SMEs Business Officer

The USAID Business Growth Activity supports Jordan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including Start-ups, to improve their productivity and competitiveness, create employment, foster innovation, promote economic growth, and advance Jordan towards a more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive future.

USAID Business Growth Activity will support SMEs with firm-level technical assistance and access to capital provided through tailored mechanisms. The project systematically incorporates women, youth, and persons with disabilities in all the project’s interventions, and identifies issues and challenges facing SMEs.

USAID Business Growth Activity is a five-year project (2021-2026) implemented by Financial Markets International, Inc.

Position Summary

Objective:

The SMEs Business officer will be responsible for carrying out assigned projects and tasks related to the development and execution of the USAID BGA work plan activities and programs designed to provide technical support to enhance SMEs competitiveness, enhance their administrative and technological capabilities, maximize the benefits of international agreements signed by Jordan through technical and financial support, improve products quality, improve market positioning and access, and ensure that their strategic directions are oriented to market requirements to meet the increasing competition in the local, regional and global markets.  The position holder will be responsible for managing the one-to-one beneficiary tracker and other related databases, including data on the USAID BGA portal. Additionally, they will assist in writing weekly and quarterly reports. The position holder will also act as a liaison between the one-to-one support team and other teams within USAID BGA.

Roles and Responsibility:

She /he will perform related responsibilities as required. She/ he shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the tasks detailed hereunder:

• Work Plan Activity Support: Support implementation of USAID BGA work plan activities, as assigned by component and activity leaders.
• SMEs Pipeline: Assist in building a pipeline of viable growth SMEs; this includes, identifying SMEs from various sectors, conducting/managing the SMEs diagnostic process and assessing their growth and export readiness; proposing appropriate solutions and developing upgrading plan that includes areas for improvement and means of addressing weaknesses.
• Reporting support: Provide regular reports to the different stakeholders; on progress, impact levels, lessons learned and issued logs, as assigned by the technical DCOP/unit director.
• File and Document Management: Manage and archive the reports and the developed repository including the unit’s folders and any developed sheets and trackers, both hard and soft copies.
• Upgrade plan implementation: Support in drafting and managing scopes of work for short-term consultants, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) needed to engage external consultants and technical experts to assist in executing activities and move implementation forward. Participate in technical evaluation committees and bidders’ selection processes, and support in grants reviews and assessments. Preparing internal and external communication memoranda and reports
• Grants follow up: Monitor the implementation and regular follow up of awarded grants assigned under the work of SMEs competitiveness to ensure successful implementation and completion of the grants’ work plan. Facilitating stakeholder engagements and activities to demonstrate the added value and manage expectations related to work plan interventions.
• Stakeholder Relations: In coordination with component and other activity leaders, help USAID BGA maintain positive and productive working relationships with beneficiaries (SMEs) and activities implementers (subcontractors and service providers; etc.).
• Monitoring and Evaluation Support: Support AMEL team to collect information on ongoing activities required for the program’s regular progress reporting and M&E reporting. Help ensure all such information is properly documented and entered into M&E system.  If necessary, perform primary data collection (for example by directly contacting past beneficiaries/participants) to help USAID BGA determine the long-term impact of its activities.
• Reporting and Research: Identify core issues, conduct research & analysis as requested by activity leader. Review and provide quality control of regular subcontractor and sub-grantee reporting.; Maintaining a database of publications and reports as well as of stakeholders contact information and other important details. Produce regular reporting required for activities directly implemented by USAID BGA and under this SOW.
• Problem Solving: Identify any implementation problems as early as possible (“early warning”) whether they be technical or administrative in nature, conceptualize solutions to problems as they arise and work with direct supervisor to execute agreed upon solutions.
• Events: Work closely with the USAID BGA Communications Team to organize and manage project related events, workshops and seminars in coordination with USAID BGA teams and external stakeholders; helping prepare, deliver and follow-up on all external events, training programs, workshops and other related activities.
• Support in other USAID BGA related activities, such as Business enabling environment, Public private dialogue, and any other task assigned by the component director.

Skills and Knowledge

• Project management, procurement, reporting and evaluation.
• Professional technical writing, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Professional presentation & communication skills: able to concisely and accurately describe conditions and status verbally, through presentations, and in writing.
• Teamwork: must display and be noted for being an excellent team member, and ability to work alone if needed.
• Experience with USAID technical reporting and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) requirements is preferred.
• English and Arabic Proficiency (written and verbal).
• MS Office Proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in a related field.
• A bachelor’s degree is required in Engineering, business Administration, economics or similar fields.
• Experience in economic and business development activities; SMEs development, export promotion and private sector development in Jordan.
• Ability to professionally and confidently represent USAID BGA with its variety of stakeholders (private sector, international and Jordanian).
• Ability to conduct research, business and financial analysis is preferred.

Duration of Assignment:

Immediate hiring for a one-year contract renewable upon satisfactory performance.