Vacancies for Business Advisor

 

Business Advisor

Market Development Facility is an Australian Government-funded multi-country initiative which promotes sustainable economic development, through higher incomes for women and men, in our partner countries.

MDF connects individuals, businesses, governments and NGOs with each other, and with markets at home and abroad.

This enhances investment and coordination and allows partnerships to flourish, strengthening inclusive economic growth. MDF is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

It is implemented by Palladium in partnership with Swisscontact. In Sri Lanka, MDF works in tourism and authentic Sri Lankan goods. MDF Sri Lanka is seeking a Business Advisor for the Country Team. The purpose of the Business Advisor is to design and manage interventions working closely with a large variety of strategic private and public players to achieve sustainable inclusive growth.

Business Advisors work very closely within a team of MDF staff to design and implement interventions, measure their effectiveness and then learn and share the results/ knowledge.

 

Responsibilities

• Identify the potential for pro-poor growth and help find innovative solutions to unlock the growth potential of country's identified business sectors.

• Contribute to research to assess the performance of MDF's investment portfolio and its impact on the country economy.

• Identify potentials to address other forms of inclusion: Women economic empowerment, minority participation, nutrition, disability and environment.

• Apply effective results measurement practices in line with DCED guidelines.

• Working with a team, develop intervention plans and results chains, and execute those plans, applying good research practice.

• Work closely with the Quality and Inclusion Director and the Quality and Inclusion Specialist to construct logical result chains (flow of activities that lead to impact), result measurement plans and manage them accordingly.

• Assess the technical and economic feasibility of business plans from potential partners and/or in close interaction with business partners, develop such plans.

• Manage at least two partnerships each along with cross-cutting duties such as research and scoping for potential partners.

Eligibility criteria and how to apply:

• A degree in business, agriculture, economics, business management or other related discipline (or equivalent professional experience in that field).

• Excellent command of both verbal and written English. Sinhala and Tamil fluency would be an added advantage.

• Be prepared to accept the physical demands of extensive travel throughout the country to meet potential partners, conduct research and monitor activities.

• International experience, either through work or study (preferred).