SMEs Business Officer

Background:

The USAID/Jordan Business Growth Activity will enable Jordan’s small and medium enterprises to improve their productivity and competitiveness, create new jobs and innovations within a range of sectors, and advance Jordan towards a more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive future. Through a series of evidence-based interventions, the Business Growth Activity will support these enterprises with direct firm-level assistance and broad-based capacity building programs to mobilize millions in capital, and address constraints through advocacy and public-private dialogue that complements USAID’s policy reform initiatives. The activity strives to allow growth-oriented small and medium enterprises to reach new markets and buyers, increase collaboration along value chains, and improve efficiency and quality to meet demand. The activity will empower these enterprises to access tailored and competitively priced debt, equity, and new hybrid financial products to operate within a more responsive business environment better informed by public-private dialogue and advocacy. This will allow small and medium enterprises to engage women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and increase sales, exports, and broad-based job creation.

Objective:

The SMEs Business officer will be responsible for carrying out assigned projects and tasks related to the development and execution of the USAID BGA work plan activities and programs designed to provide technical support to enhance SMEs competitiveness, enhance their administrative and technological capabilities, maximize the benefits of international agreements signed by Jordan through technical and financial support, improve products quality, improve market positioning and access, and ensure that their strategic directions are oriented to market requirements to meet the increasing competition in the local, regional and global markets.

Roles and Responsibility:

S/he will perform related responsibilities as required. S/he shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the tasks detailed hereunder:

• Work Plan Activity Support: Support implementation of USAID BGA work plan activities, as assigned by component and activity leaders;
• SMEs Pipeline: Assist in building a pipeline of viable growth SMEs; this includes, identifying SMEs from various sectors, conducting/managing the SMEs diagnostic process and assessing their growth and export readiness; proposing appropriate solutions and developing upgrading plan that includes areas for improvement and means of addressing weaknesses.
• Upgrade plan implementation: Support in drafting and managing scopes of work for short-term consultants, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) needed to engage external consultants and technical experts to assist in executing activities and move implementation forward. Participate in technical evaluation committees and bidders' selection processes, and support in grants reviews and assessments. Preparing internal and external communication memoranda and reports
• Grants follow up: Monitor the implementation and regular follow up of awarded grants assigned under the work of SMEs competitiveness to ensure successful implementation and completion of the grants’ work plan. Facilitating stakeholder engagements and activities to demonstrate the added value and manage expectations related to work plan interventions.
• Stakeholder Relations: In coordination with component and other activity leaders, help USAID BGA maintain positive and productive working relationships with beneficiaries (SMEs) and activities implementers (subcontractors and service providers; etc.).
• Monitoring and Evaluation Support: Support AMEL team to collect information on ongoing activities required for the program’s regular progress reporting and M&E reporting. Help ensure all such information is properly documented and entered into M&E system. If necessary, perform primary data collection (for example by directly contacting past beneficiaries/participants) to help USAID BGA determine the long-term impact of its activities.
• Reporting and Research: Identify core issues, conduct research & analysis as requested by activity leader. Review and provide quality control of regular subcontractor and sub-grantee reporting.; Maintaining a database of publications and reports as well as of stakeholders contact information and other important details. Produce regular reporting required for activities directly implemented by USAID BGA and under this SOW.
• Problem Solving: Identify any implementation problems as early as possible (“early warning”) whether they be technical or administrative in nature, conceptualize solutions to problems as they arise and work with direct supervisor to execute agreed upon solutions.
• Events: Work closely with the USAID BGA Communications Team to organize and manage project related events, workshops and seminars in coordination with USAID BGA teams and external stakeholders; helping prepare, deliver and follow-up on all external events, training programs, workshops and other related activities.
• Support in other USAID BGA related activities, such as Business enabling environment, Public private dialogue, and any other task assigned by the component director.

Skills and Knowledge

• Project management, procurement, reporting and evaluation
• Professional technical writing, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills
• Professional presentation & communication skills: able to concisely and accurately describe conditions and status verbally, through presentations, and in writing
• Team work: must display and be noted for being an excellent team member, and ability to work alone if needed
• Experience with USAID technical reporting and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) requirements is preferred.
• English and Arabic Proficiency (written and verbal)
• MS Office Proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
• A bachelor's degree is required in Engineering, business Administration, economics or similar fields;
• Experience in economic and business development activities; SMEs development, export promotion and private sector development in Jordan.
• Ability to professionally and confidently represent USAID BGA with its variety of stakeholders (private sector, international and Jordanian).
• Ability to conduct research, business and financial analysis is preferred.

Duration of Assignment:

Immediate hiring for a one-year contract renewable upon satisfactory performance. The duration of the USAID Business Growth Activity is 5 years, effective September 2021.

Application:

Only the most qualified and suitable candidates will be invited to interviews. Interested qualified individuals may submit their CV, cover letter and three references to JordanBGArecruiting@fhi360.org by November 27, 2022. No phone calls will be accepted to inquire about the position. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable local laws.

Deadline for application is November 27, 2022

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