Senior Local Expert (SLE)

“Private Sector Development Programme to Support Small and Medium Enterprises

Government of Italy to promote Private Sector development. The project is to complete the soft loan component for a total amount of EURO 25,000,000 to be executed by the Ministry of Finance and designated local banks.
A technical unit called the “Facility Management Unit” (FMU) was established at the Palestinian Federation of Industries (PFI) with direct supervision by the Ministry of National Economy, in order to carry out the general task and responsibility of the project which is to facilitate an effective and efficient implementation of the project, and to ensure the proper implementation of the specific objective which is to enhance the private sector and to strengthen SMEs by facilitating their access to the existing Credit Line supported by the Italian soft loan.

The FMU is now advertizing for job vacancy for staff needed to run its program and activities for the period of 16 months.

He/she will report to the Palestinian Co-Director (PCD) through the Italian Co-Director (ICD).

Qualifications:
-University degree in Industrial Engineering or equivalent;
-Minimum 5 years experience;
-experience in industrial SMEs development;
-experience in business plan preparation;
-knowledge of the Palestinian private sector and particularly of Palestinian SMEs;
-computer literacy (Microsoft Office, Data Bank Management);
-languages: professional English and Arabic;
-Preferential selection criteria will be:
(i) familiarity with institutions, organization and facilitators of SMEs,
(ii) knowledge of laws and regulation applicable to SMEs development
(iii) previous experience in Projects financed by bilateral or international donors in Palestine
(iv) knowledge of the cluster projects in Palestine.

Duties include:
- to assist the Palestinian Project Director (PPD) and the ICD in defining the FMU work program and in securing its smooth functioning;
-to prepare on a regular basis progress reports on the FMU activities;
-to supervise the implementation and to keep updated the project website;
-to establish and maintain contacts with Palestinian firms, especially SMEs and collect information on opportunities for investment requiring financing;
-to liaise with entrepreneurs, local authorities and intermediary organisations;
-to assist SMEs in formulating investment proposals and Private Palestinian Banks (PPBs) in appraising requests for financing submitted by SMEs;
-to prepare, whenever requested, the business plan for the SMEs;
-to contribute to PFI Officers training;
-to organize and participate to meetings and visits to project sites and factories;
-to create and update the data bank which will include contacts, projects under consideration and in pipeline;
-to provide the potential beneficiaries with all necessary information about the project;
-to provide guidance within the framework of project strategy and expected results;
-to help in identifying national consultants to be appointed by the FMU;
-to organize workshops.

Interested candidates are invited to send their C.V.s together with a cover letter by email to: [email protected] , or by fax to: 02-2955046, no later than Tuesday 3rd, August, 2010. Only short listed candidate will be contacted.