Overview
The Private Sector Advisor will lead the organization's strategic shift towards market-based sustainable solutions and the development of dignified employment. The role involves working with private sector companies, investors, and development partners to drive business growth through resource mobilization and the development of commercially viable proposals.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide economic analysis of key sectors to inform programming.
- Identify systemic market constraints and develop strategic responses.
- Analyze value chains and opportunities for private sector focused opportunities.
- Deliver private sector growth and job creation from Ethiopian MSMEs.
- Develop and deliver approaches for overseas investors and companies to deliver sustainable economic growth and dignified jobs across Ethiopia.
- Translate market insights into scalable business models and partnership opportunities.
- Develop innovative, scalable solutions that attract private sector participation and investment.
- Work through the full private sector support process including investment thesis development, fund concept design, enterprise pipeline development, investment-readiness support, partnership with financial institutions or fund managers and technical assistance support for investable enterprises.
- Lead the development of PIE’s private sector engagement and economic development strategy.
- Deliver, at scale, against that strategy for the benefit of women and youth in particular.
- Position PIE within Ethiopia as a credible partner for private sector collaboration and market systems development.
- Drive integration of market systems development, climate-resilient livelihoods, youth employment systems, innovation in digital skills and digital financial inclusion.
- Design and operationalize partnership models including: inclusive supply chains, last-mile market delivery mechanisms and workforce development partnerships.
- Incorporate, and advise senior management on, emerging trends in blended finance, impact investment, and private capital mobilization.
- Provide technical inputs into business development strategies and donor engagement.
- Integrate Market Systems Development (MSD), systems thinking, and scalability into program design.
- Drive the development of high-quality, competitive business proposals, investment cases, and partnership models to mobilize private capital and strategic partnerships.
- Establish and manage a strategic pipeline of private sector partnerships, ensuring alignment with market opportunities and long-term sustainability.
- Ensure commercial viability and financial sustainability are embedded in all market-based initiatives and partnership models.
- Ensure provable and strong quality of delivery via results measurement.
- Lead staff and partner capacity building on MSD, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion etc.
- Promote innovation, learning, and adaptive management.
- Represent PIE in relevant high-level forums and with relevant donors/investors and business groups such as Chambers of Commerce.
- Build partnerships with other actors across the sector and across Plan globally.
- Influence policy and practice to promote inclusive, gender-responsive economic systems.
Required Experience
Minimum of 7 years of strong relevant experience in private sector, market systems development, investment, or economic development roles, with demonstrated leadership responsibility. Proven experience in developing and managing strategic partnerships with private sector actors, investors, or financial institutions. Strong experience in Market Systems Development and related approaches. Successful experience of attracting investment and developing comprehensive business plans to support investment, with a range of financial service providers. A willingness to work across both private sector and development actors. Strong practical experience and ability to analyse labor markets, value chains, and economic ecosystems. Demonstrated leadership experience providing strategic direction, technical oversight, and capacity strengthening to teams etc.
Qualifications
Degree in Economics or similar relevant qualification.
