General Manager

BACK TO ALL VACANCIES

Role: General Manager
Employer: BRAC Enterprises Liberia Ltd. (BELL)
Application Deadline: 25th of March 2024
Work Location: Monrovia, Liberia

 

Application Instructions: Submit CV and Cover Letter to info@afriqia-solutions.com with “General Manager” in Subject Line.

 

Overview

BRAC Enterprises Liberia (BELL) Poultry Hatchery and Feed Mill (BRAC Poultry Enterprise) was established in 2013 as the country’s first and only commercial producer of high-quality day-old chicks (DOCs) and poultry feed. BRAC Poultry Enterprise produces high quality day-old-chicks (DOCs) with improved capacity for egg production relative to local breeds.

Leveraging a network of Community Agriculture and Livestock Promoters, these
DOCs are sold to small poultry farmers and commercial layer farms. BRAC Poultry Enterprise also works with BRAC’s NGO in Liberia to enhance nutrition outcomes and income generating activities for local communities in Liberia by providing DOCs and feed as part of an input package for smallholder farmers serving as “Chick Rearing Units” (CRUs).


Until very recently, BRAC Poultry Enterprise operated as an extension of BRAC’s NGO entity in Liberia (BRAC Liberia). In 2023, it was registered as a separate for-profit company in Liberia and now operates under the umbrella of BRAC International Enterprises B.V., a fully-owned subsidiary of Stichting BRAC International. BRAC International Enterprises B.V. (BIEBV) is a socially responsible for-profit organization dedicated to scaling impactful and sustainable social enterprises that contribute to BRAC International’s social mission while generating profits that further support scale and impact.

 

Key Purpose

 

This role is primarily responsible for managing the poultry hatchery and feed mill, leading the effective day-to-day running of the business including efficient application of resources, managing enterprise staff, and supporting data and market insights that inform continuous improvement in the enterprise’s performance. The candidate will be responsible to support the transition of BRAC Poultry Enterprise from NGO-management to a separate, commercially managed company, the GM’s initial priority will be leading an update of the business model and strategic plan based on a detailed review of the current business operations and updated market evaluation.

 

Responsibilities:

 

Strategic Direction and Business Planning

  • In collaboration with the BIEBV leadership team, support a comprehensive feasibility assessment of the business model and updated market analysis to evaluate the best pathways to financial sustainability and impact. 
  • Based on insights from these assessments, support the development of an updated business model and strategic plan for Board approval, clearly outlining a strategy to reach profitability and grow the scale and impact of the business.
  • Drive regular data and market insights for continuous improvement in the business model and strategic plan.
  • Lead the identification of new growth and impact opportunities for the business, such as new products and services and expanding market linkages.
  • Lead a review and update of the business model and strategic plan on at least an annual basis.

 

Operational Management

  • Oversee all office functions including payroll, purchasing and procurement, accounts payable and receivable, billing and payment, human resources, and personnel management.
  • Serve as the highest escalation point on major roadblocks or risk factors and work collaboratively to resolve issues quickly, with support from the BIEBV leadership team as needed.
  • Manage adherence to quality standards in accordance with country laws and regulations. 
  • Lead the identification, development and implementation of BELL-specific policies, standard operating procedures, tools, and other systems, to improve the management and effectiveness of the business.
  • Lead all project reporting and communications, including to BRAC management, the BELL Board of Directors and project donors.
  • Lead the development of operational plans for each respective team, aligned with the BELL’s overarching strategic plan, and develop associated KPIs.
  • Generate strategic marketing program ideas, marketing plans, and develop associated KPIs.
  • Support the teams to implement these operational and marketing plans, supervise their activities as needed, and regularly monitor achievement of KPIs.

 

Human Resource Management and Development

  • Lead the BELL team and oversee their achievement of KPIs and management of field-level staff.
  • Support recruitment, hiring and effective onboarding of new staff.
  • Build the capacity of BELL staff to manage their respective activities. 

 

Financial Management

  • Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process, in collaboration with the BIEBV leadership team.
  • Lead the development of monthly and quarterly financial targets aligned with BELL’s annual targets and strategic plan, such as revenue growth and cost cutting plans.
  • Analyze the monthly/quarterly/annual financial performance based on these targets and guide the team to take necessary action. 
  • Provide effective financial oversight and budget management for the social enterprise.
  • Support the preparation of financial performance summaries and projections for the Board of Directors, BI leadership and/or donors as needed.

 

Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization

  • Manage relationships, partnerships and knowledge sharing with key stakeholders.
  • Interact with all levels of intra-managers, related Government officials, all key stakeholders to ensure effective management of the business and as well as coordinate the delivery of services and products in a quality manner.
  • Support the identification and development of new, strategic partnerships.
  • Support the identification and development of new funding proposals in close coordination with other BRAC staff, as needed.

 

Monitoring, Process Evaluation, and Innovation

  • Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation activities are conducted.
  • Support documentation of lessons learned challenges and best practices. 

 

Safeguarding

  • Ensure BELL is promoting rights-based programming at the field and office level, aligned with the safeguarding policies of both BRAC and the Government of Liberia.
  • Ensure key stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, and customers, are aware of and have access to BRAC’s safeguarding policy and understand their responsibilities to promote and uphold it.
  • Ensure sufficient capacity building of BELL staff to abide by the safeguarding policies of both BRAC and the Government of Liberia.
  • Ensure appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning activities are in place to monitor BELL compliance with the safeguarding policies of both BRAC and the Government of Liberia.

 

Education and Knowledge

  • Master’s Degree in a relevant field, preferably business administration, finance, marketing, project management, or similar concentration. Degree, coursework and/or relevant experience in agribusiness preferred.
  • 4+ years of experience in running and managing a commercial agriculture enterprise in a developing country context, or similar experience that demonstrates ability to manage early/growth stage business in Liberia and drive profitability and sustainability.
  • Previous experience with poultry industry and social enterprises strongly preferred.
  • Strong understanding of business modeling, strategic planning and budgeting is a plus.
  • Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications to capture, report and communicate complex data and ideas is a plus.
  • Familiarity with accounting software/programs such as QuickBooks.
  • Participatory and inclusive skills to work across BRAC’s diverse and often remote teams.

 

Skills and Competencies

  • Strong management experience providing guidance to a team and ability to manage at all levels of an organization.
  • Very comfortable with data analysis and financial management.
  • Ability to apply creative solutions to refine and improve the business model and/or operational issues based on data insights from the field.
  • An effective public speaker, able to communicate to external stakeholders and communicate a clear vision to motivate a small team to deliver that vision.
  • Excellent, clear, and high-quality report writing, with an analytical mind and attention to detail.
  • Excellent relationship building & networking skills to create and sustain relevant relationships with external stakeholders and manage knowledge appropriately.
  • Participatory and inclusive skills to work across BRAC’s diverse and often remote teams.

 

Persons with disabilities and women are encouraged to apply.

 

NOTE: BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share the same commitment. They believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities they work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation – regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. Therefore, their recruitment policy and procedure include extensive background checks and disclosure of criminal records to fully ensure safeguarding.

 

BRAC is an equal opportunity employer.