Managing Director

AGOVA MANAGING DIRECTOR

Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Contract Length: 2 years, with the possibility of extension
Position Reporting To: Agova Board of Directors
Compensation and Benefits: Explained on Page 4 below

About Agova:
Agova is an impact-driven consultancy firm that develops shared value growth strategies for businesses and solves problems tied to this growth. Since 2014, Agova has been delivering strategy consulting and technical assistance to the business sector in Zambia to develop ‘Shared Value’ (or inclusive) business models and services that have economic, social and environmental benefits. In line with Shared Value principles, Agova works with its clients to ensure that they meet their commercial objectives whilst improving the livelihoods of their low-income customer and supplier segments.

Agova offers a package of consulting services which include; research-based services (market research, customer-centric research, impact measurements), planning & feasibility services (business planning, financial modelling, feasibility studies), and implementation-based services (project management and capacity building). Agova’s work with companies such as Syngenta, Mt Meru, Good Nature Agro and a range of small and large organisations have resulted in reaching over 100,000 low-income customers in Southern Africa with commercially viable services and products that improve their livelihoods.

Agova currently has a growing staff of 15 people. The company doubled its revenue from 2020 to 2021 and is intending to reach $1,000,000 revenue in the next 2 years. Agova is in a very exciting and critical phase of its development journey, looking to further grow and scale its model within Zambia and in the wider region, all the whilst ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the company.

Job Description:
Agova is looking for someone with exceptional entrepreneurial, leadership and business development capabilities to lead our 15+ team and ensure the successful execution of Agova’s strategic goals in Zambia. The key focus areas of this role are: management of the company’s profitability, oversight of Agova’s key department functions, business development and client recruitment in Zambia, and senior-level consulting on client projects in Zambia. More than anything, we are looking for someone who is passionate and deeply driven by the idea that the private sector can be leveraged to address complex socio-economic and environmental challenges -i.e. Shared Value!

They key accountability areas for this role are described in more detail below, with an estimation on the time allocation percentage for each area:

1. General Management – Estimated Time 30%
Ensuring that the company’s key functional areas are performing well, and are on track to meet their KPIs and Annual Strategic Priorities. Agova’s key functional areas are structured in “Mini Business Areas” (Departments), typically led by a Manager or Director. The current MBAs (Mini Business Areas) are: Finance & Admin, Talent, Consulting & Client Relations and Marketing & Business Development. The structure / number of these MBAs may evolve and change as the company grows.

2. Business Development & Client Recruitment – Estimated Time 40%
Identifying and closing new client projects and opportunities, or retaining existing ones, in line with Agova’s annual revenue target. This role will be responsible for bringing in at least 50% of Agova’s annual revenue target. Agova intends to grow its annual revenue to at least 1,000,000 within the next 2 years.

3. Consulting on Client Projects – Estimated Time 20%
Providing senior-level consulting services with Agova’s key SME, corporate or NGO clients. At this position level, consulting typically involves: managing the client relationship, providing technical guidance and quality control to the team of consultants assigned on the project, project managing the team of consultants to ensure they are completing project deliverables and milestones as per agreed timelines. Client projects will range in scope and sectoral focus but will typically address a business development challenge or opportunity that a client is facing, and the role will involve supporting them to address this with a shared value lens. Agova usually works in the following sectors: agriculture, banking & financial services, renewable energy, SME development and digital services.

4. Consulting Quality Assurance – Estimated Time 10%
Ensuring the high-quality service delivery of our shared value consulting services. This will involve the refinement of Agova’s consulting methodology, setting and adjusting the standards of quality for consulting work deliverables, building the skills of our consulting team to deliver high-quality work. This area will be implemented in close collaboration with Agova’s Director of Consulting & Client Relations.

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Reporting to the Agova Board of Directors on company KPIs and Strategic Priorities via Board Meetings and other periodic reporting channels
• Conduct Agova’s annual strategic development process and set annual Strategic Priorities and KPIs for the company
• Line management and skill-building support to Agova’s department heads: Talent Manager, Director of Consulting & Client Relationships, Finance Manager and Marketing & Business Development Manager
• Take accountability over Agova’s annual profitability target and overall financial health, ensuring that key drivers of the P&L within the business are addressed in order to do so
• Lead the client recruitment and fundraising process targeting client projects and opportunities in Zambia. This will involve: leading client meetings, proposal writing, pitch presentations, contract negotiations, etc..
• Cultivate strong relationships with Agova’s clients, to ensure high client satisfaction and that client needs are addressed across projects
• Provide input and creative ideas into Agova’s consulting methodology, identifying tools / resources that will add value and give Agova a competitive edge and are in line with Agova’s long-term strategic goals

Support the development and improvement of key internal processes, to enable functional areas to perform efficiently and effectively

• Drive Agova’s culture and enabling environment to attract, retain and support the development of high-quality talent
• Live and breathe Agova’s values, vision, mission and goals

Required Skills and Experience:

• Purpose-driven. Deep commitment and strong drive to have social impact through private sector development. Deep commitment to Shared Value principles.
• Advanced / Masters degree, ideally Masters of Business Administration.
  8-15 years of relevant work experience, ideally with the private sector in the business development / management consulting industry.
• Very good understanding and demonstrated experience of management consulting / strategy consulting approaches.
• Very good understanding and demonstrated experience of developing and working on inclusive business / shared value business models.
• Robust understanding of the business development consulting space in Zambia and the region, and is able to identify opportunities for shared value business growth in under-developed and high-growth sectors.
• Demonstrated experience of maintaining high-profile client relationships and interacting with executive levels of staff.
• Leadership experience in Africa and experience managing teams across cultural boundaries.
• Well networked in Zambia, and ideally, the wider region. Has very strong networks in the private, NGO, impact investing, and other relevant sectors.
• Strong financial management skills and demonstrated experience achieving positive financial results.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in crisis management, and ability to deliver work in a “high pressure” environment.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and approach: demonstrating strong creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Preferable: technical expertise in some sectors, to be able to consult as a senior consultant: e.g. fintech, digital, agriculture, mining, health, etc.

Package & Benefits:

The proposed compensation structure for the Managing Director reflects the fact that Agova is still a small and growing company, that is looking for someone that is driven by a mix of different incentives, and by a performance-based structure that aligns with the prospect of growing and developing Agova.

1. Fixed monthly gross salary that is within the Managing Director salary range of Agova’s staffing level framework . The range for the Managing Director monthly gross salary is: Lower Range: 65,000 ZMW and Higher Range: 95,000 ZMW. This is inclusive of gratuity, the percentage of which can vary.

2. Potential to own shares in the company, up to 15% within 3 years. Potential to earn further later down the line, pending Shareholder / Board discussions and MD performance track record.

3. Performance bonus under Agova’s Staff Performance Bonus Distribution Scheme which will be implemented as of 2023. This scheme stipulates that 5% of net profits could be earned by the MD if company KPI and Performance targets are met, and if Agova Zambia’s financial health is in a stable position. The release of this Performance Bonus is contingent on Board approval.

4. Sales commission or additional bonus based on client contract deals that are closed. Specific parameters and figures tied to this are currently under development and should be operational as of Q4 2022.

5. Other benefits that apply to all Agova staff:

• A health insurance package
• A small monthly communication budget
• Access to funding and study leave for professional development opportunities identified by the staff member, as approved by the Agova Management Team

Application Process

If you are interested in this position follow the steps below;
1. Please fill out this application questionnaire here.

2. Send the following updated documents Via email to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Agova Managing Director’ please address the email and documents to the Talent Manager and submit by Sunday March 19th 2023.;

• Your professional CV (maximum 2 pages in length);
• Your cover letter; and
• A copy of your degree certificate.
• A copy of your Advanced/ Masters degree

Please note: applications that do not follow the above instructions will not be considered. And only those who are offered an interview will be notified.