Organization Overview: Village Enterprise’s mission is to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship and innovation. Village Enterprise targets the poor, provides business training, seed capital/startup funds and on-going mentoring to over 10,000 new entrepreneurs to start 3,000 enterprises each year. Since its inception in 1987, Village Enterprise has started over 40,000 micro-enterprises.
About the Job:
Village Enterprise is seeking a candidate who will manage Business Mentors in the sector to successfully carry out core program implementation in support of implementation of Village Enterprise Mission and vision. Candidate will support additional core program efforts as needed. This is a split, field/office position, requiring ~60% time in the field and ~40% time in the office. A minimum time commitment of one year is required.
Job Description:
Business Mentor Activities:
- Manage all Business Mentors (BMs) in your region, ensuring high-quality Core Program implementation
- Regular field visits (3-4 days a week) to assess training and mentoring by the Business Mentors and overall performance of businesses and carry out at least 6 business spot-checks per week.
- Spearhead the Village opening process in the sector.
- Guide Business mentor on SBs and PRs grant applications for viable businesses and approve prior to submitting them to the Country Manager for review
- Ensure BMs work plans are developed, followed and timely shared through a google sheet
Bi-weekly meetings and Induction Training for BMs
- Prepare bi-weekly meeting and agendas, and ensure they are timely update and sharing through a goggle sheet.
- Train BMs on new forms that need to be collected, constantly reinforcing the importance and value of the data we collect and helping BMs troubleshoot issues as needed.
- Work with M&E during each biweekly meeting to confirm that the BMs have collected the proper forms and confirm their upload to the database.
- Lead and conduct Induction Training/onboarding for new BMs. This includes working closely with departments to prepare agenda, schedule Field Visits, prepare materials
- Work with Finance & Administration to ensure that all, induction and bi-weekly materials are printed or made available in a timely manner
Reporting Program Reporting
- Work with the Country Manager to Collect, Develop, validate, consolidate, revise and submit BM work plans in a timely fashion.
- Monitor the collection of Mentoring logs and activity reports on behalf of the organization.
- Submit reports and minutes of any meeting attended on behalf of Village Enterprise.
- Ensure updated reports on attendance is tracked.
Managing Partnerships
- Help establish a relationship with Local Government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders.
- The Field Associate represents the organization at sector and cell program meetings in consultation with the Country Manager.
- Provide Management with reports and feedback from sector meetings and partnership meetings as needed within three days after the meeting.
- Support the BMs to register all Business Savings Groups with relevant government authorities at various levels.
- Develop and implement -District and Sector entry and Facilitate expansion strategy to new areas of operation in collaboration with the Country Manager.
- The Field Associate provides general support, guidance, and serves as focal point during program planning and reporting.
Internal activity coordination
- Participate in Innovation Team meetings, actively participating and bring a positive field perspective to the team
- Support BMs in the implementation of pilots, studies and data collection as needed
- Provide feedback and support to overall program, pilots and strategic expansion
- Work with the innovations team to train other partners or organizations
- Act as focal persons for capturing ideas, learnings from the Business mentors and communities and submit to the innovations team.
- Work with M&E to deliver quality BM refresher activities
- Support BMs in phone/Tablet troubleshooting and in guiding BMs through quality data collection protocols
Vision trip and Donor Visits
- Represent Village Enterprises’ values and program to donors, Guests and visiting staff
- Work with Management to arrange field scheduling for visitors, donors and guests
- Coordinate all preparations at the field level
- In some cases, work on the weekends to accommodate donor and staff visits
Business Mentor performance appraisal and Professional development.
- Submit quarterly reports to the Country Manager (CM) and Director of Talent Management (DTM) on Business mentor performance.
- Work with the Country Manager and DTM to identify professional development opportunities for BMs and implement them.
- Work with the Country Manager to conduct performance reviews for BMs
- Assist with the improvement and development of monitoring activities and materials for business mentors.
Management and Administration:
- The Field Associate ensures that Village Enterprise procedures and donor regulations applicable to a project implemented in the area of operation concerning program, logistics, fraud control, protection of vulnerable groups and special interest groups in collaboration with the DTM and CM.
- The Field Associate is responsible for overseeing the management of day-to-day field operations including monitoring and reporting on staff attendance, staff leave and authorization of minor emergency field expenses in consultation with the CM and DTM as required.
Logistics:
- Field Associate is in charge of overseeing and reporting on the logistics the field team including enforcement of field safety guidelines and adherence.
- Responsible for monitoring and reporting equipment usage and storage, planning, and maintenance of equipment and the functioning of the means of communication appropriate for the respective field staff.
- Assist in Computation of Field stipends for Field Staff
Communication
- Communicate field challenges, opportunities and constraints
- Provide feedback to supervisors and other line managers through Email, phone,
- Participate in Monday Morning Meetings (MMMs) and Partnership meetings by providing field updates and responses to field questions
- Participate and provide content to Field Associates calls.
- Ensure BMs Collect and submit success Stories with photos as needed
Field Associate is responsible for the delivery of program outputs and co-ordination of field team (Business Mentors) in area of jurisdiction.
Safeguarding
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at VE, and it begins with me
- The Field Associate must ensure that the community is aware about VE safeguarding and our commitment to do no harm
- Need to also ensure that safeguarding stickers are available to all business owners
- Continuously sensitize program participants on safeguarding.
- Ensure compliance with VE’s safeguarding policies
- Report any incident of safeguarding in program operations for appropriate action/follow up.
Core Competencies:
- Dedicated and hardworking
- Highly self-motivated
- Easy to interact and engage with various community groups
- Confident and proactive in pursuing organization goals
Qualifications:
- A Diploma in community development, business management, education and or any other course related to rural development.
- IT knowledge is an added advantage.
- Must have strong communication, organization and interpersonal skills.
- Experience in leading teams, teaching, training, community service and working in rural set ups.
- Served in a comparable and relevant position for a minimum period of one (1) year.
- Shown merit and ability in work performance and results.
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, salary history and expectation to: rwandajobs@villageenterprise.org addressed to: The Country Manager Subject Line: ‘Field Associate, Rulindo District’ Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, 3rd February 2021. Preference will be given to candidates who come from or currently live in Rulindo District.
Village Enterprise is an equal opportunity employer
