Value Chain Specialist -Leather

Title: Value Chain Specialist-Leather

Reports to: Program Manager

Location:  Nairobi, Kenya

Grade: 7

About The Organization

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase, and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Position Description

The Value Chain Specialist – Leather will play a pivotal role in a donor-funded initiative aimed at strengthening Kenya’s leather sector. The Specialist will provide technical and strategic support to enhance competitiveness, improve productivity, and expand market linkages for MSMEs operating along the value chain—from hides and skins collection to tanning, finishing, and product manufacturing.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Specialist will design and deliver targeted interventions that address raw material quality, processing efficiency, compliance with environmental standards, and access to both regional and international markets. The role will also drive capacity building for MSMEs, strengthen inclusive sourcing models, and foster partnerships with industry stakeholders to promote sustainable and inclusive business practices.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Technical Leadership

• Lead the development of comprehensive strategies specific to the leather value chain, addressing challenges such as raw material quality, tanning and finishing efficiency, compliance with environmental standards, and access to regional and international markets
• Conduct market systems analysis to identify critical leverage points, intervention opportunities, and sustainable transformation mechanisms that create lasting sector-wide impact
• Work closely with the Program Manager to ensure interventions align with overall program objectives while remaining responsive to the needs of leather MSMEs and findings from sector assessments
• Support the design and implementation of sector diagnostics, with a focus on strengthening supply chains, improving product competitiveness, and enhancing the financial readiness of enterprises
• Coordinate with other value chain specialists to identify synergies and cross-sector opportunities
• Support program workplans development and performance-based budgets for leather-specific interventions in collaboration with program management
• Support proposal development and resource mobilization efforts for sector-specific initiatives

Implementation And Coordination

• Coordinate technical assistance to tanneries, artisans, cooperatives, and MSMEs to improve hides and skins handling, certification, and upgrading of production processes
• Support the development of innovative, inclusive sourcing and aggregation models that link livestock farmers, collectors, and processors to a consistent and quality supply
• Facilitate participation of MSMEs in trade fairs, buyer engagement forums, and regional export promotion platforms (e.g., AfCFTA, AGOA, COMESA) for international market penetration
• Promote environmentally sustainable production practices, including effluent treatment, waste-to-value initiatives, and circular economy models
• Support enterprise financial readiness through investment preparation, bankability assessments, and linkages to financial institutions and impact investors
• Coordinate strategic partnerships with government agencies, development partners, and private sector players to maximize synergies and scale impact
• Execute comprehensive sector assessments and market intelligence gathering on trends, prices, demand patterns, and competitive dynamics to inform strategic interventions

Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Design and deliver tailored training programs on quality assurance, tanning and finishing technologies, product design, business management, and investment readiness
• Mentor MSMEs on adopting modern production and marketing techniques, branding, and customer-focused innovations while building sustainable competitive advantages
• Strengthen partnerships with industry associations, universities, research centers, and training institutions to support skills transfer and sector-wide upgrading
• Integrate women, youth, and marginalized groups into value chain opportunities, promoting inclusive job creation and entrepreneurship through targeted development programs
• Support product development and innovation, including design thinking, value addition, and market-responsive product lines
• Facilitate technology transfer by connecting MSMEs with appropriate technologies and equipment suppliers while ensuring sustainable adoption
• Organize stakeholder forums to foster industry dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective action on sector challenges and opportunities

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

• Collaborate with the M&E team to define leather-specific performance indicators and track results against program goals using advanced analytics and measurement frameworks
• Document and disseminate success stories, case studies, and lessons learned to influence sector knowledge and donor reporting while generating compelling impact narratives
• Use field insights and data to continuously refine strategies and ensure interventions remain relevant and impactful through adaptive management approaches
• Conduct regular market intelligence gathering and maintain comprehensive stakeholder databases and mapping of key industry players and influencers
• Produce technical reports and policy briefs that inform sector development, influence government strategies, and advance sector knowledge
• Support research initiatives in partnership with academic institutions to advance sector knowledge, support innovation, and contribute to global best practices

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure all activities comply with donor requirements, TechnoServe policies, and sectoral environmental and ethical standards, with proper documentation of performance and partnerships
• Monitor sector-specific risks—such as market volatility, climate impacts on livestock, and regulatory shifts—and propose comprehensive mitigation strategies with the Program Manager
• Support quality certification processes for leather products meeting international standards (ISO, REACH, OEKO-TEX) and maintain competitive market positioning
• Monitor and ensure adherence to environmental regulations, labor standards, and ethical sourcing practices across all intervention areas
• Develop contingency plans for supply chain disruptions, market shocks, and other operational risks while maintaining program continuity
• Conduct thorough due diligence on potential partners, suppliers, and implementing organizations to ensure program integrity and sustainable impact

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Leather Technology, Rural Development, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in value chain development, market systems, or MSME support, preferably within the leather sector or related industries (textiles, hides/skins, light manufacturing).
• Experience providing technical assistance and capacity building to MSMEs, including training in production, quality assurance, and business management.
• Demonstrated success in facilitating market linkages, B2B matchmaking, and strengthening buyer–supplier relationships.
• Strong understanding of inclusive business models, with proven experience integrating marginalized groups, including women and youth, into value chains.
• Proficiency in project management, stakeholder coordination, and reporting.
• Fluency in English required; Swahili proficiency is an added advantage.

Core Competencies

• Integrity and honesty: Is widely trusted; seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information appropriately and helpfully; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain.
• Team Work/ Relationships: Works co-operatively and flexibly with other members of the team with a full understanding of the role to be played as a team member and/or leader, to achieve a common goal. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and networks.
• Learning attitude: Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn. Actively identifies new areas for learning; applies and shares new knowledge and skills appropriately.
• Diversity/Inclusiveness: Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts. Interacts effectively and inclusively with people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, ages, and genders.
• Communication: Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations. Listens effectively; shares information, ideas, and arguments; adjusts terminology, language, and communication modes to the needs of the audience; ensures accurate understanding; acts in a way that facilitates open exchange of ideas and information; uses appropriate non-verbal communication.
• Decision making/Problem Solving: Is able to analyse situations, diagnose problems, identify the key issues, establish and evaluate alternative courses of action, and produce a logical, practical, and acceptable solution. Can make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary.
• Results-Oriented/ High Quality Deliverables: Stays focused on the efforts necessary to achieve quality results consistent with programmatic or departmental goals. Demonstrates the ability to achieve effective results; works persistently to overcome obstacles to goal achievement. Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; and accurately checking processes and tasks.
• Planning & Time Management: Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Effectively plans, schedules, prioritizes, and controls activities; identifies, integrates, and orchestrates resources (people, material, information, budget, and/or time) to accomplish goals. Prioritizes work according to the program or department’s goals, not just own job responsibilities; manages own time effectively.
• Business Acumen: The ability to use information, ask the right questions, and make decisions that make an impact on the overall business performance.

Application Instructions:

 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate based on gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation, and we thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe, please contact Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.