Gambia is Good (GIG) General Manager
Source: Concern Universal - UK
Clare Lovelace
| Deadline: | 30 Nov 2007 |
| Organisation: | Concern Universal - UK |
| Location: | Gambia |
| Type: | permanent |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: | Job Title: General Manager, Gambia is Good (GiG)
Location: Based in Fajara, The Gambia. Responsible to: Country Director (CU) and the Non Exec board (Haygrove Development) Responsible for: An 8 person sales team, 2 accounts staff, 3 Divisional Production Managers and the GiG Farm Manager Relationships with others: Will communicate and coordinate closely with Concern Universal (CU) staff (particularly those involved in horticultural production or market gardening) and local partner organisations. Will also have to build strong relationships with GiG customers (mainly hotels and restaurants) and suppliers (including growers and traders) Personal Profile The person that we are looking for is someone with experience in both marketing/business and project management. You will be creative, entrepreneurial and most definitely a problem-solver, and will need excellent financial management and administrative skills - and a lot of patience. The job will demand not only the ability to make plans and design systems, but also to make sure they are followed up on the ground. You will have solid commercial experience, preferably in a small business, but must also have a strong appreciation of the project's pro-poor development objectives. You will also be highly adaptable and able to build strong relationships with a wide range of people, from the GMs of 4 star hotels, to small-scale rural farmers and street vendors. Job Purpose The post holder will be the overall manager of both of CU's current Gambia is Good enterprises: the GiG Sales & Marketing business and the GiG Farmyard (a commercial demonstration farm and tourist attraction). Gambia is Good is a pro-poor horticultural marketing company which exists for two simple reasons: 1. To provide a first-class fresh produce delivery service to our customers, combining the best quality with the best price. 2. To provide a marketing outlet for small-scale local producers in The Gambia and, over time, to facilitate the replacement of all imported produce with locally grown. The aim of the General Manager role is very clear: to achieve long-term sustainability for both units, while maximising their benefit to our network of small-scale growers. Additionally s/he will be the lead coordinator with all other GiG-related projects, particularly those related to horticultural training and production. Background Concern Universal's vision is a world where justice, dignity and respect for all prevail. The organisation works in partnership to challenge poverty and inequality. We support practical actions that enable people to improve their lives and shape their own futures. Partnership is at the heart of what CU does and is the means by which we aspire to achieve our vision of helping some of the world's poorest and most marginalised people to improve the quality of their lives in a sustainable and practical way. At the core of CU's partnership approach is a deep sense of value and respect for the processes involved in relationship building and the partner's development - in this sense our approach is a process oriented and relationship based one. CU has worked in The Gambia since 1993 providing support to Gambian organisations working in food security, rural livelihoods & enterprise development, emergency preparedness and response and HIV/AIDS prevention. The country strategy (2004-7) has one overall goal: To make a significant and lasting contribution towards the creation of sustainable livelihoods for poor communities in the Senegambia sub-region. Objectives to achieve this goal are a) rural incomes that sustain basic livelihoods b) a developed social and material capacity to avoid and respond to disasters and calamity of all forms c) reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDS. The programme and the organisation's work have a positive voice and respected profile. In The Gambia vegetable producers follow the conventions of subsistence farming, using traditional methods to farm traditional crops. With the vast majority of gardens working on the same crops at the same time, the market is continually flooded with seasonal goods, with tonnes of excess produce spoiling on a daily basis. Unaware of the diverse demands of the market and without the capacity to produce what is needed, the cycle of poverty continues. During the five month rainy season Gambian producers, lacking the necessary technical expertise or inputs, abandon their vegetable gardens in favour of traditional, low-yield crops, in this case mainly groundnuts and rice. At this time of year there exists a great opportunity for horticulture as produce becomes scarce and prices for high-volume vegetables such as tomatoes and cabbage multiply by as much as ten times. As based on more advanced methods of production practised in neighbouring Senegal, as well as CU's own experience over the last two years, year-round production is perfectly achievable. During the cool season (November-May) Gambia's thriving tourist industry, which continues to develop along her coastline, provides a significant market for produce (estimated at D22 million per year in 2003) Hotels and restaurants, catering for mainly European tourists, however, have very specific needs that are not understood by rural communities. Consequently, at the same time that thousands of kilos of local produce go to waste - often not even making it beyond the garden gate - the market is pumped full with truck loads of imported produce from Holland, France, Las Palmas and Senegal. The conditions for farming in Gambia, with a high water table and fertile soil, mean that the lion's share of this produce can actually be produced locally. Gambian producers in the Western Division and North Bank are already benefiting from the work of GiG, which has been around since 2004 and was originally funded for three years by DFID BLCF and on an on-going basis with private investment from Haygrove Ltd, a leading organic soft fruit business in Europe who remain heavily involved. Since then the sales & marketing unit has de-merged from the training & capacity building work, which is now funded by two different donors. Currently supported by the majority of hotels in The Gambia and selling between 10-20 tonnes per month, GiG's objective is to promote locally grown produce and to ensure that rural Gambia benefits directly from the high-value tourist industry, with all profits to be re-invested in the development of the horticultural sector. Duties and Responsibilities 1. To manage the Sales & Marketing team and ensure the on-going delivery of an efficient, dependable and high-quality service to our customers. To maintain and win business by creating a customer-service culture and staying in regular personal touch with clients. To continue to implement strategies that build volume and value of sales. To provide close supervision and support for the Sales & Marketing manager, ensure that all systems/controls are being properly observed and implemented, and that the GiG values of quality, service and low price are being upheld. To sign off on all vegetable purchases, whether they be local or imports. To keep abreast of market forces and ensure that GiG is highly responsive to price fluctuations and is always offering the best value in town. To oversee the container-based staff and ensure that stock control and wastage management are being properly carried out and that produce is properly graded. To manage the vehicle running unit, including vehicles and drivers, and ensure that transport costs are kept at a minimum. 2. To provide strategic direction and leadership for Gambia is Good and maintain the focus on achieving long-term sustainability In collaboration with CU and Haygrove Development, to develop, lead and implement strategy for Gambia is Good as a whole (sales & marketing, GiG farmyard, development & training and any other new initiatives) To ensure the right balance is achieved between our business and development objectives. To maintain a keen focus on achieving long-term sustainability for Gambia is Good, both in terms of finance and management. To identify and pursue new opportunities for enterprises, projects, funding or other beneficial initiatives, partnerships or linkages. 3. To coordinate closely with all CU donor-funded, horticultural-based projects to ensure that local producers are given priority and production plans are informed by market needs. To manage the three divisional production managers in terms of their logistical roles within GiG (sowings, coordinating farmers, disseminating market information, harvesting) To work closely with the project managers of all other CU interventions in the area of horticulture to ensure that all production is market-lead and that GiG is in a position to purchase their goods. To maintain an annual production calendar based on market needs and to hold monthly production meetings at which sowings are agreed and allocated. To keep a close eye on the production of seedlings in Western Region. 4. To take responsibility for production planning, financial management and tourism at GiG Farm. To agree production plans with the GiG Farmyard manager on a monthly basis. To manage the GiG Farmyard finances, including their annual budgets and monthly managements reports. To drive the expansion of GiG Farmyard, both in terms of the area of land and its usage (e.g. cattle, uplift scheme, potatoes and carrots etc) To sustain and develop the tourism side of the Farmyard business by developing relationships with all stakeholders, including tour operators as well as local, tourism-related NGOs (Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism, Responsible Tourism Partnership and Travel Foundation) To provide management, direction and support for the GiG Farmyard Manager. 5. To take overall responsibility for the management and profitability of the seed business. To familiarise yourself with the recommended seed varieties and their seasonality/marketability. To oversee the management of the office-based GiG seed outlet and be responsible for all GiG seed and input purchases. To ensure consistent availability of the required varieties to GiG growers through liason with the divisional production managers and the directors of local partner organisations (NATC and St Josephs) To work closely with the GiG junior accountant to ensure that the sales and stock management processes are being closely followed. 6. To supervise the GiG accounts department to ensure proper financial management and ensure maximum efficiency, sustainability and transparency. To oversee the work of the accounts department to ensure that all systems are being properly observed, including: Accurate GiG Management Accounts released by the 20th of each month. Accurate GiG debtors statements issued by the 2nd of each month. All purchase receipts and sales invoices retired on a timely basis by sales reps and divisional managers. Proper control over all numbered documents. To manage the Credit Controller and ensure he is making an impact on improving cash flow and rapidly settling any disputed invoices. 7. To market GiG, develop strong brand values and build awareness amongst potential customers. To continue to re-enforce internally GiG's brand values of quality, price, service and 'fair trade'. To find cost-effective ways to communicate these values externally, both within our existing market and outside (wholesale, cruise ships, catering) To work with tour operators to promote GiG at the organisational level. To run pre-season marketing campaigns and to win new business. To make sure GiG is the first place people think of when they need vegetables Person Specification 1. Entrepreneurial spirit combined with a belief in the potential of business to make a positive social impact, both broadly and in the local Gambian context. 2. Inspired by the values and mission at the heart of Concern Universal. 3. Deep commitment to building the capacities and improving the livelihoods of GiG's network of 600+ small-scale rural producers. 4. Minimum of four years experience in a project management or commercial capacity. 5. Solid understanding of the dynamics of marketing and the trading of commodities. 6. Strong understanding of customer service and preferably client-facing experience 7. Ability to lead a team by example and 'get your hands dirty' if necessary. 8. Positive outlook and stand-alone disposition. 9. Determined hard worker, capable of rapid and quality turn around on a high workload and multiple tasks. 10. Fast learner (very!) 11. Experience in proposal writing and reporting to major donors / clients. 12. Patience and a proactive approach to problem solving. 13. Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands and development of the programme. 14. Excellent communication and representative skills, with the ability to build good relations, both internally and externally and in a cross-cultural context. 15. Proven understanding and skills in financial management, preferably with P&L sheets and debtors. 16. Excellent planning, co-ordination and prioritisation skills. Qualifications 17. Degree level qualification or similar academic achievement. Preferred experience 18. Marketing or 'fair trade' 19. Basic understanding of horticulture would be a bonus Languages 20. Fluency in spoken and written English. Status: Unaccompanied. Salary: Specialist International Scale, ranging between 10,950 - 28,200 GBP Benefits: Accommodation, emergency medical and travel insurance, flights, local allowance, annual medical examination. Duration: Permanent, based on performance. How to Apply All applicants must complete an application form. CVs will not be acknowledged or accepted. For an application form please download this from our website www.concern-universal.org and submit this to Clare Lovelace at clare.lovelace@concern-universal.org If having difficulty send an e-mail to the same address for assistance or fax + 44 1432355086. Additional information about CU is available from the website above. Deadline for receipt of completed application forms is 30 November 2007. Initial telephone interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place on 04 December 2007, followed by a panel interview and written exercise for the final shortlisted candidates around 10 December 2007. The successful candidate will be expected to take up appointment within four weeks of appointment. |
Contact Details
| Name: | Clare Lovelace |
| Telephone: | 01432355111 |
| Email: | clare.lovelace@concern-universal.org |
