Implementation Manager

About TechnoServe:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics, and increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Program Overview:

In recent years, given social and economic pressing challenges, efforts have been taken by governments, corporates and not-for-profit organisations to revitalise township economies, promote job creation and improve the livelihood of the population. The plastic and paper recycling sector in South Africa is a significant contributor, involving over 180,000 workers across the country and annually saving over 3 million tonnes of CO2e. Over 95% of the plastic and paper that are not recycled go to landfills, thus recycling is the greatest drive of landfill diversion. This industry has garnered increasing attention, evidenced by the emergence of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), waste reclaimer associations, and governmental initiatives aimed at improving recycling performance and the welfare of workers.

Acting as the interface between the informal and formal sectors, waste recovery businesses are key players in growing the supply chain and improving livelihood of waste pickers. However, market dynamics, lack of supply chain resilience, and limited operational and financial are factors hindering business performance and lasting job creation.

The Anglo American Foundation has partnered with TechoServe, Rlabs and Green in designing a programme that aims to develop green economic opportunities for youth in the South Africa recycling sector, providing target beneficiaries with access to more, better quality, safe and higher paid jobs (quality livelihoods) in the circular economy, and changing the perception of the contribution that waste workers add to the sector.

The ambition is to develop and demonstrate the long-term viability of an inclusive, end-to-end and collaborative approach to the development of the recycling sector, first piloting in a few targeted geographies, before being able to scale a joint platform across other townships in South Africa and regionally and bring it to an investable level.

The programme has three pillars that aim to create lasting impact: 1) micro businesses creation implemented by Rlabs, 2) direct enterprise support implemented by TechnoServe and 3) strengthening of support ecosystem implemented by TechnoSeve and Green Cape.

The initial 15-month Phase A of the programme will focus on the townships of Soweto in the City of Johannesburg municipality and the City of Ekurhuleni. TechnoServe and RLabs will deliver a set of interventions to achieve youth empowerment objectives and address gaps observed in the plastic and paper recycling sector. This first phase will be a learning phase to inform a potential follow-on 36-month programme, contingent on co-financing.

The conceptualization of this programme follows a diagnostic study that was conducted, by TechnoServe in 2023, with the objective to validate the potential to create jobs and improve workers’ livelihoods by building capacity of waste recovery businesses. The diagnostic study identified three priority interventions to create lasting impact in South Africa’s circular economy: 1) direct enterprise support, 2) micro businesses creation, 3) strengthening of support ecosystem.

Job Summary:

Working closely with the Senior Progamme Manager, the incumbent will play a critical role in the programme by leading and managing the development and implementation of the overall strategic goals, objectives and visions of the programme. This including other task includes overseeing advisory services and all program activities, training services to beneficiaries and stakeholder management. 

TechnoServe pillar, will provide customised capacity building to small and medium growing recovery businesses and promote connections among market participants in targeted recycling routes. TechnoServe will directly develop the capacity of opportunity-driven business-owners through training, advisory, mentorship, and aftercare including access to finance and access to markets interventions, gather market intelligence and monitor performance. This pillar is complementary to both Pillar 1 and 3 as recovery businesses have a critical role to play to enable and support micro business creation in communities they operate inwhile also facilitating formal and informal networking and linkages with various stakeholders.

In close collaboration and coordination with the program staff, he/she will ensure the successful, innovative, efficient, and effective functioning of all participants’ training and capacity-building activities in the program through effective planning, and delivery of program activities in collaboration with other project team members towards achieving the common goal.

The tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities of the Implementation Manager, however, the employee will be expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Project implementation

We will begin by performing a rapid diagnosis of the businesses to assess levels of professionalisation and performance, over a period of a month. We will then deliver customised capacity-building to 24 selected businesses, with a mix of standard coaching and sustained individualised mentoring over a period of twelve months.

Working Closely with Senior Programme Manager, provide overall project management which shall include administrative, financial and technical oversight Ensure that the activities of all persons involved in the programme and the activities carried out in relation to the programme adhere to good corporate governance policies, all legal and contractual obligations and the established standards reasonably expected in projects of this nature; Lead programme networking opportunities by building and managing sustainable relationships with private and public sector representatives in the circular economy and financial services markets, including government and key institutions which will positively contribute to the programme Identify young entrepreneurs in the buy-back centres (pillar 2) with visible promise and potential and to provide support to the in-country teams to ensure such entrepreneurs and programme participants receive the requisite technical assistance, training and mentorship; Assess and identify capacity constraint challenges faced by existing youth owned enterprises and in response design, develop and implement a working model to address such challenges; these would include, light coaching and extended mentoring for capacitation of business owners, including financial planning and analysis and human resources, with deployment of enabling tools. Lead the extended mentoring on strategies to support entrepreneurs to assess their current situation and plan their growth including diversifying customer base and securing demand, as well as improving cash position through more consistent practices (e.g., purchase order financing). Extended coaching on strategies to strengthen ties with and expand existing supply base and reduce cost on preferred material streams. Lead and supervise coaching of operational staff and extended coaching of business owners on adoption of improved operational processes and enabling tools, adequate health and safety practices, and more cost efficient logistic solutions. Introduce business owners to non-competing peers in other areas to learn from them (e.g., vertical integration journey, diversification opportunities) or with neighbouring businesses to identify potential collaboration space (including commercial). Closely collaborate with business owners that participated in the study and had IBPs developed for their businesses, as well as others who would have previously gone through the programme. Support business to establish long-term relationships with a diversified pool of clients, develop new look into synergistic partnerships, linking private sector initiatives to needs to the communities. Supporting ecosystem to access additional skills, finance and other resources: Identify opportunities to facilitate access to key resources (skills, finance, land / facilities, supply) through direct connection with Pillar 3 investment platform and through improved linkages to the surrounding environment, including existing business incubators and accelerators. Inclusive support to businesses by secure waste supply through strengthening relationships with waste reclaimers and other sources of waste (e.g., institutions), providing direct linkage to micro-businesses developed through Pillar 1 when relevant Work with the Senior Manager in providing strategic direction and expertise in designing a detailed and implementable program work plan, incorporating insights from the inception report analysis, and ensuring alignment with program goals. Work with Senior Manager and M&E manager in comping with all meeting and reporting requirements and obligations as contained in the donor agreement.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree with 7 years’ experience in Business Management, Finance, Economics, Environmental science, Environmental Geoscience, or related field. Alternatively, a master’s degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience of 5 years of experience with enterprise development, entrepreneurship training, etc., with a special focus on small and growing-businesses, youth development, incubation/innovation, value chain, or entrepreneurship is desirable. Professional experience with international donor projects in South Africa would be an asset. Good IT literacy, i.e., MS. Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel is required. Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management of private sector companies, donor representatives, and others.

Preferred Qualifications:

Understanding of business planning, diagnostics financial analysis, risk management, and operational efficiency. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex information, negotiate effectively, and foster collaboration within the team. Experience in a specific region/country or with a particular funder or donor. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders. Familiarity with relevant software (e.g., MS Office Suite, data analysis tools) and business systems. International NGO Sectoral experience.

Required Languages: Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English. Proficiency in the local languages is highly desirable.

Travel  moderate

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Experience mentoring and supervising others. Data analysis and interpretation skills. Change management expertise. Strong interpersonal skills (including active listening). Good leadership skills in commitment, excitement, and ability to create new opportunities for the team. Good communication skills with the ability to share ideas and positions. Ability to embrace complex challenges and opportunities for getting work done for timely delivery. Proven skills with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Knowledge of the use of AI and CRM systems will be an advantage. Ability to work with minimal supervision.

Supervisory Responsibilities – The successful candidates will supervise 2 Senior Business Advisors, 2 Business Advisors.

Closing Statements for all TechnoServe Job Ads:

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

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