Bussiness Revitalization Manager

The Assignment

This is a business revitalization and organizational restart role, not a conventional administrative position. SEDD is focused on market validation and practical restart. The Manager will build the organization from the outside in, understand the market, build trusted relationships, validate demand, establish the right team and systems, and then move into training, production and sales. We are looking for a builder, entrepreneur and practical leader. You should be comfortable working from the field, meeting factory managers and customers, recruiting people, negotiating partnerships, solving problems and creating systems where none yet exist. You will have significant operational autonomy, matched by clear accountability for results. Market validation comes first. The successful candidate will establish evidence of employer demand for skills, trainee demand for training, product/customer demand, and realistic industry partnership opportunities.

Job Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Technical Education, Business Administration or with related field of study

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial leadership or management responsibility.

• Demonstrated experience in restarting, building, scaling, transforming or commercially developing an organization, business unit, training centre, manufacturing operation or market-oriented initiative.

• Strong practical experience in one or more of TVET, manufacturing, engineering, enterprise development, SME development or industrial partnerships.

Quantity Required: 1

Salary: Negotiable

Location: Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Reports to: Representatives of SELAM and Dorcas – Tabitha

Employment Type: 6 month probationary contract, renewable to permanent employment based on performance.

Job Type: Full-time

Duties and Responsibilities

Market Validation & Industry Partnerships

• Lead structured market research and direct customer/employer engagement before major programme or production decisions.

• Identify priority occupations, technical skills, products and services with real market demand.

• Develop and negotiate partnerships, MoU’s, trainee placement arrangements, apprenticeship opportunities and production off take commitments.

• Represent SEDD with companies, business associations, government bodies, community leaders and other strategic stakeholders.

• Build SEDD’s reputation as a credible, employer connected TVET and enterprise institution.

TVET Restart & Training Delivery

• Design the initial training portfolio based on validated labour market demand, including trades, duration, qualification pathways and learning outcomes.

• Recruit and onboard qualified instructors and key training administration staff.

• Establish trainee assessment, registration, scheduling, quality assurance and student support systems.

• Lead targeted trainee recruitment and work with industry partners to strengthen employability, internships and apprenticeships.

• Coordinate with Ethio Italy Polytechnic College and other relevant education partners.

Manufacturing, Production & Sales

• Validate products, customers, prices, volumes, suppliers and production requirements before committing resources.

• Build an industry/customer pipeline for job orders, production partnerships and product off take.

• Coordinate production readiness, equipment, facilities, materials and operational requirements.

• Lead the transition from validated opportunity to production and sales within one year, where justified by market evidence.

• Evaluate the Melka production facility and recommend the most viable operating site arrangement.

Operations, Finance & Team Leadership

• Build a lean, accountable team and establish practical HR, procurement, administration, finance and reporting systems.

• Manage the approved budget, monitor income and expenditure, and pursue appropriate revenue generation opportunities.

• Maintain compliance with Ethiopian labour, TVET and applicable legal/regulatory requirements.

• Provide monthly progress reports covering KPIs, financial performance, risks, stakeholder developments and priorities.

• Exercise operational autonomy within approved governance and budget parameters while escalating significant strategic, legal or reputational risks.

What you will deliver

First 3 - 6 months

• 5+ key partner companies with active partnerships and signed MoU’s or equivalent commitments

• 20%+ expected purchase commitment from each key partner company for validated production opportunities

• 20%+ trainee intake/placement commitment from each key partner company

• 100+ committed trainees in the first intake cycle

• At least one operational TVET programme with qualified instructors and functioning systems

7 - 12 months

• Operational training programme(s) with functioning delivery systems

• Production readiness achieved for validated priority products

• Production and sales launched

• Revenue generating operations established

• Assess the viability of the current Melka location, with potential relocation of training operations to Dire Dawa.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven ability to build relationships with private sector companies, government and other stakeholders and convert relationships into measurable commitments.

• Strong financial management, budgeting, business development and operational planning skills.

• Professional fluency in English and Amharic. Knowledge of Somali or other languages used in Dire Dawa is an advantage.

• Willingness to relocate to Dire Dawa and travel within Ethiopia as required.

• A passion for young people and a commitment to improving the standard of living for both rural communities and urban residents in the Dire Dawa region.

How To Apply

Submit your updated CV highlighting relevant leadership, TVET, manufacturing, engineering, business development and organizational related experience, a short motivation letter explaining why you are suited to the Business Revitalization Manager role and how you would approach the first six months and contact details of two professional referees who can comment on your leadership qualities, stakeholder-management or business development skills via email: biruktib2325@gmail.com