Job Description

The work done by the Project Development (PD) team is the heart of S3IDF’s work. The PD team members travel,  understands  problems  on  the  ground,  conceives  solutions  in  consultation  with  different stakeholders and develops projects that implement these solutions. The PD team member also ensures project development, management and monitoring processes and systems are designed, implemented and followed within the organization.

The role needs, firstly, a commitment to solving problems of poverty and the willingness to learn from the poor – how they leverage their entrepreneurial ability to solve their problems. Respect for this spirit of entrepreneurship is the value based on which the PD role and body of work will be built. The role itself needs a great deal of entrepreneurial spirit. It needs the ability to identify and get the multiple stakeholders of a problem to converge and make a project happen. The willingness to learn how to build conversations with people from low-income segments, grass roots NGO workers, technology suppliers and equally organization heads is an absolute must. The willingness to work with technical, financial and social disciplines all together is also an absolute must. The ability to do and learn, fail and persevere are very important qualities for the PD member to have.

The PD role at S3IDF has immense opportunity for growth.  Space to experiment and freedom for creativity and innovation is immense. The PD team member is the eyes and ears of S3IDF on the ground and therefore is the most important human resource that will shape the evolution and growth of the organization. However, this has to be teamwork, and therefore the PD team member will be expected to integrate well with the whole team and be an excellent team player. The team will consist of different people with different expertise and disciplines – being able to work together and leverage each other’s strengths, and recognize one’s own weakness is important.

Key Responsibilities:

1.  Conduct sectorial research on specific sectors such as Solid waste -Sanitation, Agriculture, Decentralized Energy, Water etc.

2.    Research, network and identify potential partners for S3IDF project development.

3.  Develop partnerships and nature relationships with partners by understanding the value that can be delivered to them and ensuring that value delivery.

4.Along with partners identify problems and potential projects/entrepreneurs/business solutions

to solve these problems that fall within the purview and criteria of S3IDF’s mission and programs.

5.  Develop and design the project in its entirety identifying the different roles for different partners of the project and ensure convergence of all partners to achieve project objectives and outcomes.

6.  Financially design projects along with identified entrepreneur and partners. Develop strategies of financing these projects and implement the strategy along with partners and entrepreneurs.

7.  Identify capacity gaps in the entrepreneurs and help close these gaps through one-on-one mentoring and /or identifying capacity building partners who can become part of the project.

8.  Perform   market/value   chain   studies   relevant   to   product/service   provided   by   the entrepreneur/business.

9.    Identify market players/buyers and facilitate their participation in the project.

10. Engage with relevant S3IDF program team members to monitor and evaluate the implemented project.

11. Ensure repayment of invested finances into the project with support from other relevant staff of S3IDF.

12. Ensure  appropriate  documentation of  the  project  is  completed.   This  could  be  technical documents, audio-visual documentation, and documentation for social media / story telling.

13. Proactively seek mentoring support from CEO, CPO, advisors and peers within the organization and its partner organizations.

14. Based on project development experience feed into ongoing and evolving strategies for the organization.

15. Undertake organizational development activities as CPO / CEO may instruct.

16. Periodic reporting to the Program head /CEO on project progress, new concepts.

17. Build and nurture strategic collaborations with large institutions like government bodies, ministries and large organizations to drive market level/systemic level change.

18.Leverage  existing  State Govt  /Central  Govt  schemes  and  demonstrate  S3IDF  thinking  by implementing/influencing projects in such schemes.

19. Be the spokesperson of S3IDF projects in suitable forums to enhance brand proliferation.

20.  Mentor / line manage JPDO’s /interns/associates on the job to build program bandwidth

21. Become a specialist or spearhead in at least one crucial aspect of program work ( eg. Financial/ Technology/  Impact  measurement/ Partnerships  Institutional  Collaborations etc)  within  12 months of joining into the role.

22. Perform and deliver as per co- agreed key results areas(KRA’s) as documented

Eligibility Criteria

Work Experience:

3-6 years of experience, some of it preferably in related sector(s)/pro-poor enterprise development/value chain development – however experience can be anywhere and individuals seeking a sectorial change are also welcome. Please note:

·  Candidates having  experience in the agriculture sector with focus on  incubating and Farmer Producer Organizations ( FPO’s) ,preferably in Southern India will have a distinct advantage  (Karnataka,Tamil Nadu preferred)

·  Candidates who have worked in / have knowledge in the sanitation sector and are familiar with fecal sludge management & sanitary workers issues in South India will be given preference.

.Willingness to travel, sometimes to remote locations, 50% to 70% of the time is a must.

Desired Candidate Profile

Graduation - Graduate-Other

Education and Skill sets:

·     Graduate  degree  in any discipline, post graduate in relevant discipline preferred. Ability to comprehend local livelihoods issues and the social entrepreneurship ecosystem is a must.

·        A combination of relevant technical/ financial /development qualifications will be a clear advantage.

Languages:

·        Excellent English skills – both spoken and written is mandatory. Good proficiency in spoken Hindi is expected .

·        Spoken proficiency in at least one of the following three  languages is a must: Kannada, Tamil or  Telugu.   Knowledge of other/more languages will be an added advantage

Organization Details

• Organization Name:Small Scale Sustainable Infrastructure Development Fund
• About Organization:S3IDF is an international non-profit organization that builds inclusive market systems to promote equitable economic and social development. Its current focus over the next 2 to 3 years is to work on Agricultural Livelihoods solutions and Waste Livelihoods solutions by partnering extensively with local NGOs and other groups including government agencies and equipment/technology suppliers as well as financial institutions. Through partnering that it arranges, S3IDF provides financing and technology know- how and capacity building assistance to small pro-poor infrastructure projects and enterprises. Its replication criteria and pro-active post-implementation monitoring and evaluation and best practices dissemination efforts are geared towards inducing financial institutions to increase support for such small infrastructure projects, which can be highly cost-effective in their poverty alleviation and environmental benefits.
  
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