Women's Business Resource Centre Manager, PNG

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy, and is an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked to build the political, market and civic institutions vital to a democratic societies and private sector led economies. CIPE’s key program areas include anti-corruption, public governance reform, support of civil society, property rights, economic empowerment of at-risk communities, and opening political space in closed societies

Background: In Papua New Guinea, CIPE is implementing a women’s economic empowerment project funded by the U.S. and Australian governments. The overarching mission of this CIPE project is to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in Papua New Guinea through establishing a Women’s Business Resource Centre (WBRC), integrating entrepreneurship into the curriculum of Papua New Guinean universities, and providing technical assistance to women’s business organizations in PNG. The WBRC is housed at: 

Century 21 Building 

Lot 51, Section 35, Kunai Street, Hohola 

(PO Box 599) 

Konedobu, NCD 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

The WBRC serves as a resource hub for women of all backgrounds, from university-educated women with an interest in starting a business to women with limited formal education with a desire for basic skill development. The WBRC offers training and professional education workshops, access to information, mentorship programs, and coworking space so that women entrepreneurs can quickly access the resources needed to thrive, especially as they recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19. To meet WBRC members’ growing desire for more advanced content, CIPE envisions the WBRC to be a laboratory for innovative programming and tailored entrepreneurship content, organized into higher-level fee-based certificate courses, free basic entrepreneurship and learning courses, WBRC membership inclusive of events and services, and other revenue-raising services. 

Indeed, CIPE is currently registering the WBRC as an independent institution  offering more formal learning opportunities. This impetus came from the demands of the WBRC users themselves, seen as a result of two main reasons: a natural progression of learning resulting in knowledge acquisition and demand for advanced content, as well as members’ desire for official qualification of their learnings. Efforts are underway to complete the steps required in building such a learning institution, such as developing an entrepreneurship curriculum that meets national standards, identifying local PNG facilitators and trainers, among others. The WBRC will build and expand quickly as it serves aspiring and established women entrepreneurs with increased expertise and efficiency.

Efforts are currently underway to expand the WBRC network into the provinces for extended reach and impact. The PNG WBRC is in the process of sharing its experiences and know-how with other organizations through a formal partnership. Current partners include organizations based in Alotau, Lae, Madang, and Goroka, with additional conversations with others. The PNG WBRC is also a part of a larger network of WBRCs started by CIPE around the world, allowing for exchanges with WBRCs in countries including but not limited to Guatemala, Morocco, and Ethiopia.

Position: Centre Manager, PNG Women’s Business Resource Centre

Reports To: CIPE Country Director, Papua New Guinea

Scope: CIPE PNG is seeking a full-time Centre Manager with unrelenting pursuit of excellence to actively support the strategic growth and manage the day-to-day operations of the Women’s Business Resource Centre (WBRC) in Port Moresby. The WBRC is a dynamic, fast-paced environment visited by women of all different socio-economic backgrounds to safely access timely and credible information and resources. The Centre Manager will provide support to CIPE’s PNG Country Director and Deputy Country Director (also known as "PNG Senior Management") and play a key role in overseeing the expansion of the Centre’s activities while ensuring quality and accountability to donors and community stakeholders. Roles will include management of the WBRC’s operations and human resources, as well as executing strategies to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives. In addition to strong management and administrative skills, the candidate must be a strong advocate for women’s rights and familiar with learning environments. The position will require the ability to comfortably and confidently interact and liaise with a wide spectrum of local and international stakeholders, as well as manage a new and growing team. The candidate must be available 44 hours per week including Saturdays mornings to support activities related to CIPE’s women’s empowerment programs and is required to be located in Port Moresby to be physically in the office for work at the WBRC.    

Responsibilities:

Operations 

• Oversee the implementation of CIPE’s collaboration with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director manage the day-to-day operations of the Women’s Business Resource Centre (WBRC).  

• Supervise the development and organization of all levels of technical and vocational learning, business enhancement services, and membership services offered at the WBRC.  

• Ensure high quality of training programs, services and educational resources to be provided by the WBRC and maintain a schedule of events. 

• Oversee the procurement and organization of educational materials for a broad range of users, such as books, articles, and various sources of information on topics related to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, small business management, and women’s empowerment, and the timely availability of these resources to WBRC visitors. 

• Support the PNG Senior Management in managing the WBRC ’s human capital – hiring and onboarding, professional development and evaluation, offboarding.  

• Implement strong data collection and documentation practices, ensuring project indicators are updated in a timely manner 

• Maintain the logistics and facilities of the WBRC to safeguard the Centre as a welcoming and well-functioning space. 

• Develop and suggest new or improved operations processes where necessary. 

• Should the WBRC Program Manager be absent for any reason, he/she shall be responsible for arranging a substitute in a timely manner.  

Strategy and Organizational Management  

• Form new and maintain strong partnerships with community stakeholders and members of the international donor community. 

• Assist in maintaining policies and procedures to effectively manage grants and contracts, providing support for compliance with donor and audit requirements. 

• Oversee the process of gathering and recording timely feedback from users by:  

  • Gathering data on WBRC visitors using CIPE intake forms, surveys and methodologies. 

  • Interviewing individual participants and conducting focus group discussions) to gather more in-depth information on how users are benefitting from WBRC events and services and better understand their needs; tabulate and assess this feedback to improve future events.  

  • Communicating results of data collection and programmatic through regular and timely weekly, monthly, quarterly updates.

• Actively and regularly collaborate with CIPE’s PNG Senior Management and CIPE Asia Pacific team in Washington, DC on organizational management, strategy, and program design/implementation, some of which may be after hours.

• When necessary and in coordination with the CIPE PNG Senior Management, represent the WBRC at public events.  

• Support the implementation of the WBRC’s sustainability plan and business development plan for local sustainability of the Centre. 

Key Qualifications: 

• At least 5 years of experience in international relations, economics, development, or related field is required, and knowledge of and interest in women’s economic empowerment is highly encouraged. 

• Candidates should have at least 5 years of professional experience in project management and implementation, with ample experience leading the drafting of budgets and workplans.

• Must have strong grasp of budgetary and financial management of financial management principles. 

• Experience with proposal and report writing strongly encouraged.

• Candidate must have a strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, and be able to handle multiple detail-oriented tasks in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision.

• Candidates must have experience managing others and in leading and working in teams, including conducting performance management and supporting professional development efforts. Experience with planning and promoting internal and external events, which may often require engaging multiple stakeholders, delegating tasks, facilitation of meetings, and public speaking.

• Demonstrated ability to develop, establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including, international partners and donors, and local stakeholders, marginalized populations.

• Ability to handle multiple detail-oriented tasks in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision. 

• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to lead and work in a team environment.  

• Past experience in a start-up, small organization, or learning institution undergoing exponential growth is highly preferred.  

• Strong digital literacy with advanced proficiency in Microsoft environment, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Sharepoint and One Drive are required. Additionally, internet research skills, prior use of Google Suite and Canva, and familiarity with telecommunications platforms such as Skype and Zoom are also required.   

• Fluency in Tok Pisin required, with excellence in English composition, writing and reporting.   

• Must be able and willing to travel domestically.  

•  Must be eligible to work in PNG and based in Port Moresby for in person work at WBRC.

• Candidates with experience working on women’s empowerment, business advocacy, development, business and/or economics are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Duration: 

This is a full-time position following successful completion of a 6-month probationary period. 

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.