Job Title: Venture Building Project Manager (Jobtech for Refugees)  

Organisation: Mercy Corps

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Reports To: Director / Jobtech Alliance

About US:

Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability.

Job Summary:  We are recruiting a Venture Building Project Manager responsible for overall operational management of the Jobtech for Refugees project in Uganda. S/he will be responsible for end-to-end engagement with jobtech start-ups and contributing to overall Jobtech Alliance strategy led by the Kenya-based Jobtech Director. The Venture Building Project Manager will be responsible for developing a pipeline of exciting jobtech platforms with potential for employment outcomes with refugees, working with them to develop concepts for Mercy Corps’ interventions, managing selection and onboarding, and managing support packages to both start-ups and refugee groups to realise results. S/he will be well-equipped to interact with corporates and bigger start-ups, and will bring a strong network.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management and Team Management

• Responsible for day-to-day management of the Jobtech for Refugees project in Uganda. Develop timelines, targets, manage a small team (two other fulltime staff)
• Manage day-to-day budget and spend, in coordination with the Jobtech Alliance Director.
• Coordinate with our partners responsible for technical assistance with start-ups, BFA Global.
• Provide written progress reports in line with donor requirements.

Pipeline Development & Partnership Development

• Conduct market research to guide start-up outreach and investment strategies.
• Map, develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders to widen pipeline, including accelerators and start-up networks.
• Develop a pipeline of exciting jobtech start-ups across multiple African markets with the potential to achieve greater scale, impact, and/or inclusivity.
• Work with pipeline start-ups to identify potential concepts for partnership, collaboratively deciding on packages of support (and required support to refugee-led organizations to enhance engagement with jobtech platforms).
• Lead due diligence up to review by the Selection Committee, and oversee the contracting and onboarding of selected start-ups.

Venture Building, Technical Assistance, Advisory

• Manage engagements with partner start-ups, coordinating external technical assistance providers, deployment of finance, and connections to other project partners.
• Monitor performance of portfolio, continuing to adapt interventions to maximise impact. Feed back into overarching program strategy.
• Manage partner milestone reporting, fund disbursement from Mercy Corps, and monitoring requirements.
• Feedback learnings to the wider Jobtech Alliance team based in Kenya and Nigeria

Program Design And Support Other Program Activities

• Continue to adapt tools and strategies to achieve greater impact with refugee populations
• As required, design support for refugees seeking to gain access to jobtech platforms, and coordinate through team for rollout through refugee-led organizations

Learning And Influence

• We operate as a ‘do-tank’, ensuring that learnings from this emerging sector are shared back to the community. Document lessons learned, write up experiences from portfolio start-ups for the Jobtech Alliance blog, host webinars for the Jobtech Alliance, or more.
• Supervisory Responsibility
• 3 team members (Private Sector Engagement Coordinator, Community Engagement and Training Officer, MEL Officer)

Accountability

• Works Directly With: Director of Programs, Start-ups, External partners, Research and MEL Director, Finance and Operations Teams, Human Resources
• Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• At least six years’ experience working with start-ups, Venture Capitals, accelerators or other start-up ecosystem actors. This could involve working on business strategy, market research, product, operations, or investment. We welcome diversity of experience.
• Through-the-roof EQ, with excellent communication skills (written and verbal), and a collaborative approach to working with others. Experience in senior management teams, and working with senior leaders in the start-ups space.
• A history of excellence in achieving results and self-management.
• At least two years’ experience in project management roles
• Outstanding analytical capacity, with capacity to bring clarity for others and make quick decisions.
• Experience working in or with jobtech platforms is a strong plus.
• Other pluses include experience working with refugees or MBA/equivalent
• It’s a national position, only nationals are eligible to apply

Success Factors

You are an entrepreneurial self-manager, who is passionate about start-ups and employment impact. You have through-the-roof EQ, with an ability to build new relationships and manage existing ones effectively. You have outstanding analytical capacity, and can quickly see both business as well as impact opportunities. You love getting your hands dirty.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 11^th July 2022

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