Assoc Business Advisor

Associate Business Advisor (Maternity Cover)

Title: Associate Business Advisor - Maternity Cover

Grade: 5

Location: Tanzania 

Reporting/Supervisor: Program Manager, Growth & Investment Program

About TechnoServe:

At TechnoServe, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better life. For over 50 years, we have given smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs the skills, connections, and confidence to lift themselves out of poverty. We leverage the power of markets and the private sector to create sustainable economic growth to benefit people and the planet. Our unique mix of business solutions, deep knowledge of local contexts, and data-driven insights is helping to fight poverty across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

TechnoServe staff are local–95% are from the countries in which they work. We put a high premium on collaboration and entrepreneurship. We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. And we focus on delivering lasting impact for our mission.

Job Summary: 

The Associate Business Advisor will provide short-term implementation support to the Tanzania Tier 2 portfolio under the Growth & Investment Program while the Business Advisor is on maternity leave. The role will ensure continuity of support to participating Agri-SMEs over a 3-month period, including follow-up on Module 1 activities, Learning Management System engagement, advisory preparation, business-level tracking, and support to program deliverables.

The Associate Business Advisor will work closely with the Program Manager and the outgoing Business Advisor to understand each business’s context, maintain strong relationships with participating SMEs, and ensure that business support continues smoothly during the transition period.

Program Overview: 

The Growth & Investment Program supports growth-oriented Agri-SMEs to strengthen business systems, financial management, investment readiness, and access to finance. The Tier 2 track works with Agri-SMEs across multiple countries, including Tanzania, through a combination of digital learning, group workshops, one-on-one advisory, business diagnostics, and investment readiness support.

The Tanzania Tier 2 portfolio is currently in the early stages of implementation, with businesses progressing through Module 1 and preparing for advisory support. The maternity cover role is intended to maintain delivery continuity, support SME engagement, and ensure that businesses remain on track during the Business Advisor’s leave period.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Participate in the handover process with the Business Advisor and Program Manager to understand each SME’s status, support needs, communication preferences, risks, and immediate priorities.
• Support participating Tanzania Tier 2 Agri-SMEs through Module follow-up, advisory preparation, and early implementation support.
• Assist with the coordination and delivery of group workshops, advisory sessions, follow-up calls, and SME engagement activities.
• Track SME participation and engagement on the Learning Management System, including login status, module completion, assignment submission, and inactivity.
• Follow up with SMEs who are behind on the Learning Management System, pending deliverables, or require additional support.
• Support SMEs to complete or improve key program outputs essential for tailored advisory support and investment memo development support.
• Maintain updated business-level trackers capturing SME progress, Learning Management System status, advisory status, deliverables, risks, and next actions.
• Monitor attendance and engagement to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
• Support the collection of relevant data for monitoring, evaluation, and learning purposes.
• Capture successes, challenges, and lessons from the maternity cover period and share these internally.
• Collate feedback from program beneficiaries through the program’s feedback mechanisms.
• Conduct scheduled physical touchpoint visits with Tanzania Tier 2 businesses to review progress and provide physical advisory support.
• Provide targeted aftercare support to previous cohort participants, including follow-up on business progress, financing conversations, document updates, and priority support needs.
• Prepare an end-of-assignment handover note for the returning Business Advisor.
• Embody and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy, ensuring these are integrated into all program activities.
• Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, economics, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, international development, or a related field; OR at least 2 years of technical and field experience in implementing business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, or SME support programs.
• Experience supporting SMEs, entrepreneurs, or agribusinesses through training, coaching, advisory, or follow-up.
• Experience facilitating training, collecting data, using digital training platforms, and maintaining program trackers.
• Practical understanding of business models, financial records, sales, costs, cash flow, and investment readiness.

Required Languages: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including fluency in Kiswahili and English.

Travel: Travel up to 20%, depending on advisory needs, SME location, and program requirements.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working with agri-SMEs or enterprise development programs in Tanzania.
• Experience using digital learning platforms.
• Familiarity with investment readiness, access to finance, business diagnostics, or financial management support.
• Experience providing short-term program continuity or transition support is an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to build trust quickly with entrepreneurs and maintain strong business relationships.
• Strong follow-through, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple SMEs and track progress consistently.
• Good judgment in handling difficult, disengaged, or high-need clients.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Project management skills and ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and digital meeting platforms.
• Ability to document business-level insights clearly for continuity and handover.

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 affirmative action employer 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.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.