Technical Assistance Specialist

Job Title: Technical Assistance Specialist

Program: Recycling in Jordan Activity

Job Classification: Long-Term Local Professional Employee

Reporting to: Recycling Sector Lead

Background

The Recycling in Jordan Activity program is a multi-year project funded by USAID, which aims to increase commercial sector utilization of recycling services in Amman, Jordan. By working with private recycling firms, the commercial sector, the Ministry of Environment (MoENV) and the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the project is intended to expand and improve private sector-led recycling services; to generate greater demand for the utilization of recycling services within the Amman commercial sector, and to increase local and national government support for solid waste management.

The Activity identified several constraints that slowed business growth including a lack of visionary business planning and setup, minimal investment in technology, and a lack of innovation. Although several service providers have developed a suitable plan for potential business growth, most providers have not implemented the plans due to limited managerial and financial capacities, industry-wide diversity in terms of business models, practices/applications, and types of firms, and unfair competition from the informal sector.

Under this intervention, the Activity aims to improve technical knowledge and provide firm-level support in business planning, technology, process improvement, supply chain management, upgrading capacity, and process innovation to increase business growth and increase capacity to handle more clients. The Activity will continue to offer the Firm-Level Technical Assistance Program, targeting potential market actors in the recycling sector to upgrade capacity and expand services based on selection criteria that include: the firm’s impact on waste diversion from the landfill; growth potential; sustainability of their business model; whether the firm is managed and/or owned by women, youth, and peoples with disabilities.

Principal Position Objectives, Basic Functions/Critical Tasks:

The Technical Assistance and BusinessSpecialist will serve as part of the project team and assist the Recycling Sector Lead in managing the firm-level technical assistance program that aims to strengthen business capacity of the market actors across the recycling sector in Jordan, and to increase growth and expand clientele base. S/he will engage with service providers who can offer new recycling products and/or services and support innovative business solutions that fill the market gaps in the recycling sector across the value chains. This includes providing training and advising small and growing recycling sector businesses to find new buyers along the value chain and provide technical input and assist in the overall strategy to support the expansion and improvement of private sector-led recycling services, with focus on women, youth, and disadvantaged groups.

S/he will collaborate with market actors across the recycling value chains and relevant private and public stakeholders as needed on design of technical firm level support programs targeting recycling services providers to help expand their businesses and profitability.

The Technical Assistance and Business Specialist will deliver direct technical support to businesses, introduce training and firm-level assistance programs aiming to expand and improve private sector led recycling services. S/he will support service providers to develop growth plans for improvement and expansion with focus on business planning, business development and supply chain management. S/he will also facilitate business to business mechanisms to expand to more recycling service providers who can replicate and demonstrate integrated and innovative recycling business models with commercial waste generators in Amman.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Recycling Sector Lead in managing the technical component and day-to-day technical implementation of the component.
• Analyze and assess the potential areas of growth and profitability for the beneficiaries of the firm-level technical assistance program that the Activity implements with the market actors of the recycling sector in Amman. identifying weaknesses/areas of technical support; assisting the Recycling Sector Led to developing strategies to address those weaknesses/constraints; supporting recycling firms to fill strategic market gaps and promote new recycling services/products.
• Engage with the services providers in the recycling sector including the market actors, supporting functions, and informal entities providing recycling services; identify needs; define domains and areas of support to upgrade the capacity of these businesses.
• Provide technical and business advice and develop one-to-one training for the beneficiaries of the firm-level assistance program that the Activity implements to expand service provision, improve business performance, and increase profitability.
• Support the Recycling Sector Lead reviewing of business organization and operations of existing recycling service providers and identifying opportunities to streamline recycling processes; introducing innovative recycling models; advising on recycling capacity upgrades; and facilitating compliance with environmental and occupational safety and health protocols.
• For new recycling businesses or existing businesses looking to expand, assess the technical and financial feasibility of recycling products and services as well as validate the feasibility and viability of the business model with a special focus on the recycling service providers who directly engaged with their clients from commercial waste generators in Amman.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders and other Recycling in Jordan Activity components in identifying and promoting recycling investment opportunities that the Activity mapped in the local market, financing options, and business development and facilitation services available for the recycling sector.
• Analyze recycling markets and services, identify, and facilitate innovative business partnerships and solutions in solid waste management and recycling and facilitate business-to-business partnerships as well as public-private partnerships to expand and grow recycling of waste.
• Support the roll-out of communication and information campaigns to attract targeted recycling sector providers and commercial waste generators to utilize recycling services.
• In collaboration with other components, work with MEL Specialist on the design of tools and collection of information to monitor business performance and growth of recycling services providers.
• Support private sector recycling service providers to better market their services and facilitate linkages between the recycling service providers and the market of commercial waste generators and support commercial change management initiatives within the commercial sector to develop and implement SWM plans.
• Work with the GESI and informal sector specialist to ensure that activities under this objective consider gender disparities, priorities, and norms, and are inclusive of vulnerable populations such as informal workers, women, youth, refugees, and people with disabilities.
• Focus on the sustainability of all proposed interventions and propose innovative models to support private sector companies in the recycling sector to undertake new business opportunities, expand existing services, or add additional services, while also considering equitable employment opportunities with a focus on leadership roles for women
• Support the Recycling Sector Lead in preparation of STTA scopes of work that effectively define a clear objective and outline a series of detailed tasks and required deliverables, and support review and supervision of the technical work of all local and expatriate consultants recruited including managing consultants’ work; teaming up with consultants to deliver assistance to partners and implement plans; develop reports, PowerPoint presentations and other deliverables; setting meeting agendas pertinent to any technical assistance provided by the consultant(s).
• Coordinate all logistical arrangements for the component events, workshops, seminars, and other training activities to achieve conformity to assistance program objectives.
• Develop the relevant portion of scope activities for reports (weekly, quarterly, and annual).
• Work with project staff from other components to address recycling services providers and commercial cluster interventions holistically.
• Closely coordinate with the relevant Component Leader and the communications team in coordinating various public relations events and media campaigns related to the above-mentioned activities, including writing press releases for publication in newspapers and other media about activities, events, and developments of the project.
• Participate in meetings, workshops, and functions necessary to ensure successful design and implementation of assistance to beneficiaries.
• Ensure activities consider gender disparities, priorities, and norms and are inclusive of vulnerable populations such as informal workers, women, youth, refugees, and people with disabilities.
• Other duties as assigned by the COP/Recycling Sector Lead

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree such as Business Development, Business Planning, Marketing or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Minimum four years of related professional experience; building knowledge and experience in an array of business topics, including marketing, management, financing, and entrepreneurship.
• Minimum one year’s experience in working as a business development services advisor or providing business advice as a part of firm-level technical assistance programs, preferably in Jordan and in commercial and/or industrial sectors.
• Knowledge of the recycling sector and business recycling would be an advantage.
• Commitment to teamwork and collaboration across all the USAID Activity’s interventions and activities
• Experience conducting analysis and reporting.
• Arabic fluency, English proficiency required.