Senior Business Advisor

TechnoServe; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization focused on business solutions seeks a Senior Business Advisor in Johannesburg to enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable workers in South Africa’s recycling sector. The role involves providing strategic direction for medium-sized recovery businesses and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in waste management, strong leadership capabilities, and advanced skills in financial analysis. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on community development through innovative business practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in enterprise development specifically within the waste management sector.
• Proven experience in entrepreneurship training and incubation focusing on micro-businesses and youth.
• Advanced IT literacy, specifically in MS Excel for data analysis and financial modeling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the program work plan for Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
• Recruit and enroll qualified Buy-Back Centres and recovery businesses.
• Provide specialized training modules tailored to the waste management sector.
• Facilitate business relationships between Buy-Back Centres and recyclers.

Skills

Waste Value Chain Knowledge

Operational Excellence

Financial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Environmental Science, Economics, or related field

Master’s Degree

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

About TechnoServe

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.

Job Title: Senior Business Advisor

Number of Positions: 2

Location: Gauteng & Mpumalanga

Grade: 8

Reports to: Implementation Manager

Program Overview

TechnoServe is collaborating with the Anglo American Foundation to enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable workers while creating new quality opportunities for youth in South Africa’s recycling sector. The program provides target beneficiaries with access to more, better quality, and higher‑paying jobs in the circular economy. Our ambition is to develop a center of excellence that demonstrates the viability of an integrated approach to enterprise development along the circular economy value chain.

Program Timeline

• Pilot Phase: A 15‑month pilot phase commenced in February 2025 and ended in January 2026. This phase focused on the townships of Soweto and the City of Ekurhuleni to inform the scalable model. The concept has proven and Phase B is a scale‑up in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
• Phase B: This a rollout across other townships in Gauteng and Mpumalanga from April 2026 until December 31, 2026.

Phase B aims to recruit additional Buy Back centres to promote connections among market participants in targeted recycling routes. This includes training, advisory, mentorship, and aftercare (access to waste, finance and markets), while gathering market intelligence to monitor performance.

Job Summary

Working closely with the Implementation Manager, the Senior Business Advisor will play a critical role in providing customized capacity building to medium‑sized growing recovery businesses (Buy‑Back Centres) and conduct all program activities for beneficiaries. TechnoServe seeks a seasoned and tested professional who understands and has documented evidence of working within the waste management sector.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Provide strategic direction in designing a detailed program work plan for the Gauteng and Mpumalanga rollout, ensuring alignment with insights gathered during the pilot phase.
• Lead the identification, recruitment, and enrollment of qualified Buy‑Back Centres (BBCs) and recovery businesses, applying deep sector knowledge to select high‑potential beneficiaries.
• Perform rapid technical and financial diagnoses of waste management businesses to assess professionalization levels and operational performance.
• Ensure that the Buy‑Back Centres work close with value chain actors to increase volumes collected and sold.
• Coordinate market needs assessments to identify growth sectors within the plastic and paper value chains.

Advisory & Capacity Building

• Support the design of and deliver specialized training modules tailored to the unique challenges of the waste management sector.
• Provide high‑level mentorship to business owners on operational efficiency, health and safety compliance, and environmental regulations, with tangible results.
• Facilitate off‑take agreements/business relationships between Buy‑Back Centres, micro‑businesses, and industrial recyclers.
• Bridge the gap for beneficiaries regarding access to finance, helping them prepare investment‑ready business cases.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Team Leadership

• Utilize TechnoServe’s robust monitoring system to track waste volumes, income increases, and adherence to program agreements.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks specific to the circular economy (e.g., market price fluctuations for recyclables).
• Ensure all project reports are produced promptly and reflect accurate data regarding sector‑specific impact.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with five years’ experience in Business Management, Environmental Science, Economics, or a related field. Alternatively, a Master’s degree with three years of experience.
• Evidence of expertise: Minimum of 5 years of experience in enterprise development with a demonstrable track record specifically within the waste management or circular economy sectors.
• Proven experience in entrepreneurship training, incubation, or value chain development focusing on micro‑businesses and youth.
• Advanced IT literacy, specifically in MS Excel for data analysis and financial modeling.

Required Skills & Sector Competencies

• Waste Value Chain Knowledge: Deep understanding of South African waste legislation (NEMWA), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and the dynamics of the informal vs. formal recycling sectors.
• Operational Excellence: Familiarity with Buy‑Back Centre operations, logistics, and material recovery facility (MRF) management.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to conduct financial analysis, risk management, and profitability assessments for waste‑related enterprises.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to engage with senior management in the private sector (recyclers/converters), donor representatives, and municipal officials.
• Leadership: Experience mentoring and supervising staff in a high‑pressure, target‑driven environment.

Required Languages

• English: Excellent written and spoken communication.
• Local Languages: Proficiency in local languages prevalent in Gauteng (e.g., isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana) is highly desirable to effectively engage with township‑based beneficiaries.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
• Change management expertise and the ability to adapt to the evolving needs of a pilot‑to‑rollout transition.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while maintaining high standards of integrity and professional ethics.

Closing Statement

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply. TechnoServe is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and the protection of staff and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation.

To Apply

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].