Job Title: Product
Development Coordinator
Development Coordinator
Organisation: Akola Project
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Akola Project:
Akola Project is a non-profit, social business that empowers women by
facilitating vocational training, employment opportunities, savings and loans
associations, education programs, support groups and leadership development.
Akola Project Mission is to empower marginalized women to transform the
physical and spiritual livelihoods of their families and communities.
facilitating vocational training, employment opportunities, savings and loans
associations, education programs, support groups and leadership development.
Akola Project Mission is to empower marginalized women to transform the
physical and spiritual livelihoods of their families and communities.
Job Summary: The Product
Development Coordinator will be responsible for sourcing all design materials,
assisting designers with creating trending, cost-effective and feasible
prodcuts, and for transitioning approved designs into production. They will
also manage material libraries, cost of goods, product line sheets, bills of
materials and quality control specifications. The Product Development
Coordinator will also be responsible for maintaining and improving profit
margins and troubleshooting material quality or costing issues. They will also
manage any procurement staff or contractors. This position will require a
strong connection with the mission of Akola Project and a willingness to give a
complete effort for the organization to meet its production, sales and
developmental goals.
Development Coordinator will be responsible for sourcing all design materials,
assisting designers with creating trending, cost-effective and feasible
prodcuts, and for transitioning approved designs into production. They will
also manage material libraries, cost of goods, product line sheets, bills of
materials and quality control specifications. The Product Development
Coordinator will also be responsible for maintaining and improving profit
margins and troubleshooting material quality or costing issues. They will also
manage any procurement staff or contractors. This position will require a
strong connection with the mission of Akola Project and a willingness to give a
complete effort for the organization to meet its production, sales and
developmental goals.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
1. Relationships:
- Build and grow relationships with local
suppliers of craft materials - Serve as an advocate for Akola Project,
promoting the vision, mission, and goals of the organization amongst the
community at all times to ensure Akola Project maintains a positive public
standing - Seek understanding with and unified
leadership alongside the Akola Project leadership team in the spiritual
development, social development and economic development of Akola women
2. Product Development:
- Receive new designs from US-based
designers and ensure that they are able to be produced by Akola Project
facilities and women - Photograph all new designs and prepare
online surveys for voting and feedback from the design committee - Serve as the middle man between US-based
designers and the Uganda-based production team to ensure that new designs
can be made in Uganda at the quality expectations of the designer and
Akola Project - Work closely with Uganda-based production
team to produce functional samples of new products, per the designs given - Send design samples to Akola Project’s US
office for review and approval - Provide the Supply Chain Manager with all
required material information, product specifications and quality control
information to assist designs to transition into production - Create detailed costing information for
all products and maintain up-to-date costing worksheets for all product
lines - Participate in brainstorming for new
product lines - Assist with writing and maintaining
technical specifications, marketing product descriptions and care
instructions for all products - Develop new designs and samples per
designers’ requests
3. Material Sourcing:
- Research and source East African materials
to be used in Akola Project jewelry, handbag and home good lines - Research and source internationally when
quality and/or cost effective-materials are not available in East Africa - Oversee all raw material-related processes
and programs, including material technical specifications, and contracted
procurement staff - Independently explore local suppliers and
resources that can be used in design and production - Manage sourcing, purchasing, inventory
planning and delivery logistics to achieve low cost of goods, minimize stock
outs and maximize inventory turns - Use material sourcing to establish ways to
differentiate Akola Project products from competitors - Work with US-based designers to forecast
new trending colors, functions, textures and designs and incorporate this
into material sourcing - Create design kits with newly sourced
materials to be sent to US-based designers
4. Material Management:
- Create and maintain material libraries for
the Uganda and US offices - Create and maintain a cost of goods
tracking system for all incoming materials - Troubleshoot any material costing issues
to maintain and improve profit margins - Troubleshoot any material sourcing or
material quality issues - Work with production/sales to repurpose
old materials and products - Fulfill design projects as determined by
Country Director and Design Committee
5. Administration:
- Keep records of all contacts, designs,
documents, agreements, and any other necessary records pertaining to Akola
Project - Track all expenses with appropriate
supporting documentation including contracts, receipts and invoices - Provide written activity reports to the
Country Director upon request - Assist other Akola Project staff as needed
- Perform any other duties as assigned
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
Experience:
- The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s
degree from four-year college or university in business management,
marketing or related field - Professional experience in product
development, supply chain management or related field - Exceptionally organized and high attention
to detail - Proven ability to think analytically and
plan strategically - Creative and resourceful; able to ‘think
outside of the box’ - Advanced proficiency in MS excel
essential. - Past exposure and experience working in a
cross cultural context preferred (ideally within an African nation) - Non-profit/small business experience
preferred
How to Apply:
All candidates should send their applications via e-mail with subject
line “Application: Product Development Coordinator” to Erica Hall at
[email protected]. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please include
the following;
line “Application: Product Development Coordinator” to Erica Hall at
[email protected]. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please include
the following;
- Resume/CV highlighting your education and
work experience - 1-2 page cover letter that outlines (1) Why
you are interested in the position, the mission/vision and Uganda
specifically; (2) Relevant work experience for the position and why you
believe you are the best candidate for the job. Be sure to cite specific
personal characteristics and work experiences that you feel make you
qualified to fulfill the required responsibilities; (3) The role your
faith plays in your work. - Name and contact information for at least
one personal and one professional reference
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