Business Lead, Social Business Unit

Company: Population Services International
Location: Washington
Posted on: May 16, 2025

Job Description:

Business Lead, Social Business UnitLocation: Addis Ababa, EthiopiaLocation type: OnsiteReports to: Acting Africa LeadTravel: Up to 20% Local & International TravelWelcome to PSI!PSI is a network of locally rooted, globally connected organizations working to achieve consumer-powered healthcare - people-centered health systems that ensure quality, affordable care wherever and whenever it is needed. Our origins in sexual and reproductive health have grown into a broader mission. Today, we work with the public and private sectors as well as local communities, prioritizing people's voice and choice and developing solutions to meet their essential health needs. Over the past five decades, we have helped push boundaries, break taboos, set trends, and develop innovative solutions to complex global health challenges.PSI is now moving forward with a Social Enterprise approach in key markets within the Southern, Eastern & West Africa regions. This approach includes using commercial models, appropriate marketing, and pricing strategies as well as driving procurement and operational efficiencies to set up and grow a sustainable business model for women's health products and services.Join us!PSI Ethiopia seeks to employ a dynamic and results-driven Business Lead for its Income Generating Activity unit that will help us execute to strategy focusing on generating sustainable growth of the business. You will bring a deep expertise and strong knowledge of the commercial pharmaceutical or wellness market to drive business growth, ensure operational excellence, and execute the social enterprise vision in the Ethiopian market. This role involves assessing and maximizing market potential, exploring new opportunities, and developing innovative business cases for a portfolio of pharmaceutical and women's health products. Additionally, you will ensure the strategic alignment of existing business operations, including sales and distribution, and drive the growth of our digital activities in Ethiopia.You will also be part of discussions to establish regional partnerships that ensure operational efficiency, foster business growth, and advance the vision for a fully-fledged digital ecosystem in East Africa, with Ethiopia being a key market in the region.You will report to the Acting Africa Lead and supervise in-market teams in Ethiopia, including a sales team, a warehouse team and a finance and admin team. You will coordinate closely with the PSI Ethiopia leadership on the nonprofit side of PSI and liaise with various teams at global and regional level.What You'll DoBusiness Development and Innovation:

• Identify and explore new business opportunities in commercial markets for healthcare and wellness in Ethiopia
• Conduct feasibility studies and assess the market potential for new commercial ventures.
• Develop comprehensive business cases and business plans for new ideas and projects.
• Search for and secure funds or investments to support new initiatives.Strategic Business Oversight:
  • Oversee the development and execution of strategic plans for current business.
  • Ensure business plans are implemented efficiently and effectively, tracking key performance metrics. Oversee P&L results and take corrective action as needed.
  • Provides guidance to the various business functions, including sales, digital and operations to improve efficiency and productivityDigital Strategy:
    • Execute the global VIYA digital strategy in the Ethiopia market
    • Collaborate with internal and external colleagues to develop a cohesive regional digital ecosystem and identify revenue streams through digital activities.
    • Identify and cultivate partnerships that can help accelerate the business vision roll out in EthiopiaStakeholder Engagement & Representation:
      • Position the organization within the local community by identifying stakeholders, seeking funding, and integrating evidence into business model design.
      • Represent the organization to local businesses, investors, governments, and other stakeholders, ensuring a balance between profitability and social impact.
      • Collaborate closely with the nonprofit side to align operations and strategic objectives.Operational Efficiency & Governance:
        • Lead the development of efficient systems to ensure operational excellence
        • Oversee financial, administrative, and logistical resources, ensuring adherence to standards, policies, and strategic objectives.
        • Support change management processes to adapt to new technologies and approaches.People Management:
          • Recruit, support, and manage team members, fostering a culture of highperformance, accountability, innovation, and client focus.
          • Prepare and execute annual budgets, work plans, and performance measures to achieve organizational goals.Performance Measurement & Reporting:
            • Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for both business and digital activities.
            • Gather data and insights to measure performance against strategic objectives, optimizing plans to improve business outcomes.Knowledge Management:
              • Develop and implement strategies for capturing, sharing, and utilizing organizationalknowledge to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
              • Foster a culture of learning by ensuring best practices, insights, and data are effectively documented, disseminated, and applied across teams and projects.
              • Promote the use of digital tools and platforms to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange among internal and external stakeholdersThis is not an exhaustive list of all tasks that an incumbent is expected to perform but is instead a summary of the primary responsibilities and requirements of the job. The incumbent may be asked to perform duties not included above. PSI reserves the right to revise job profiles at any time based on changes to the required job responsibilities.What You'll Bring
                • University Degree in Commerce or Marketing, a postgraduate qualification is essential (MBA).
                • 10 years' experience of which at least 5 years should be managing a P&L.
                • Cross functional (commercial) management experience (operations, sales, marketing, finance & human resources)
                • First-hand experience in the commercial pharmaceutical, or wellness sector required\
                • Strong understanding of healthcare market dynamics in Ethiopia
                • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
                • Strong strategic planning skills and experience in developing winning strategies for healthcare businesses
                • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
                • English Language proficiency is required for this role
                • Ability to work in fast-paced, diverse, and multicultural environmentsPersonal Attributes:
                  • Entrepreneurial minded self-starter
                  • High level decision maker
                  • Proactive, self-driven, passionate
                  • Excellent people skills and Emotional maturity
                  • Problem solving skills, critical thinker
                  • Strong Leadership and tenacity
                  • Action orientated
                  • Independent thinker
                  • Ability to recognize new business ventures
                  • Experience working with or in collaboration with social impact organizations and ventures.
                  • Strong network of contacts in the Ethiopian business and investment community.
                  • Experience in leading cross-border teams and managing multi-stakeholder projectsWe know that a long list of requirements may be discouraging, but don't let imposter syndrome or the confidence gap get in the way of you applying - we'd love to hear from you.About PSIDid you know that we have over 3,000 "PSIers" working across the globe in 40 different countries? We're a diverse group with a wide range of backgrounds from the medical industry to the music industry, all with unique skills we bring to the job. We value self-motivated people with a track record for getting things done in tough situations. We take our work seriously, but not ourselves.Interested in Learning More?
                    • About PSI: Who we are, how we work, and the challenges we seek to solve.
                    • PSI Career site
                    • Featured Projects: Flagship & Priority Projects
                    • Where We Work: PSI's Global Network
                    • Follow PSI Online: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTubePSI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, tribal belonging, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, special disabled veteran or uniform service member status or employment status. PSI is a safe, inclusive workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and it's reflected in our diverse community.#LI-AW1 #OFCCP24
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Keywords: Population Services International, Silver Spring , Business Lead, Social Business Unit, Other , Washington, Maryland