Team Lead-LIWAY Program

Team Lead-LIWAY Program

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalyzing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigor. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all. 

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision and mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030. 

For more information on our operations in Ethiopia and SNV generally visit our website: www.snv.org  

Background of the Programme

The Livelihoods Improvement for Women and Youth (LIWAY) is a thirteen-year programme (July 2017 to December 2028) funded by Sweden and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The programme was implemented by a consortium of partners, comprised of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and Mercy Corps. LIWAY applies a market system development (MSD) approach that involves identifying the root causes of market failure that disadvantage or exclude poor women and youth from wage and self-employment opportunities and identifying private companies and public institutions with the incentive and ability to deliver change.

The aim is to make market systems work better for the target groups while demonstrating benefits to public and private actors that play a role in the systems to ensure local ownership and sustainability and continued improvement beyond the programme period. The approach involves experimentation and learning rapidly from failures and amplifying successes.

Context and Purpose of the Job  

The MSD Team Lead is part of the SNV Ethiopia and works for the LIWAY project funded by both EKN and Sida.  

The Team Lead will oversee the development and execution of effective system interventions within the anticipated urban livelihoods improvement program in Addis Ababa. This role requires strong technical knowledge in Market Systems Development (MSD), as well as leadership, strategic planning abilities, and effective team management to enhance overall performance and accountability.

Job Description

1. Oversee Intervention Design

• Guide the development of interventions to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness in addressing system needs.
• Collaborate with team members to design innovative solutions that align with project objectives.
• As required facilitate specific interventions.

2. Strategic Planning

• Develop comprehensive work plans and budgets that align with project goals and objectives.
• Ensure that system interventions are executed on schedule and within budgetary constraints.
• Monitor progress and adapt plans as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with relevant stakeholders to gather insights and foster collaboration that supports intervention success.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners to enhance program impact.
• Work closely with key market players, including government agencies, private business companies, financial institutions, and business development service providers, to enhance their performance in market systems improvement.
• Steer interventions that require a higher level/policy level engagement

4.  Manage Team Performance

• Offer coaching and mentorship to Market System Advisors, guiding their professional development.
• Monitor and evaluate team performance, providing constructive feedback to enhance effectiveness.
• Facilitate capacity building for internal and external market actors.
• Steers colleagues and coaches associated partners/ external stakeholders on quality within the context of assignments.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance in MSD, and apply process improvements in projects
• Coaches colleagues and associated partners both professionally and operationally on the quality of context within projects.

5. Coordinate Team Activities

• Facilitate collaboration among team members of partners to ensure complementary efforts and maximise overall efficiency.
• Organize team meetings and workshops to discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Closely collaborate with other consortium members' staff to achieve program objectives and goals.

6. Reporting and Accountability

• Ensure regular reporting on progress and outcomes of specific system interventions.
• Maintain accountability for the team's performance and the impacts of interventions.
• Define and document best practices along the program implementation for further development of the program.

7. Knowledge Development

• Contributes to internal and external knowledge development.
• Ensures lessons learned are shared and applied in daily practice and may be appointed as (national) focal point of an expertise network.
• Initiates/coordinates the review process and evaluation of advisory services to collect lessons learned, proposes corrective measures and ensures identification of follow-up assignment
• Participates in knowledge development/expertise groups and in internal and external networks.

8. Project and process development

• Identifies and proposes technical process improvements to the project team. Acts on improvement areas within the local internal organisation and processes, and gives feedback. Ensures lessons learned are applied in daily practice.
• Deliver other assignments as required

Qualifications

Educational Qualifications and Experience

• Master's Degree or equivalent in relevant disciplines such as International Development, Business, Economics, Trade, Financial Systems, or Labor Markets.
• At least eight years of work experience in urban livelihoods development activities, focusing on promoting urban poor groups, particularly youth and gender engagement.
• Strong understanding of the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach
• Excellent analytical abilities with demonstrated experience in working within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English, along with strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to foster an open-minded and learning-oriented environment while adapting to dynamic working conditions.
• Proficient in computer skills and relevant technologies applicable to the role.

Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• communication 
• Coaching
• Focus on quality
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness
• Problem Analysis 
• Perseverance 

Additional Information

Contract Type: National, Full-time

Expected start date: Febryary 2, 2026

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Contract Duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.

How to Apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on December 26, 2025. Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality.
If your experience and skills match the position's requirements, we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from and contribute to an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for both nationally and internationally determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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