Jobs and Careers

TERM : 

Full-time

JOB DESCRIPTION : 

GIZ is looking for a Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development for the EU4Business project "Innovative Tourism and Technology Development". The project will be implemented within the framework of "Private Sector Development and Technical Vocational Education and Training South Caucasus" programme committed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

RESPONSIBILITIES : 

The Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development is responsible for the following:
- Independently manage all issues related to ITTD's component 2 "Creation and improvement of investable and innovative technology ventures" focusing on entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development and tech venture pipeline development in accordance with the offer to BMZ and the contract with EU – both technically and financially;
- Ensure that the component is managed according to PuR, GIZ's compliance guidelines and following the approved budget in order to meet financial targets;
- Ensure that component goals and activities agreed with the partner, team agreements and/ or agreements with the superior are met and implemented;
- Provide professional advice to partners and cooperate with important stakeholders;
- Responsible for innovation and knowledge management and communication of innovations to a broad target group following GIZ's PuR guidelines as well as EU's rules and regulations;
- Integrate results and experience into teamwork and the work of all relevant groups;
- Process technical aspects and further developing the area of responsibility in accordance with the specified quality standards and a focus on innovative approaches;
- Conceptualize and implement the grant process (cycle from preparation, announcement, selection, mentorship, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation) for the tech ventures in collaboration with the administrative experts;
- Responsible for good flow of communication and information between all involved institutions and stakeholders, including the EU Delegation, German Embassy and GIZ .

Management Responsibility
- Manage the budget and ensure that financial and administrative aspects of the component are implemented according to PuR and follow the requirements according to the offer to BMZ and the contract with EU;
- Manage and monitor the component's budget in consultation with the administrative support in the region and GIZ HQ;
- Responsible for component planning and development of project concepts and strategies, ensuring their implementation;
- Responsible for coordination and prioritization of relevant project activities in cooperation with the partners, both regarding the organisational preparation and implementation of activities.

Advising the Partner Institution(s)
- For development and implementation of project plans and activities in the areas of entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development as well in tech venture pipeline development in close consultation with relevant stakeholders;
- Preparation and implementation of the coordination process with the partners, as well as joint project activities at the national level;
- The design, preparation and implementation of workshops, seminars, grant schemes, and related events ;
- Development and organisation of quality assurance measures and necessary changes, improvements and initiatives – using Capacity WORKS and other relevant tools;
- Conceptualisation, management and steering the input by external consultants (through service contracts and/or local subsidy contracts); this includes tasks in procurement and contracting processes according to GIZ rules and regulations as follows: a) drafting documents for award processes (e.g. TOR with specifications of input, technical specifications, cost-estimates, tender announcements); b) evaluation of technical and financial proposals and selection of service providers; c) preparation of documents for contracting (e.g. justification of the proposed award procedure, payment schedule); d) technical supervision of service delivery / implementation of activities and reporting according to the contract; e) supporting contract settlement (e.g. timely information of project administrative staff of upcoming payments, checking of invoices, service confirmation);
- Additional advisory responsibility according to the needs of the project or as agreed with the superior.

Networking and Cooperation
- Ensure cooperation, regular contact and dialogue with partners, assist with PR and cooperate with relevant organisations, non-governmental agencies and individuals in the project environment and with other projects to improve and maintain good working relationships according to PuR and EU rules and regulations;
- Develop a network of national and international experts from the field supporting key activities for startup ecosystem and pipeline development;
- Contribute for the component to donor and stakeholder coordination to ensure ecosystem development;
- Communicate local interests and efforts, forward these and encourage sharing ideas and information for the benefit of the project.

Knowledge Management
- Provide information on project results and impact, and ensure knowledge transfer;
- Formulate appropriate input for various project reports including annual reports, and contribute to other reports required by the team leader, GIZ, BMZ, EU or others;
- Ensure knowledge transfer to all relevant stakeholders;
- Develop ready-to-use strategies and technical/ professional concepts;
- Provide research activities and studies on entrepreneurship topics.

Management and Coordination Tasks
- Responsible for component planning and develop component's concepts and strategies, ensure their implementation;
- Use GIZ's Capacity Works to manage the project;
- Coordinate and prioritize relevant component activities in cooperation with the partners, both regarding the organisational preparation and implementation of activities;
- Manage and monitor the project budget in consultation with the administrative support in the region and GIZ headquarters;
- Support a comprehensive monitoring system for the ITTD project.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS : 

- Masters/ MSc degree in an area that is related to the project objectives, with a focus on a relevant field.

Professional Experience
- At least 5-7 years of professional experience in a comparable position.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences
- Proven track record in a managerial position in the field of innovation and technology with a specific focus on start-up ecosystem;
- High self-organisational skills and sense of responsibility, accuracy, integrity and commitment;
- High communication and networking skills, teamwork abilities;
- Personal discipline and efficiency of actions;
- Very good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, email, the internet, social media) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office);
- Fluent written and oral knowledge of English, German languages is an advantage
- Willingness to continued learning and training to successfully fulfil the tasks and responsibilities as outlined herein;
- This position requires frequent business trips in the country.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES : 

Interested candidates should send a brief motivation letter, a complete CV highlighting relevant professional experience and education and employers' references to: HR-GIZ-Armenia@giz.de , indicating the vacancy title ("Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development") in the subject line of the email. If the automatic response "Thank you for your email. It has been received by the GIZ Office Armenia" is not received by email, the documents should be sent to: GIZ Country Office, Reception, 4/ 1 Baghramyan Str., Yerevan. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this job opportunity through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am, Thanks.

REMUNERATION/ SALARY : 

Negotiable

ABOUT : 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. It provides viable, forward-looking solutions for political, ecological and social development in a globalized world. GIZ promotes complex reforms and change processes, often working under difficult conditions.
The regional programme "Private Sector Development and Technical Vocational Education and Training (PSDTVET)" operates on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in the three countries Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia with the aim of supporting sustainable economic development and Technical Vocational Education and Training. The main objective is to link the private sector with the public sector in the sense of "Skills for Business-Business for Skills".