Team Leader / Technical Expert - Windhoek, Namibia (field-based)

Position Overview

FSVC seeks a highly experienced Team Leader / Technical Expert to serve as the primary in-country representative for the program. The Team Leader will serve as the operational and technical anchor of the program in Namibia, coordinating day-to-day activities, managing relationships with counterparts and stakeholders, and providing hands-on technical assistance across all three program objectives. This is a full-time, field-based position for the duration of the 12-month program.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Management and Coordination

• Serve as FSVC's primary in-country representative, managing relationships with government counterparts, BSOs, financial institutions, and other local stakeholders;
• Coordinate with the FSVC Regional Director for Southern Africa and HQ Managing Director to ensure strategic coherence, timely implementation, and quality delivery of all activities;
• Lead the preparation, logistics, and implementation of all 20 program activities across Objectives 1, 2, and 3;
• Manage scheduling, venue coordination, participant mobilization, and communications for training workshops, consultations, roundtables, and pitch events;
• Facilitate the recruitment and deployment of international FSVC volunteer experts and targeted consultants in coordination with HQ Program Officer;
• Coordinate with local service providers, logistics vendors, and event organizers to ensure smooth delivery of activities; and
• Maintain an up-to-date implementation tracker and flag risks or delays proactively to FSVC management.

2. Technical Advisory and Capacity Building
The Team Leader is expected to provide substantive technical input in one or more of the following areas, complementing international volunteer experts:

• SME development and business support organization (BSO) strengthening;
• Entrepreneurship training, business model design, and financial management for SMEs;
• SME access to finance, including credit assessment, product development, and financial inclusion;
• Sector-specific SME support in agriculture and/or critical minerals value chains;
• Export readiness, regional market access, and value chain integration;
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks for development programs; and
• Public-private dialogue facilitation and stakeholder engagement.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Management

• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with all program counterparts, including government agencies, BSOs, financial institutions, and SME associations;
• Represent FSVC in meetings, working groups, and forums with national stakeholders;
• Support the organization of public-private dialogue sessions and multi-stakeholder roundtables under Objective 1 and Objective 3; and
• Coordinate B2B matchmaking sessions and pitch events connecting SMEs with investors and financial institutions.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Oversee data collection and monitoring against program output and outcome indicators across all three objectives;
• Administer participant surveys, interviews, and knowledge assessments following training activities;
• Compile quarterly progress reports for submission to FSVC management, including qualitative and quantitative results;
• Document lessons learned, success stories, and program achievements for internal use and stakeholder communications; and
• Support FSVC management in preparing any additional donor reports, presentations, or communications.

Required profile for job ad : Team Leader / Technical Expert - Windhoek, Namibia (field-based)

Required Qualifications

Education

• Advanced degree (Master's level or higher) in business administration, economics, finance, international development, or a closely related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in SME development, entrepreneurship, financial sector development, or related fields;
• Demonstrated experience managing or coordinating donor-funded technical assistance programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with experience in Namibia or the Southern African region strongly preferred;
• Proven track record of providing technical assistance or capacity building to BSOs, business incubators, financial institutions, or government agencies;
• Experience working on issues of SME access to finance, including engagement with development finance institutions or commercial banks;
• Familiarity with the Namibian SME ecosystem, including key institutional actors, policy frameworks (e.g., National MSME Policy, Harambee Prosperity Plan II), and sector priorities (agriculture, critical minerals); and
• Experience in program monitoring and evaluation, including results-based reporting.

Technical Skills

• Strong facilitation and training delivery skills, with experience leading workshops for diverse stakeholder groups;
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical, accessible training content;
• Proficiency in MEL tools, including survey design, data collection, and results analysis; and
• Familiarity with agricultural and/or critical minerals value chains in Southern Africa is an asset.

Language and Communication

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required;
• Proficiency in Afrikaans or other local Namibian languages is a strong asset; and
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing for international donors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established professional networks within Namibia's public and private sectors, including with BSOs, financial institutions, and government agencies;
• Knowledge of export promotion, trade facilitation, or value chain development in Namibia or the SADC region; and
• Experience with digital tools for training delivery, SME data management, or program monitoring.