Program Background

PETCO Ethiopia is jointly implementing a 5-year consortium project jointly with the Center of Accelerated Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) and Ethiopia Enterprise Development /EED/. The program is funded by the Mastercard Foundation contract to Enable Young Women and Men to Find Dignified and Fulfilling Work in Manufacturing in Ethiopia by capacitating existing SMEs. The program aims to: 

• Build SME capacity to sustainably create new jobs and improve existing ones through offering tailored business capacity building and mentorship; enhancing access to markets and raw materials flow; and improving SMEs’ human resources capacity to create safe and inclusive working conditions for young women and men. 

• Improve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) offerings to better prepare women and youth to enter the workforce (facilitate school-to-work transition).

• Facilitate a robust financial ecosystem to help SMEs access tailored financial services that allow them to grow and increase employment opportunities for young women in particular, and to invest in infrastructure that can improve young women's and men's working conditions.

• Strengthen the enablers (ecosystem) to foster private sector engagement, stakeholder coordination synergy, and policy development for sustainable and scalable job growth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the Enabling environment, Garment and Textile manager include, but are not limited to:

•  Serve as a liaison between the project team, sub-sectors, governmental agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. 

• Provide technical expertise, guidance, and leadership to ensure the effective implementation of interventions aimed at creating employment opportunities, particularly for women and marginalized youth , within the sector.

• Plan, direct and coordinate the activities of the division; 

• Making joint decisions on strategic issues in the sector;

• Facilitate and collaborate with regions in specific tasks of the project; 

• Coordinate and facilitate works Agro-processing and food sector specialist and Handcraft, textile  leather and Solid waste specialist;

• Based on the project aim and agreements he/she facilitate, coordinate and implement  tasks in the regional project offices ;

• Conducting and coordinating research in the small and medium manufacturing enterprise sector to enhance job creation;

• Prepare Programs, projects, guidelines, support frameworks, and manuals that ensure the development of the sector; 

• When issues are addressed or presented that are specific to the existing guidelines of the government strategy for job creation he/she will submit a decision opinion to the sector management, taking into account the sector policy and strategy;

•  He/she will facilitate and prepare a framework that fits governmental job creation organization;

• Creating a favorable investment environment for manufacturing enterprises. Establishing enterprises and creating jobs;

• Increasing the participation of manufacturing SMEs in domestic and export trade;

• Investment promotion and market development to fill the skill gap through training;

• Promoting the sector of productive enterprises to increase the benefits;

• Facilitate/prepare national and international B2B meetings, exhibitions, and best practice demonstrations to continue to strengthen networks of local investors for SMEs;

• Promotes, coordinates and supports frameworks designed to accelerate job creation in the manufacturing sector; 

• By regularly updating on the status of existing SMEs, he /she will identify alternative fields of work in selected manufacturing sectors and enable work opportunities;

• Creating common platforms through the program to communicate to stakeholders the importance of coordination and leadership in the manufacturing sector. 

• Mobilize and sensitize stakeholders in the sector.

• Facilitating program activities and events that generate interest in investing in local small and medium manufacturing sectors. 

• Identifying issues that can be entered into cooperation agreements with governmental and non-governmental institutions and submit for decision. 

• Facilitates experience exchange platform by identifying stakeholders and leaders and linking and coordinating efforts in providing support to manufacturers with national and international forums.

• Create opportunities to connect manufacturing networks and key stakeholders. 

• Prepares annual plans and budgets for selected manufacturers (textiles, garment, handicrafts, leather products, plastic waste recycling) based on the program  plan, 

• Facilitate open dialogue with formal and informal educational institutions, industry leaders, and government to improve the policy and regulatory framework for SMEs

• Supporting  the preparation of exhibitions, bazaars, B2B meetings, expos and best practice demonstrations in cities, regions, national and international levels 

• Ensure accuracy of record, timely submission of documents to the  lead organization   and Management team; 

• Coordinate the tasks of the consortium from EED side 

• Maintain accurate records of the  project

  Report to: Senior Program Director  

  Salary: Competitive salary and a range of additional benefits

  Category: Program management

Job Requirements

Required skills and qualifications

• Master’s Degree in  a relevant discipline (Development Studies, Project Management, Leadership, Economics, International Trade and Investment, Management) and related;

• At least 10 years of experience relevant to the work. 

• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing Enterprise Development

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, with the capacity to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

• Attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.

•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Fluency in English (both written and spoken); knowledge of Amharic and  other local languages is desirable.

• Willingness to travel within Ethiopia as required for project activities.

• Demonstrated strength and experience in writing technical reports.

• Demonstrated ability to build a team.

How to Apply

Submit your up-to-date CV (summarized in less than 3 pages) and one page cover Letter in PDF file explaining your position, reference and your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile via email: idemeke@petcoethiopia.org

Instruction: Your PDF file name should indicate your name and position you are applying for and only short listed candidates will be contacted for next assessment steps.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.