Objective 2 Results and Innovation Linkages Manager

Vacancy Announcement

Deloitte Consulting LLP (“Deloitte”), implementing the USAID Improving Private Sector Competitiveness Activity (“Activity” or “IPS-C”) is looking for a qualified local professional to fill the position of Objective 2 Results and Innovation Linkages Manager

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Duration: Duration of the Activity.

Background:  The purpose of the USAID Improving Private Sector Competitiveness Activity (“Activity” or “IPS-C”) is to remove constraints and build the competitiveness of small and growing businesses (SGBs) in Vietnam, including those employing, owned or led by women and vulnerable populations. With this activity, USAID/Vietnam is supporting Vietnam’s competitiveness: vertically at the policy, market and firm level; and horizontally by working along the entire spectrum of enterprise growth models, from household businesses transforming into registered firms to small firms on the cusp of scaling up. The Activity is comprised of four inter-related objectives. Deloitte Consulting LLP (“Deloitte”) is implementing this Activity on behalf of USAID. The Agency for Enterprise Development of the Ministry of Planning and Investment is the Vietnam Government counterpart of IPS-C.

Position Objective, Generally Applicable Functions, and Specific Tasks

A.      Position Objective: The Objective 2 Results Manager drives Objective 2 technical activities and manages the Objective 2 team to improve the efficiency and productivity of the SGBs. This objective supports the SGBs in applying technology solutions and innovation to improve business productivity and efficiency and in most instances, businesses participating in Objective 2 will be selected from the group of businesses that have been strengthened within the framework of the activities under Objective 1. In other instances, businesses receiving Objective 2 assistance will be businesses that are capacity-ready, according to IPS-C’s evaluation criteria. IPS-C will conduct several activities to spread the success or share promising results from advanced businesses to business communities using a follow-the-leader approach.

Example Tasks and Activities of Objective 2 include:

• Provide technical support to at least 2,000 SGBs to improve productivity and business efficiency through the application of technology and innovation, of which at least 60 Pioneering Enterprises, which are advanced SGBs, are provided with comprehensive technical assistance packages to bring “Made by Vietnam” products to regional and international markets.
• Provide technical support so SGBs and startups in innovative sectors have easier access to finance for the purpose of promoting application capacity, innovation, and technology transfer.
• Identify the most useful services and activities that support technology adaptation and innovation that are available or can be made available from the National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and work assist NIC to promote their services and reach out to innovative SGBs.
• Enhance the application, transfer of technology and innovation for outstanding SGBs.
• Provide technical assistance to study, develop, and take control of technology or seek and deploy new, innovative technology solutions, break-thru and innovative business models aiming to enhance competitiveness to create Made by Vietnam products to conquer domestic and international markets.
• Negotiate MOUs with pioneering SGBs to enable IPS-C to integrate a comprehensive, international-level quality support package on the principle of cost-sharing, to assist innovative pioneering businesses to improve competitiveness and successfully conquer the regional and international markets.
• Assist pioneering businesses to develop, apply, and transfer technology that may include support for initial solution implementation, such as assistance with selecting, training, operating, transferring, and applying technology solutions.
• Negotiate MOUs with SGBs to assist them to develop and apply technology transfer, and technology platforms, especially if a technology can be widely applied in many businesses or in other economic sectors.
• Assist firms to search for innovative technology solutions that remove technology bottlenecks for several industries and groups of businesses. These tentative industries are agriculture, logistics, tourism, and finance.
• Enhance or establish new platforms, solutions, and tools to help SGBs and businesses/organizations to provide technology, technical solutions, start-ups, and large businesses that can help exchange information, match supply with demand, and so on.
• Cooperate with the NIC in providing services such as advising and consulting, event organization, such as exhibitions and networking, investment, technology transfer support, integrated services, such as administrative procedures, public services and simplification of business procedures, training for SGBs on the basis of innovation in  meeting the needs of SGBs for improved productivity and efficiency.
• Design activities that will improve access to finance for SGBs that promote application, innovation, technology transfer and innovative startups.
• Provide tools and advice to support SGBs to make their financial systems more transparent, improving their financial management capability, such as the transparency of financial figures, so they can more easily access and effectively manage investment resources.
• Organize intensive training and by-phase coaching programs on financial management related to bank lending and non-bank lending activities.
• Enhance the quality and quantity of information provided in terms of financial products for SGBs, marginalized businesses, and women-owned businesses, associated with applying innovation and technology in business and productive operations.
• Engage reputable partners that provide non-banking financial solutions to select, connect, and introduce to SGBs such as angel investment, venture capital, private equity funds, impact investment funds for women-owned businesses, financial technology models, such as fintech and other fundraising platforms, including crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and so on.  After connecting, IPS-C will provide technical support so that SGBs can access the suitable non-banking financial solutions/capitals.
• Improve financial accessibility by introducing SGBS to various financial platforms, products and tool that will enhance businesses to access financial alternatives.

B.      General Functions of the Position. The Objective 2 Results Manager shall perform the following general functions:

• Act as a catalyst and share and encourage team members.
• Develop and maintain collegial, productive relationships with other project colleagues, USAID, project counterparts, beneficiaries, and subcontractors, Vietnam’s private sector enterprises, non-government organizations, and the Government of Vietnam at all levels, to achieve the IPS-C’s aims.
• Effectively liaise and collaborate regularly with other members of the IPS-C team.
• Contribute actively to the development of the Annual Work plan, other documents, and weekly activities lists.
• Assist the Senior SGB Development Lead to ensure that all scheduling, budgeting, technical, and documentary attributes of the Annual Work Plan and other documents, are up to date in the Project’s electronic and hard copy files.
• Ensure compliance with USAID regulations, the Project administrative and policy manual, and the Annual Project Work Plans.
• Promote close collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation, data collection, gender, communication, training, and all cross-cutting Project teams.
• Conduct all business in a manner that respects local culture and professionally represents the Project, Deloitte Consulting, USAID, and the Government of Vietnam.
• Always maintain high ethical standards, avoiding any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. IPS-C maintains a zero-tolerance policy for corrupt practices.
• Perform all tasks as may be assigned by the Senior SGB Development Lead required to contribute to the achievement of Project goals and objectives.
• Perform all other reasonable tasks requested by the SGB Development Lead or the COP.

C.      Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in business, engineering, technology, innovation, or relevant field.
• An inquisitive attitude and excessive drive for accomplishing important tasks.
• At least 10 years of experience directly supporting SME growth, integrating technology into business operations, improving firm productivity, assisting in the development of innovative technologies, and similar activities.
• Working knowledge of SME capacity building activities and understanding of the fundamentals of business management practices in Vietnam.
• Understanding of e-commerce business solutions and practical approaches to improved business capacity development.
• Experience managing a team in a complex development environment.
• Adequacy in the English and Vietnamese languages and experience in written and verbal communications in both languages.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV with the Cover Letter in English to [email protected] by 18:00 on June 30, 2021. Please include three references at the bottom of your CV.

Note: In the subject line please indicate name of the position to which you are applying.