VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

“Project Officer – Market Expert for EnDev Projects”

Post AVSI/HR/05-2024

AVSI is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO), recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and credited at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. AVSI is an authorized body for the implementation of international cooperation interventions, in Sierra Leone since 1999, with specific skills on the implementation of programs in education, child protection and youth employment. Please, refers to our media channels for further information.

Website: https://www.avsi.org/en/

Facebook: @AVSISierraLeone

With regards to the above and in the framework of the projects “Boosting Market Development for Improved and clean Cookstove” (energy and clean cooking sector), and “Transformational Energy Use for Sierra Leone – Phase I (TEUSL1) (Productive Use of Energy sector) – funded by Endev, AVSI is currently seeking to recruit a:

Position: Project Officer (PO) – Market Expert

Number of vacancies: 2

Scope of the position: The PO will be responsible for advising on, developing and implementing the marketing strategy for the sales of improved cookstoves/ solar products, monitoring of sales and product distribution, supervision of on-field activities related to marketing, as well as supporting stakeholder engagement, reporting and communication activities.

Type of employment: Full time (40 hours per week)– National contract

Duty Station: Bo – with periodic visits to the field

Department: Projects

Report to: 1) Project Manager, 2) Head of Base

Areas of responsibility: 

• Stakeholder management 

• Participate in the engagement of key market stakeholders, including solar companies, cookstoves producers, and finance institutions (if applicable);
• Take minutes during market stakeholder meetings;
• Support negotiation processes with local stakeholders involved in the promotion of improved cookstoves/ solar products.

• Marketing activities 

• Advise and explore, together with the project team, different marketing approaches;
• Design marketing strategy for sales of cookstoves/ solar products;
• Organize on-field marketing activities targeting selected beneficiaries/ end-customers for cookstoves/ solar products;
• Support capacity-building on marketing skills for producers, companies, or finance institutions (if applicable) involved in the project.

• Monitoring of field activities

• Monitor the rolling out of product distribution and sales activities with key stakeholders (producers, companies, (micro-) finance institutions, if applicable) and beneficiaries, including (if applicable) those taking part in grant matching schemes;
• Ensure coordination, and supervision of field staff related to market development activities;

• Reporting and communication

• Regularly report to PMs on the progress and results of market development activities, timely communicating any issues;
• Prepare field staff in presenting data from field activities related to market development;
• Support the PMs in the preparation of meetings and presentations to partners and stakeholders on marketing activities;
• Contribute to the preparation of other relevant documentation concerning marketing activities for project communication, visibility, etc.

Required qualifications:

• Advanced Degree from a recognized university OR its equivalent, in related fields: business development, marketing plan, media and communication, or similar;
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in marketing;
• Knowledge of energy sector, especially related to clean cooking and Productive Use of Energy (PUE) would be considered as a asset.

Hard skills:

• Experience in project management;
• Experience in marketing of local products. Experience with improved cookstoves and PUE products, and with market producers would be considered as an asset. Experience with Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and micro-finance institutions will be considered a plus;
• Availability to be based full-time at the duty station in Bo; availability to travel to the field in the project areas;
• Knowledge of local areas relevant for the project, including Freetown district, Bo district, Kenema district, Pujehun district;
• Fluency in English and local languages (Krio and Mende in particular);
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);

Soft skills:

• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written);
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Detail-oriented and works with a high degree of accuracy;
• Highly organized and flexible;
• Strong team-building.
• Strong logical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving;

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit their applications containing:

• Updated CV (no more than 3 pages) including a minimum of 2 referees from previous employers (name, designation-email address-contact number);
• Cover letter;
• Police clearance;
• Last certificates attained.

The application can be submitted:

By Hand:

The applications must be addressed in a sealed envelope to the branch office of AVSI Sierra Leone, Former SLDC Compound, Tayama Highway Reservation, Bo City no later than 17th May 2024 at 4.00 p.m. (Western African Time).

Or By email

The applications must be sent through e-mail at the following e-mail address freetown@avsi.org, cc marco.didino@avsi.org, laura.lombardo@avsi.org, with in subject ‘Application for “post AVSI/05/2024 – Project Officer – Market Expert” no later than 17th May 2024 at 4.00 p.m. (Western African Time).

Please, note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and background check will be carried out in conformity with AVSI Child Safeguarding Policy.

If you are going to be selected, you are expected to comply and abide with all AVSI policies (e.g. AVSI Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEAH etc.).