Summary
Date Posted: Monday, November 06 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Background
The Climate Smart Jobs (CSJ) is a 4-year program funded by the UK's International Climate Fund and is building on the previous UK-funded Northern Uganda Program dubbed ‘NUTEC’-Transforming the Economy through Climate Smart Agriculture. The CSJ component one consists of two sub-components: 1A, which is a market systems development intervention, and Component 1B, which will run a challenge fund called the "Uganda Climate Innovation Fund." The program (CSJ) will be implemented and delivered through a market development approach that involves partnerships with the private sector. The objective of CSJ component one is to support large-scale job creation in the agri-business sector, aiming to improve productivity and/or incomes in agriculture. The component is focusing on innovative sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers especially women, refugees, and host communities to address the impacts of climate change and contribute to incomes and jobs.

Purpose
To provide technical assistance, mentorship and coaching to the pioneers of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) solutions across the entire innovation and venture building journey, ensuring that products and solutions are fit for needs of smallholder farmers and that are designed appropriate for the targeted market.

Responsibilities
• Technical Support and Advisory Services
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the strategy for implementing component 1B of the project.
• Support in sourcing and selecting, concept note and application evaluation, due diligence and selection committee briefing to aid selection of innovations.
• Conduct industry/sector research to identify opportunities, partners, and industry experts
• Develop elements of the venture building curriculum in relation to agribusiness ensuring that there is adequate content, tools, and resources to provide industry knowledge and skills to the pioneers.
• Deliver agribusiness related training, coaching, and mentorship to entrepreneurial teams to enable them build competitive products and ventures.
• Takes lead in the technical testing of climate smart agriculture innovations and makes recommendations on the most viable solutions that can disrupt the market.
• Provide technical support to CSA related innovations to develop businesses cases and offer linkage for financial support.
• Acts as a catalyst to strengthen CSA innovation network by coordinating matching making and twinning with pioneers.

Market Development and Promotion
• Develop strategies to increase the adoption of new innovations, nurturing a dynamic and efficient market for climate smart agricultural technologies, services, processes and products.
• Develop businesses cases for successful CSA innovations that can be taken to growth and accelerate including scale.
• Organize and participate in promoting CSA pioneers.
• Networking and Stakeholder Engagement
• To build and maintain a network of key stakeholders across the business and
industry
• Ensures that the appropriate internal partnerships are built and there is alignment with existing or developing offerings and initiatives within the bank and other external stakeholders.
• Execute and coordinate upon agreed corporate partnerships within specified sectors
• Effectively and efficiently represent the Incubator on both local and international fora and maintain the highest standard of representation and integrity.
• Learning and Knowledge Development
• Conduct technical analysis and insights about the performance of the different innovations and ventures highlighting success stories, failures, and areas of improvement.
• Develop and disseminate content about the project through different media including podcasts, case studies, newspaper articles, the project website etc.

Person Specification
Education, Training, Skills & Experience Qualifications
• Formal minimum qualification 1*
• Type of qualification: First Degree
• Field of study: Business Commerce
Other qualifications, certifications or professional memberships
• Commerce graduate, preferably BSc Agric (Economics), B.Agman (Hons) or B.Comm (Agric) Honours
• Valuation certificate is an advantage
• A valid driver’s license

Experience
Experience required 1*
• Job Function: Personal and Business Banking
• Job Family: Personal and Business Banking.
• Years: 3-4 Years
• Experience Description: Relevant experience in diverse agribusinesses, property valuation, economic and credit principles.
Experience required 2
• Job Function: Personal and Business Banking
• Job Family: Personal and Business Banking
• Years: 1-2 Years
• Experience Description: Experience in preparing and motivating credit applications is essential for arbitration purposes; Experience in budgeting, forecasting, cost control and sales management is essential

Behavioral Competencies
Behavioral competency 1*
• Competency Label: Generating Ideas
• Competency Description: The greater the number of alternative ideas or solutions generated, the greater the probability of finding a good solution. This competency is about how fluent an individual is at generating ideas, the number of ideas they generate and how confident they are in their ability to generate unusual ideas or favor radical solutions. This is further enhanced by the extent to which an individual enjoys the creative process.

Behavioral competency 2*
• Competency Label: Convincing People
• Competency Description: This competency is about bringing others over to your point of view. The emphasis in this competency is on being persuasive and taking a negotiating approach. In addition, “Convincing People” focuses on individuals being able to shape others’ opinions.

Behavioral competency 3
• Competency Label: Making Decisions
• Competency Description: This competency is about the pace at which individuals are prepared to make decisions, as well as their willingness to take responsibility for their decisions when under pressure. It also deals with the extent to which individuals are definite about their views and opinions.

Behavioral competency 4
• Competency Label: Thinking Positively
• Competency Description: This competency is about the extent to which individuals are optimistic, the extent to which they display cheerful behavior in the workplace and how quickly individuals are able to recover from setbacks. Individuals who think positive thoughts are better equipped to adapt to changing circumstances, influence other people’s attitudes and are generally better positioned to persevere in the face of difficulties.

Behavioral competency 5
• Competency Label: Embracing Change
• Competency Description: This competency, in the context of organizations is concerned with the extent to which individuals accept challenges and change as well as the extent to which individuals cope well with uncertainty. Accepting change and coping with uncertainty can enhance one's ability to adapt effectively to changing circumstances, which is an ability of increasing importance in an ever more dynamic business environment.

Behavioral competency 6
• Competency Label: Meeting Timescales
• Competency Description: This competency involves individuals adhering to time scales and meeting deadlines. The focus is therefore on being reliable at completing tasks and being punctual.
Behavioral competency 7
• Competency Label: Pursuing Goals
• Competency Description: The behaviors related to “Pursuing Goals” include the extent to which individuals are ambitious, are driven to achieve results and are persevering in the face of adversity.

Behavioral competency 8
• Competency Label: Providing Insights
• Competency Description: This dimension is about providing insight with regards to aspects that are likely to have an impact on the organization. It is about making it clear to others what the implications of internal and external organizational environmental factors and processes are on the competitive position of the organization. “Providing Insights” should be done with a focus on improving the situation.

Behavioral competency 9
• Competency Label: Interpreting Data
• Competency Description: This competency is about interpreting data accurately with an emphasis on the processing and interpretation of numbers. This competency also includes the utilization of technology.

Behavioral competency 10
• Competency Label: Completing Tasks
• Competency Description: This competency is about completing tasks and projects in a structured manner by employing effective planning and prioritizing skills. Once tasks have been planned and priorities have been set, individuals also need to be able to manage the project or task to completion in order to demonstrate effectiveness.

Behavioral competency 11
• Competency Label: Taking Action
• Competency Description: This competency is about taking action in service of achieving the organization’s goals. It is about being energetic, showing initiative and being action oriented.

Behavioral competency 12
• Competency Label: Exploring Possibilities
• Competency Description: Exploring possibilities is about individuals being effective at displaying behaviors associated with different situations or problems.
Individuals are required to look at a problem and define it in an abstract manner. “Unpacking” a problem in terms of its underlying principles and basing the problem on sound theory typically allows for deeper insight into the true nature of
the problem. This makes the nature of the problem more complete, more meaningful and therefore longer term sustainable solutions more likely.

Technical Competencies
Technical competency 1*
• Competency Label: Product Knowledge
• Competency Description: Knowledge and understanding of the features, benefits and pricing of the products and services on offer to business banking customers.
• Proficiency Level: SEASONED - Applies concepts without requiring supervision, able to provide technical guidance when required

Technical competency 2*
• Competency Label: Interpreting Financial Statements
• Competency Description: The ability to interpret financial reports, measure performance and execute key ratio analyses.
• Proficiency Level: SEASONED - Applies concepts without requiring supervision, able to provide technical guidance when required

Technical competency 3*
• Competency Label: Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting
• Competency Description: The ability to plan financial objectives in terms of cost and/or revenue for the short, medium and long term.
• Proficiency Level: SEASONED - Applies concepts without requiring supervision, able to provide technical guidance when required

Technical competency 4
• Competency Label: Compliance
• Competency Description: The ability to interpret regulations and laws that apply to the business and to provide information to business on how to comply.
• Proficiency Level: PROFICIENT - Clear knowledge and application of the concept
Technical competency 5
• Competency Label: Written Communication
• Competency Description: Ability to express ideas by means of clear and effective writing, in order to support professional communication internally within the Bank and externally.
• Proficiency Level: PROFICIENT - Clear knowledge and application of the concept

Technical competency 6
• Competency Label: Strategic Planning and Reporting
• Competency Description: Knowledge and understanding of the process and thinking required to formulate objectives and priorities, and implement plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. The ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities and manage risks.
• Proficiency Level: PROFICIENT - Clear knowledge and application of the concept

Technical competency 7
• Competency Label: Operational Planning
• Competency Description: The ability to translate the organization’s vision and long term goals into medium and short term deliverables.
• Proficiency Level: SEASONED - Applies concepts without requiring supervision, able to provide technical guidance when required

Leadership Competencies
Leadership Competency 1
• Competency Label: Customer and Client Focused Innovation
• Competency Description: Focusing attention and efforts on understanding customers (or customer segments) and proactively addressing different customer/client needs. Makes organisational changes or innovates when needed to address customer/client needs.
• Proficiency Level Description: 1 Understands the customer/client segment/s; Has a deep understanding of the local customer segment, including understanding of local cultural customs and approaches. Know what the segment needs and how they perceive certain products or solutions, or the Bank.

Leadership Competency 2
• Competency Label: Driving Delivery of Results
• Competency Description: Proactively identifies business opportunities or barriers to business performance and addresses them. Takes accountability for improving the business. Demonstrates a sense of urgency around the achievement of stretching business goals.
• Proficiency Level Description: 2 Makes decisions and takes action to improve performance; Makes changes to plans, offerings, etc. to get better results, improve business performance.

Leadership Competency 3
• Competency Label: Holding People Accountable
• Competency Description: Sets clear performance standards and expectations, and holds others accountable when these are not met. Takes accountability for team delivery against the expectations and contribution to results.
• Proficiency Level Description: 2 Provides corrective feedback; Confronts others when they don’t perform, when they act out of line or contrary to the organizational values or strategy. Openly talks about the lack of performance to the person involved.

Leadership Competency 4
• Competency Label: Purposeful Collaboration
• Competency Description: Understands and leverages the dependencies across the organization and the impact of own actions on the rest of the organization to create organization alignment for decision-making and delivery of quality outcomes.
• Proficiency Level Description: 2 Seeks input from other functions; When coming up with new plans, seeks input from the relevant functions to ensure alignment. Builds cross-functional teams to arrive at the best solution for the business as a whole
Additional Job Dimensions
Business accountability: Impact on end result*
• Contributory -- Advisory or facilitating services for use by others
• Description or examples: Compile viability studies in support of new and increased lending. Provides a specialist/information/training service to Business and Credit regarding the risk within the sector.

Typical direct reports for this job*
• Job Title: Click here to enter text.
• Number: No direct reports
Indirect reports
• Job Family: Click here to enter text.
• Number: No Indirect Reports
Financial accountability*
• Type of Budget: Sales Budget
• Size of Budget (ZAR equivalent): Aligned with the annual targets
• Type of accountability: Contributes to budget management
Internal relationships*
• Business area: Business Banking
• Job: Various
• Nature of relationship: Provide and receive a service
• Sphere of influence: Impact the whole functional area
• Description or examples: To assist with deals in Agric Medium segments.
• Business area: Senior Agribusiness Specialists
• Job: Various
• Nature of relationship: Provide and receive a service
• Sphere of influence: Impact the whole functional area
• Description or examples: To liaise regularly with the Senior Agribusiness Specialists in order to assist with deals in the Agric segment
• Business area: Agric Credit Evaluation Managers
• Job: Various
• Nature of relationship: Contribute to their service delivery
• Sphere of influence: Impact the whole functional area
• Description or examples: To provide input to Agric applications in support of new and increased lending.
• Business area: Agribusiness
• Job: Various
• Nature of relationship: Provide a service to them
• Sphere of influence: Impact the whole functional area
• Description or examples: To provide monthly feedback regarding involvement in business deals and courtesy calls to customer.

External relationships*

• Role type of external contact: Customers
• Nature of relationship: Provide customer service
• Description or examples: To ensure positive experience for customers by doing business calls to the top 75% of lending customers (Large segment) in support of business development
• Role type of external contact: Strategic Agric stakeholders (e.g., Organised Agriculture and Government)
• Nature of relationship: Manage the relationship
• Description or examples: To enhance the Bank’s profile within the organisation.
• Ensure effective networking to identify business opportunities.
Accountability for problem solving*
• Degree of guidance received to solve problems:
• Clearly Defined - Policies, principles, readily available direction
• Description or examples:
• Applies agric industry knowledge, an understanding of climatic, socio-political, economic and financial risks, as well as knowledge of multiple standardised Business Banking and Agribusiness products, to analyse and assess feasibility primary agribusiness and provide the most appropriate financial solutions.
• Degree of original thought required to solve problems:
• Variable - Differing situations within boundaries of experience
• Description or examples:
• Creatively adapts within product range, credit principles, and customer value proposition parameters to best meet customer needs with minimal risk to the Bank.
Accountability for planning of activities*
• Performance or supervision of varied activities
• Description or examples:
• Annual forward planning is required to translate the provincial agribusiness business plan into targets, priorities and service standards to support the achievement of new business acquisition, portfolio expansion and retention targets.
• Applies time management principles to ensure effective delivery of objectives.
• Plans the business calls to customers on an annual basis.
Discretion allowed for decision making*
• Directed - Broad practices, managerial direction
• Description or examples:
• Analyses and critically evaluates customer information, and makes decisions regarding structuring the deal after considering all the facts presented by multiple sources of information. This involves probing for facts from the customer, identifying disadvantages and challenging assumptions.
• Recommends the decline of business that clearly falls outside of the bank’s risk parameters.
• Represents the Bank at Agric Medium customers, especially when on-boarding new business.
• Makes decisions regarding where to get involved with in business deals.
• Escalates decisions to the line manager when assisting with credit arbitrations.
Work environment*
• Working Conditions 1: Domestic/local travel may be required
• Working Conditions 2: Regular overtime may be required
• Physical Requirements 1: Noisy environment
• Physical Requirements 2: Open plan office


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to m.iga@truenorthafrica.com with subject line Specialist Agribusiness before 7th November 2023.

All applications shall be acknowledged as recieved but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
All applicants should share their CV's and Cover Letters in PDF or MS Word STRICTLY



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