with application.