A Business or Management Consultant provides strategic management consulting to companies and businesses. Advises on ways to improve operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs and increase revenues; may recommend systems or organizational change. Works with business management analysts; frames problems for business clients, and develops plans to address inefficiencies.
About the Organization The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination. National Headquarters (NHQ) supports the work of The Salvation Army across the United States and internationally by providing leadership, resources, and strategic support to territorial and local operations.
JOB SUMMARY
The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) is a 501(c)(3) international development organization dedicated to improving the health, economic, and spiritual conditions of people in poverty around the globe. For 49 years, we have partnered with individuals, families, and communities to evaluate needs, create transformational action plans, and implement effective strategies to improve lives. We have an active portfolio of $57 million in projects throughout the world emphasizing local ownership and involvement as keys for lasting success. Learn more at www.
SAWSO.org SAWSO is searching for an experienced initiator in international development with an entrepreneurial mindset that merges community empowerment with business principles, to create and empower the self-sustainability of The Salvation Army (TSA) mission around the world. TSA operates social programs and church missions in 134 countries, many of which are subsidized by donations from the USA. This position works directly with global TSA partners at the community level to help them identify, test, develop and launch new entrepreneurial business initiatives that can generate new local income to support their work. It's full spectrum small business development for social purpose, starting with teaching discovery methodology, coaching and incubating new concepts, and then investing in the home-grown talent at successive levels ($5k-$500k) to secure sustainable social impact. The work is currently focused on social enterprises, property redevelopment, commercial agriculture, fundraising, and impact investing. Candidates must have experience and education in international development, small-to-mid scale commercial agriculture, program management, small business development, start-ups, and entrepreneurship. This position within the larger team will specifically be responsible for establishing and scaling out profitable agricultural initiatives, beginning in the TSA Africa Zone.
JOB SUMMARY
Coach TSA partners in the creation and implementation of social enterprises that can generate new local income to support their community mission, including support in business planning, market research, iterative prototyping, marketing, stakeholder engagement, program design, and clear goals/metrices. Implement standard training and evaluation methodologies and provide feedback to continually innovate and iterate. Build positive, cross-cultural relationships across the globe to collaboratively define problems, design solutions, and build the capacity of the local TSA partners. Manage an international portfolio of business development projects at all stages, steadily moving them from design to implementation, curating strong and trusted relationships, monitoring ongoing operations, adjusting as necessary, and tracking continual investment portfolio performance. Develop, implement and scale out a small-scale commercial agriculture methodology that can make use of available arable land owned by TSA, including training, start-up funding packages, self-sustaining circular models, and cooperative purchasing agreements. Travel to country offices, international headquarters, or other supporting/donor offices as needed (estimated 15-20%).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
This job description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this position. You may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this job description. Research local market context and current assets to identify opportunities Working with local partners around the world, conduct baseline reviews of their current properties, assets, and legal operating permissions. Assist in regularizing and occasionally expanding legal registrations and operating structures. Perform and teach street-level market research to validate new ideas, including interviews with target clients, analyzing primary competitors, identifying trends and value chains, all to determine comparative advantages and possible niches. Quickly analyze options and identify top priorities based on potential for success, ranking within SAWSO core metrics for investment, and identification of risks and their mitigations. Coach and teach local partners throughout so that they can develop these capacities for themselves. Lead small-business development workshops with established methodologies. Project Design and Coaching Lead partners through the full process of business planning, moving quickly through iterative cycles of ideation, successive rounds of research and testing, and the confirming of core assumptions with pilot projects designed to test key functionalities. Guide partners in either persevering or pivoting when challenges arise. Build their capacity to quickly identify and evaluate ideas in the future. Construct preliminary operating budgets to determine profitability and required start-up costs, and evaluate the relative ROI of the investment. Develop full coordinated schedules for key evaluations, stage completions, and cascading overlap of involvement to ensure projects are delivered at the earliest viable opportunity, including full work plans, Gantt charts, and unique KPIs for each specific business. Implementation and Monitoring Provide empowering support to partners throughout the implementation process through regular calls, scheduled site visits and facilitative research or connections. Determine appropriate investment packages and amounts, and establish repayment schedules. Help partners to create new tracking and management systems to monitor the initiative's operations, process financial transactions, and create replicable policies and procedures. Collect, consolidate and evaluate reports which track the ongoing ROI as it relates to SAWSO portfolio. Research and provide strategic analysis of investment priorities and new opportunities. Collaborate with SAWSO's other community development sectors to create sustainability plans and initiatives that can financially support local work in health, education, livelihoods, disaster recovery, and anti-human trafficking.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Performs other related work as required. Supports any additional duties or unforeseen projects that relate specifically to the primary tasks of this position as assigned by the Director - IBED.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED
General Office Equipment Computer Printer
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
EDUCATION
AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Services or a field related to sector specialties (International Development/Relations, Economics, Business, Entrepreneurism) and master's degree in International Development/Relations, Economics, Business, social sciences or a related discipline, with preference given to agricultural certifications or degrees, and 5+ years of professional work experience including experience in international development arena and five years of program management experience. And three years' experience of living and working in a developing country and working with international development programs, preferably in management role. or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Valid driver's license and passport.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Energetic, self-motivated, proactive, accountable, hands-on, and able to work independently. Proven flexibility to consider multiple options, pivot, and adjust several times to find optimal solutions. Commercially astute, able to evaluate investment decisions considering local mission and program expectations balanced with the required levels of return. Demonstrated proficiency in overcoming systemic barriers and internal conflict through proactive, managed conversations and creative, collaborative consensus-building to ensure projects are delivered at the earliest viable opportunity. A strong negotiator with the ability to adjust and adapt plans for the reality of local values and timelines, while still striving for the incorporation of best practices and industry standards. Demonstrated ability in developing strategies for planning, cultivating, implementing and administering complex situations, and cultivating strong business relationships. A team player with an attitude of service and the ability to motivate others, possessing excellent interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills, capable of working effectively with superiors, officers and staff, board members and other volunteers, consultants, donors and prospects. Planning and Organizing Establishes a systematic course of action for self or others to ensure accomplishment of a specific objective. Determines priorities and allocates time and resources effectively. Balancing Multiple Priorities Balances the needs and interests of various stakeholders and makes decisions involving competing goals, objectives and alternatives. Prioritizes tasks and redirects work effort in response to changes in priorities. Flexibility Adapts easily to frequent change, varied working conditions and requirements, and diverse individuals and groups. Willing to consider new ideas and approaches and apply them creatively. Challenges fundamental assumptions about accepted ways of doing things. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Communicates and interacts effectively with people from other cultures, religions, geographies, and organizations; respects and adapts to other cultures and seeks opportunities to learn about them to enhance relationships. Understands and respects different denominations and religious traditions. Relationship Building Establishes rapport easily to gain support and participation. Problem Solving Identifies and analyzes situations and/or issues, considers options, develops and decides on solutions, recommends and/or implements and monitors appropriate solutions. Teamwork Promotes and generates cooperation and teamwork within the IBED Department, with other SAWSO departments, and between staff and local ministry partners. Results Orientation Demonstrates concern for achieving or surpassing results against standards of excellence, shows a passion for improving the delivery of services with a commitment to continuous improvement. Identifies quantitative and qualitative performance measures for area(s) of responsibility and analyzes, evaluates and reports results objectively. Organizational Awareness Uses an understanding of how the organization works to get things done. Understands SAWSO's business operations/products/services and how the organization competes. Understands the mission and work of the organization and organizational priorities. Has ministry knowledge and knowledge of the complexity of the global Salvation Army, including international locations. Applies an understanding of the organization's informal structure, culture and climate in achieving goals. Program Management Support Effectively supports Implementing Territories in the management of projects. Knowledge Management Works to enhance ability of clients/service groups to retain current, critical knowledge base by developing systems, fostering collaboration and facilitating feedback loops. Interprets and effectively communicates lessons learned to appropriate stakeholders.
