Business Development Advisor

Job description

Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is:

Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora. 

Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.

Connecting People – Transforming Lives. 

Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.  

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role:

This is an opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in the Solomon Islands.

Ideally, we are looking for an innovative volunteer with a blend of experience in business development, training and project management skills. All while being someone who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific.

Please note that the VSA will supports our volunteers by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.

Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role:

If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.

• Undergraduate qualification or three years’ experience in business or Social Enterprises
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to think strategically and understand organisational goals
• Sound financial management skills
• Excellent problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work with organisations that are semi-rural and have minimal resources

Our Partner Organisations: DIVIT Rural Training Centre & San Isidro Care Centre:

DIVIT Rural Training Centre (DIVIT) was established in 1972 by the Catholic daughters of Mary Immaculate - DMI sisters. The training centre is located at Visale, North-West Guadalcanal. DIVIT offers skills training to young people, mostly girls from rural areas. The training centre offers boarding facilities for young girls who live far from the centre. The centre works to provide a safe, healthy and positive environment conducive for learning.

DIVIT trains young people most of whom have dropped out of high school. Most of the girls are aged between 18 and 22 years of age. Most girls, being from rural communities and unable to afford fees, receive scholarships. Currently there are about 83 students at the training centre. Subjects taught at DIVIT include tourism and hospitality, agriculture, health and hygiene, clothing and textiles, carpentry, computer skills, English language and financial literacy. Graduates of DIVIT can use their skills to start their own businesses, find employment, and/or pursue further studies at institutions like Solomon Islands National University. 

San Isidro Care Centre (San Isidro) was established in 2007 as rural training centre (RTC) for young people living with disabilities, predominately hearing and speaking impairment. SICC is a charitable institution that operates under the Roman Catholic Education Authority and welcomes anyone with special needs regardless of denomination. San Isidro educates young people from the ages of 14 and over, over a period of three years. San Isidro offers courses in sign language, literacy and numeracy, agriculture, life skills (home economics), carpentry (woodwork) and practical trade and skills. San Isidro provides young people living with disabilities with training of basic academic and skilled subjects, of which they may otherwise be deprived.

San Isidro’s mission is to advocate for basic human rights for people with disabilities, their right to an education and an opportunity to build their skills and self-esteem to enable a life of dignity and wellbeing. Their vision is to change social attitudes towards people living with disabilities, ensuring their right to dignity and a decent life for anyone. At present there are about 40 students enrolled at San Isidro. Most of the students are deaf. San Isidro is managed by a principal from the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (MSSM) with the support of local teachers and ancillary staff.

The Assignment:

DIVIT and San Isidro are both based around 7km from Visale. Both Centres have projects that they are keen to develop to generate additional income. Most of the current income-generating ventures they have are based on agricultural crops and small livestock. A volunteer on this assignment would be working to support both DIVIT and San Isidro to identify new potential opportunities, conduct training in business and social enterprise and help build effective and efficient implementation plans. On this assignment a volunteer would be working with both principals of the RTC’s but they would also be working with the wider teams and students as well.

The Country – The Solomon Islands:

The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.

A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.

VSA has established a strong presence in Solomon Islands through its ongoing partnerships with multiple in-country partners, including strong relationships with Solomon Islands Government. 

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply: Please apply for this opportunity through our website. For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, you are welcome to email our recruitment team at: volunteer@vsa.org.nz. Noting that due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.