Position Type: Full-Time
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal, with travel to other locations within Nepal, as required
Reports to: Objective 2 Lead and Chief of Party

Activity Description

USAID Trade and Competitiveness is a five-year $18.9 million Activity with the aim to chart a new growth path for the Nepali economy as it recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Activity galvanizes Nepal to capitalize on global integration to diversity toward higher quality and higher value exports, foster sustainable job growth and income-generating opportunities for those that have previously been left behind by economic growth, and create greater sustainability and resiliency. The Activity is being implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP (Deloitte) in partnership with J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. (JAA), South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, and Environment (SAWTEE) and Deloitte, Touche, and Tohmatsu India (DTTI).

Program Objectives:

The goal of the Activity is to accelerate firm and sector level competitiveness, generate employment opportunities, and increase sales of firms through interventions that incentivize public and private sector actors across the ecosystem to adopt new behaviors driving outcomes across three key objectives:

1. Improve access to market-based financial and non-financial services
2. Increase productivity in sectors with high growth and employment potential
3. Improve the investment climate and business enabling environment, especially for targeted sectors
4. To support private sector-led economic recovery

JAA will be managing the tourism component in close coordination and cooperation with the Deloitte team and will provide international tourism, investment, and other expertise as needed to achieve the targets of the activity. JAA is looking to hire one long-term Nepalese tourism expert who will be the Tourism Value Chain Manager and point of contact for managing the activities under the Tourism sector. This position is based in Kathmandu, Nepal and will receive backstop support from the Home Office, international experts, and the rest of the USAID Trade and Competitiveness team. The Tourism Value Chain Manager will report to both JAA and to Deloitte’s Objective Two Component Lead, who in turn reports to the Chief of Party.

Tourism Value Chain Manager - Overview

The Tourism Value Chain Manager will lead the management and implementation of activities aimed at enhancing competitiveness, productivity and profitability of SMEs in the tourism sector. She/he will perform assessments to identify gaps and design and implement interventions to address them; facilitate the development of policies, strategies, financial services, and capacity enhancement activities; supervise technical programs and technical assistance to SMEs; develop partnerships with service providers and value chain actors in the public and private sector; support building resilience and promoting adaptability to changing market trends and enabling businesses to sustain growth and promote the adoption of digital solutions. The Tourism Value Chain Manager will work with the rest of the technical teams of USAID Trade and Competitiveness to improve productivity and competitiveness and promote private sector recovery and build resilience of SMEs in the Tourism value chain.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

1. Analysis, Review, Identification of key constraints to the growth and competitiveness of the sector:

• Identify key leverage areas to address constraints and improve access to finance and non-financial services needed to increase productivity and improve competitiveness of SMEs in tourism.
• Carry out mapping exercises of the current SME landscape in the tourism value chain and conduct an analysis relating to organizational, management, logistics, technical capabilities and other resources of SMEs to meet market requirements for competitiveness and harness opportunities. Identify and implement strategies to build resilience and promote adaptability to changing market trends and enabling businesses to sustain growth.
• Identify product/market segments of high priority for assistance.
• Identify key stakeholders for strategic partnerships in implementing key interventions.
• Prepare the Activity’s yearly tourism strategic plan aimed at achieving contractual targets.

2. Strategizing and Planning, Identifying Key Leverage Areas, and Designing Interventions

• Provide the tourism sector input for the annual workplan and for monitoring and reporting Activity progress.
• Design strategy and interventions involving various stakeholders like Grantees, partners, collaborators, BDSPs, BSOs (Business Service Organizations), ESOs (Entrepreneurial Service Organizations), TVTPs (Technical and Vocational Training Providers), Training Institutes, Consultants, Experts, Academic Institutions, etc.
• Manage tourism sector stakeholders on the design and implementation of initiatives that hold promise for high impact on Activity results, as well as for SMEs in the tourism sector.
• Develop strategies, plans and interventions to enhance the productivity, competitiveness and building resilience of the SMEs in the tourism sector and manage the implementation of tourism-related initiatives. 

3. Implementation of the Strategies, Plans, Interventions, and Deliverables

• Craft scopes of work for local and international short-term technical assistance and manage such short-term consultants following Activity protocols.
• Take lead in the implementation of designed strategies, plans of action, and designed interventions aimed toward improving productivity, competitiveness and building resilience of the SMEs in the tourism sectors.
• Manage relationships between the Activity and the tourism stakeholder community, such as various government and private sector actors (fund/finance providers, BDSPs, etc.) and any other associated stakeholders in relation to the cause of enhancing productivity and competitiveness in the tourism sector.
• Design and contribute to the success of international STTA and expert visits.
• Collaborate with Objective 1 in providing information to and linking with investors and financing institutions (bank and non-bank) to generate new investments and financing for SMEs in the tourism sector.
• Collaborate with Objective 3 in the development of institutional and legal framework and implementing measures to improve the business enabling environment to encourage investment and promote the growth of SMEs in the tourism sector.
  Collaborate with Objective 4 to accelerate business recovery and strengthen resilience. Providing targeted support is crucial for enhancing adaptability to evolving market trends and ensuring the long-term, sustainable growth of businesses.

4. Grant management and implementation 

• Lead the management and implementation of the various tourism grant lifecycle, ensuring compliance with the Activity’s objectives, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee the identification, evaluation, and approval processes for grant recipients, ensuring alignment with strategic interventions that enhance the productivity, competitiveness, and resilience of SMEs in the tourism value chain.
• Monitor and guide the implementation of grant-funded activities, ensuring the achievement of key deliverables, milestones, and performance indicators.
• Provide technical oversight and managerial support to grantees, fostering effective collaboration and ensuring alignment with the broader tourism sector development goals.
• Ensure timely and comprehensive reporting, documentation, and communication of grant progress, outcomes, and impact and facilitate knowledge sharing.

4. Other General Responsibilities

• Follow protocols as indicated by the Chief of Party or Component Lead.
• Maintain positive and productive relationship with tourism-related stakeholders.
• Represent the Activity when requested at conferences, forums and other events.
• Manage and supervise project activities, resources and personnel.
• Contribute regular inputs for weekly, quarterly and annual reporting, in addition to creating success stories, as may be required.
• Other tasks as may be assigned by Deloitte or JAA related to the Activity.

Deliverables: Take the lead role in producing all deliverables required under the USAID Trade and Competitiveness Activity related to the tourism sector, as defined by the Objective Two Component Lead and COP.                     

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business, economics, tourism, hospitality management or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of work experience related to development projects in the tourism industry and/or overall direction and supervision of tourism-related development, including 3 years of experience working closely with SMEs and value chain actors in the tourism sector.
• Desired qualification: Proven experience in managing grants and implementing interventions to enhance SME productivity, competitiveness, and resilience in tourism sector. 
• Understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and SMEs landscape of the tourism sector and them competitiveness/capacity/skills gaps
• Familiarity with market systems approach to value chain and SMEs development
• Advanced English and Nepali proficiency in reading, speaking and writing
• Experience working in a team environment, possessing excellent people skills and written and verbal communication
• Practical understanding of social inclusion, gender equity, and women’s economic development preferred
• Seeking a candidate with a proven track record of successfully implementing various initiatives, who is a go-getter and can drive progress effectively, prioritizing action over process orientation
• Must hold Nepalese citizenship.

JAA is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring is done without preferences related to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or marital status. Therefore, please ensure resume/application DOES NOT INCLUDE personal information such as gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion. As noted above, this position is open only to Nepali nationals.