The overall responsibilities of the BLU Team Leader are to provide leadership, vision and guidance and hands on support to the BLU Uganda Team, agri-processors within the BLU network and BLU partners and potential partners.
The Team Leader will manage the day to day aspects of BLU in Phase 2, and will create a relevant, efficient and professional Trade Support Organization for companies interested in doing business in Uganda and the African region, all while creating business opportunities for local partners that match demand in Europe. In order to achieve this, the BLU Team Leader must have a versatile professional background, and highly capable in driving the business and responsibilities which can range substantially across operations and execution, strategy, marketing, business development and stakeholder management, finance, project management, and innovation.
The Team Leader reports to and works closely with the BLU founders, based out of the Netherlands. In short, her/his responsibilities are to build a strong team, ensure the BLU team is operating efficiently and in line with the BLU priorities, build the efficiently processes that are scalable and ensure everything we do it cost efficient for quality and scalable.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Build and Guide the Team to Success
• Build a winning team that demonstrates BLU values, proactivity and grit
• Motivate and guide the team to achieve results and ensure they are supported, have the necessary autonomy, mastery and purpose at BLU
• Ensure every BLU employee is an effective project manager and a Subject Matter Expert
• Oversee the successful progression of projects and initiatives within BLU; provide strategic guidance and/or hands on support wherever needed
• Guide teams are operating effectively, efficiently and practically at a project level
• Ensure priorities are executed and in line with the BLU roadmap and strategic direction
• Implement scalable systems and processes to maximize efficiency and action
• Processes: Defines, creates, oversees the creation of efficient processes that simplify day to day responsibilities across finance, project management, operations, stakeholder management, M&E, Agronomy, etc
• Identifies the best systems and connects them: to benefit BLU and its network; build a strong system of organizations, individuals and networks continuously
• Ensures all work that is done is in preparation for long-term thinking and the creation of a scalable, professional, world-class Trade Support Organization
• Looks after day to day management of BLU Uganda as needed
• Provide Strategy & Direction
• Oversees the creation of a budget, budget system and ensures adherence to this monthly, quarterly and annual budget
• Create a Uganda strategy and annual roadmap that is in line with the BLU priorities and budget, donor expectations, industry trends and overall professional standards
• Lead the team to the progression and development of the 10 BLU pillars in order to be a leading Trade Support Organization in East Africa.
• Think beyond the day to day to create new ideas and adjust direction as needed
• Business and social impact: scaling up and out
• Creates structures and approaches to new and/or existing areas that support scale and efficiencies. This can include, but is not limited to, supply chain and distribution (collection centres of the future), business opportunities (value chains expansions), product / service innovation, beneficial partnerships, etc
• Raises the BLU profile through relevant innovations/technologies (3D printing, Fintech, SC processes, drones, etc)
• Builds and maintains relevant and useful networks within the agri-business community and beyond. Maintain a strong rapport with these stakeholders to further BLU priorities.
• Leads and Supports the commercialization processes of JF products both within Uganda and globally
• Creates the business case, verifies the business case and ensures there is a business case for all that we do at BLU that is scalable
• Plays a key role in successful execution on the ground in order to prove the Trade, not Aid concept
• Stays abreast new ideas, industry trends, opportunities for BLU and the BLU network and shares ideas based on the triple scan
• Reporting and Relationship Management
• Oversees the development of major projects being designed and developed by the Team, ensures compliance with donor obligations and internal standards
• Relationship-building and customer care: Builds relationships and ensures current stakeholders/BLU Companies are up to date on key information informally and/or through monthly/quarterly updates
• Everyone is proud to be a BLU Ambassador, and shows it
• Ensures the strategy and direction is clear and concise for the BLU team so that they are engaged and can represent the brand and organization positively
• Establishes a content plan and ensure BLU team buy-in to raise the profile of BLU and its brands
• Ensures the BLU team assists in content creation to better promote BLU and BLU’s brands (Product reviews, newsletters, blogs, promotion through their own communities)
• Encourages promotion of the brand via his/her personal social media accounts, being an opinion leader in his/her community

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• Have 10 years of International experience across business and business functions such as general business management, marketing, supply chain, business development, customer behavior, operations, communications, etc
• Have 10 years of international experience in the FMCG/consumers goods sector in Europe and/or North America + experience working with or for global retailers and food industry with understanding of their requirements and way of working
• Must a strong network related to the Netherlands/Europe and North America for business development and partnerships
• Be able to build relationships at different levels, including both grassroots stakeholders up to C-suite executive and government officials
• Have a good understanding of data analytics and natural ability to make recommendations on data results to drive the business
• Proven ability to grow a large scale businesses
• Have experience in East Africa, with specific experience in Uganda, within the agri-business sector
• Hold a Masters from a tier 1 prestigious university
• Must already be living in Uganda
• Curious, versatile, able to see both the bigger and smaller picture and drive the vision of the founders/organization
• Must have a good fit and dynamic with the founders
• Experience managing a multi-cultural team