Anunțuri de Angajare

 I. Introduction

These are the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the position “Project and Community Manager for The Light Industry Association from Moldova”. During the contract the Project and Community Manager will report to the Executive Director and will work closely with the Future Technologies Activity funded by USAID and Sweden as part of the strategic partnership for the upcoming five years.

II. Background information

The Light Industry Employers Association (APIUS) represents the community of local producers of clothing, knitwear, leather goods, footwear and accessories and is dedicated to the competitive development of the light industry, addressing the needs of the private sector, state support and the experience of similar professional organizations.

Moldova’s light industry is one of the largest exporters and key employers of Moldovan women, particularly in rural areas. However, COVID-19 has highlighted the need for companies to align recovery with long-term resilience through increased e-commerce, enterprise digitization, environmental standards and sustainability, and expanded marketing. Factories are struggling to reposition to premium EU buyers and achieve high-value services such as full product manufacturing and brand development. While the sector is the largest exporter ($391 million in 2021), digitization is sporadic due to low investment and lack of managers with export knowledge. Industrial waste is a major problem, with support needed to integrate circular economy concepts and green technologies across the supply chain and adapt to new consumer preferences for sustainable fashion and purpose-driven brands. Additionally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is likely to negatively impact exports to Russia, which made up 10% of Moldova’s exports in the sector.

USAID has been assisted the industry development since 2005 through APIUS and ZIPHOUSE strategic partnership which has been recently extended for another five years, through Future Technologies Activity Grants Support.

The Moldova Future Technologies Activity (FTA) is a five-year project financed by USAID and Sweden, and implemented by Chemonics International. The purpose of FTA is to enhance the competitiveness of Moldova’s transformative sectors, including light manufacturing, ICT, precision engineering, creative industries, and digital media production, and to improve the country’s integration with Western markets in these sectors. It will do so by facilitating sustainable partnerships between Moldovan business associations, centers of excellence and innovation, and similar institutions and anchor firms and regional and international business associations and investors; improving the productivity and export sophistication of local companies; fostering the introduction of green technologies and sustainable best practices; enhancing the access to affordable finance, and by creating a labor force that is better aligned with the private sector needs, especially for youth, women, and vulnerable populations.

III. Position Description:

This is a new development era for Moldova’s light industry that requires thought leadership and transformational initiatives across the entire value chain – from design to manufacturing and trade. The Project Manager and Community Member of APIUS will be coordinating together with APIUS  executive team the implementation of Moldova sustainable fashion industry roadmap, developed in 2021 with support from EURATEX, Europe’s largest textile association, which incorporates a current and post pandemic recovery model and the reinvention of the industry to align with digitization, sustainability, and fair-trade trends. In joint efforts with Light Industry team the Project Manager and Community Member will help Moldova’s light industry take advantage of opportunities for which the pandemic has acted as catalyst (with especial focus on near shoring, sustainable sourcing, and new circular business models, including factory automation, locally produced apparel, footwear and accessories promotion).

IV. Duties and responsibilities:

• Development and consolidation of the association's capacities;
• Attracting new members, registering and verifying the accession file, preparing the file to be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval;
• Launching information calls to the members of the Association;
• Issuance of payment accounts for the annual fees
• Contribution to diversification of new sources of financing and relations with donors and other stakeholders;
• Updating the database of light industry enterprises, including potential members;
• Coordinating the activities of the "DININIMA" umbrella brand (fashion events coordination)
• Coordinating the Digital Campaign and coordinating the efficiency of the online platform dininima.md
• Permanent monitoring of the progress achieved towards the proposed objectives and drafting of monthly / quarterly / annual reports to financiers, partners, donors and APIUS management in compliance with the data provided in the signed contracts and the approved Regulations.
• Ensures the drafting of protocol documents / correspondence with all relevant stakeholder;
• Develops industry strategy and exports tactics along with industry associations and key stakeholders.
• Provides input to the FTA Technical Team Leader regarding project activities, Monitoring and Evaluation indicators and all deliverables associated;

V. Skills and Competencies required:

• Higher education in economics, marketing or design & technology and work experience of at least 3 years;
• Knowledge of fluent Romanian and intermediary English. Russian is an advantage;
• Knowledge of the process of promoting products and services;
• Advanced communication skills;
• Knowledge of negotiation techniques;
• In-depth knowledge of the local market economic development;
• General knowledge of the local business environment regarding light industry;
• Demonstrates dedication to the mission, strategy, values ​​of the Association;
• Demonstrates integrity, fairness, honesty, transparency, independence and objectivity respecting the values ​​and ethical standards of the Association;
• Demonstrates respect and adaptability to differences in cultures, gender, age;
• Full computer literacy;

VI. Institutional arrangements:

The Project and Community Manager will report to the Executive Director and will work in close coordination with the APIUS team and FTA coordination team.

VII. Application process:

Personal CV, including information about past experience in similar assignments and contact details for referees (at least 3);

The application package shall be submitted electronically by 19.06.2022, to the following e-mail address: office@apius.md titled in the message as “Program and Community Manager, [applicant’s name]”