Business Development Specialist – GEF Ecosystem Conservation Project The Nature Conservancy

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Business Development Specialist shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and coordination of the project’s activities related to the development and strengthening of business models based on the sustainable utilization of forests and other natural resources and sustainable agriculture. The position will be based in the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) offices in Kalumbila District, Northwestern Province, and will report to the Project Manager, with additional technical guidance provided by the Community Conservation Manager. This is a 5-year term limited position, dependent on the duration of funding from GEF, and extension of tenure will be subject to performance and availability of funds. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labour employment requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Working closely with the project’s government and private partners, the Business Development Specialist provides expert technical enterprise development support and guidance to the project’s primary target beneficiaries, being the local communities that depend on the landscape for their livelihoods and survival and will engage closely with the private market actors with which they interact. The Business Development Specialist works as a part of the project implementation team and as part of the broader TNC Zambia conservation team, ensuring close communication, collaboration and learning with peers across project and teams. Specifically, they will provide hands-on strategic guidance and technical oversight for all the project’s business development activities in the natural resources and sustainable agriculture sectors, strengthening community nature-based business management practice, ensuring the participation of women and youth and brokering mutually beneficial commercial relationships among the private sector, local communities and small businesses.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree in business development or business management, economics, marketing or similar relevant field
• 5 years’ practical experience in small business development services, rural market development, natural resource management or similar field
• Experience in sustainable agricultural and/or natural resource management donor-funded project implementation
• Experience in partnership development and management with private sector actors, small businesses and rural communities
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring small rural businesses
• Experience in negotiating and conflict management
• Proven communication skills in written, spoken and graphical means in English
• Competence in computer skills (e.g., Excel, Word)