Business Model and Grants Management Specialist job at Palladium

BACKGROUND

The focus of the project is to implement a Climate Smart Jobs (CSJ) program, focusing on Northern Uganda as part of the UK’s International Climate Finance commitment. CSJ Component One is a part of the CSJ program, and its objective is to support large-scale job creation in the agri-business sector, aiming to improve productivity and/or incomes in agriculture. The program is seeking innovative, technology-based solutions to address issues faced by agriculture in Northern Uganda, promoting sustainable land management practices and climate adaptation, and job opportunities. The program is funded by the UK’s International Climate Fund and is built on the UK-funded Northern Uganda – Transforming the Economy through Climate Smart Agriculture (NU-TEC) program. CSJ Component One consists of three components: Component 1A, which is a market systems development intervention, Component 1B, which is running a challenge fund called the “Uganda Climate Innovation Fund”, and Component 1C which builds on the market system development approach but focuses on ecosystem services/sustainable land management.

PURPOSE

The position designs and manages the CSJ innovations and interventions within specific business models in accordance with the overall program strategy and supports grant management. The specific purpose of the position is to support the implementation of effective and efficient technical interventions to deliver Climate Smart Jobs – Market Development in accordance with contractual obligations, company policies, Group Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines, and client rules and regulations.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Business Model and Grants Management Specialist will lead and manage 2-3 program business models and support grants management. This will involve the design, strategy, planning, partnership management, communication, monitoring, and reporting of all assigned business models and grants management functions. She will develop and maintain close relationships with various market actors, usually within the private sector, while overseeing and coordinating the implementation of program innovations. While the position is based in Gulu, it will require frequent travel to other parts of Northern Uganda. The Business Model and Grants Management Specialist will be expected to contribute to other aspects of the program in collaboration with other Business Model Specialists, Cross-cutting Managers, the Deputy Team leader -Technical, Deputy Team leader – Operations, Grants Manager and Technical Advisors.

Research

• Conduct research into relevant market systems and trends to identify opportunities for interventions.
• Assist in stakeholder analysis of selected business models and identify and establish contact with potential firms or other market actors.
• Liaise with the Evaluation, Results, and Learning (ERL) team on the development of appropriately tailored research tools and methods for the collection and collation of relevant intervention information from the field.
• Assist in updating and supervising ERL aspects of the intervention activities, including establishing baselines, indicators, and results.
• Assist in collecting baseline data related to innovations targeted for study or implementation by the project.

Business Model Management

• Formulate strategies and develop concept notes in the selected business models as per the CSJ strategy.
• Collaborate with the technical team to develop business cases and pitch them to the CSJ board.
• Ensure the appropriate communication of clear intervention guidelines, expected outcomes, timeframe, and work plan to all relevant parties.
• Assist the Grants Manager in the development of relevant grant agreements, MoUs, ToRs, and any other administrative requirements for the interventions.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities and remain aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains.
• Work with the ERL team to design appropriate tools for monitoring the progress of interventions within the various market sectors. Also, liaise with the ERL team to conduct assessments for business models.
• Refine and adapt the business model strategies considering participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities.
• Help identify failures and pressure points for addressing deviations; suggest decision options on the deviations.

Partnership Management

• Represent the program in selected markets, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and discretion in all interactions with partners, other stakeholders, and with the public.
• Understand how the political economy impacts rural markets, women, and refugees, and how changes in the functioning of markets may impact the political economy.
• Identify and develop relevant partnerships and manage while ensuring “value for money” for the business models assigned.
• Supervise/facilitate the identification and development of networks among key stakeholders, identifying common interests between the networks and CSJ.
• Assist in establishing contacts with national and regional institutions, stakeholders, and participants that would contribute to the successful implementation of interventions

Grants Management:

• Review of the concept notes and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, consistency and adherence to the intervention fund terms.
• Review grants budgets to ensure alignment on grant deliverables and advise the Deputy Team Leader – Technical accordingly.
• Conduct grant risk assessment to identify key risky areas and follow-up implementation of action plans.
• Support grants financial modelling - analyse grantee’s financial health, sustainability, and projections

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in climate change-related projects, economic growth and inclusive private sector projects is key.
• A bachelor’s degree in the areas of Business Management, Economics, Climate Management, Environmental Management, Soil Management, Agriculture or related field.
• Knowledge of grants management, market system development approach or private sector engagement experience is a plus.Experience working in the private sector is preferred.
• Good understanding and skills in investment appraisal, financial and business modeling and partnerships management are required.
• Good communication skills, writing, and systems thinking abilities, relationship management, and innovation are required.
• Although not a key requirement, the ability to speak Luo, Lugbara, Arabic, or one other language from West Nile is preferred.

• Conduct research into relevant market systems and trends to identify opportunities for interventions.
• Assist in stakeholder analysis of selected business models and identify and establish contact with potential firms or other market actors.
• Liaise with the Evaluation, Results, and Learning (ERL) team on the development of appropriately tailored research tools and methods for the collection and collation of relevant intervention information from the field.
• Assist in updating and supervising ERL aspects of the intervention activities, including establishing baselines, indicators, and results.
• Assist in collecting baseline data related to innovations targeted for study or implementation by the project.
• Formulate strategies and develop concept notes in the selected business models as per the CSJ strategy.
• Collaborate with the technical team to develop business cases and pitch them to the CSJ board.
• Ensure the appropriate communication of clear intervention guidelines, expected outcomes, timeframe, and work plan to all relevant parties.
• Assist the Grants Manager in the development of relevant grant agreements, MoUs, ToRs, and any other administrative requirements for the interventions.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities and remain aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains.
• Work with the ERL team to design appropriate tools for monitoring the progress of interventions within the various market sectors. Also, liaise with the ERL team to conduct assessments for business models.
• Refine and adapt the business model strategies considering participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities.
• Help identify failures and pressure points for addressing deviations; suggest decision options on the deviations.
• Represent the program in selected markets, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and discretion in all interactions with partners, other stakeholders, and with the public.
• Understand how the political economy impacts rural markets, women, and refugees, and how changes in the functioning of markets may impact the political economy.
• Identify and develop relevant partnerships and manage while ensuring “value for money” for the business models assigned.
• Supervise/facilitate the identification and development of networks among key stakeholders, identifying common interests between the networks and CSJ.
• Assist in establishing contacts with national and regional institutions, stakeholders, and participants that would contribute to the successful implementation of interventions
• Review of the concept notes and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, consistency and adherence to the intervention fund terms.
• Review grants budgets to ensure alignment on grant deliverables and advise the Deputy Team Leader – Technical accordingly.
• Conduct grant risk assessment to identify key risky areas and follow-up implementation of action plans.
• Support grants financial modelling - analyse grantee’s financial health, sustainability, and projections

• Good communication skills
• Writing skills
• Systems thinking abilities
• Relationship management
• Innovation
• Investment appraisal
• Financial modeling
• Business modeling
• Partnerships management

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in climate change-related projects, economic growth and inclusive private sector projects is key.
• A bachelor’s degree in the areas of Business Management, Economics, Climate Management, Environmental Management, Soil Management, Agriculture or related field.
• Knowledge of grants management, market system development approach or private sector engagement experience is a plus.
• Experience working in the private sector is preferred.
• Good understanding and skills in investment appraisal, financial and business modeling and partnerships management are required.
• Good communication skills, writing, and systems thinking abilities, relationship management, and innovation are required.
• Ability to speak Luo, Lugbara, Arabic, or one other language from West Nile is preferred.