Tourism Product and Enterprise Development Specialist

Job Description

Organization Strategic Goals Summary

The Ministry of Tourism aims to develop the country's tourist destinations in collaboration with various stakeholders and market and promote the destination at national and international levels through competitive marketing and promotional strategies. The Ministry of Tourism is working to narrow the gap in tourism destination and product development, specifically in carrying out a comprehensive mapping of tourism resources, undertaking product development, designing public-private partnership schemes, developing community engagement mechanisms, and enriching tourist experiences. Facilitates research on conservation and development of natural and cultural heritages for the benefit of tourism and can cope with the dynamics in the travel world and encourage foreign and domestic direct investments in tourism infrastructure. 

Duration of Employment: 2 years

I.    JOB SUMMARY:

The Tourism Product and Enterprise Development Specialist is responsible for identifying, conceptualizing, and developing new tourism products to strengthen Ethiopia's tourism offerings and create job opportunities for young men and women in the sector. He/She is responsible for creating a framework for developing concepts or creative ideas for craft objects, designing functional or decorative objects, determining specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes. In doing so, he/she identifies young people and MSMEs engaged in the tourism sector, designs training programs, designs project proposals, and develops standards and support systems.

I.  SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Responsibility #1: Planning and Management

• Identify, conceptualize, and develop new tourism products in regions and destinations to strengthen Ethiopia's tourism offerings and create job opportunities for young men and women in the sector.
• Identify young people's skills gaps in the tourism business
• Identify financial inclusion gaps in tourism-based MSMEs
• Upgrade current products, provide consultation and support to tourism businesses and startups, and create job opportunities for young men and women.
• Plan and implement training programs on destination management and product development.
• Design training programs in tourist commodities design, production, display, and sales for destination communities and small-scale businesses.
• Oversee business planning, management, operations training, and guide training for tourism products and tourist commodities (specific training conducted by other parties).
• Conduct site visits to tourism resources, POIs (points of interest), and analyze and provide potential development plans/concepts for each resource to make them attractive.
• Identify niche concepts/themes for each area based on its historical, cultural, natural and other potential to develop relevant tourism products and experiences.
• Test and refine tourism products when they are ready for visitors.
• Design and documentation of project plans for the development of new tour packages in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
• Set in place Community engagement mechanisms and assist local communities in identifying public and private sector funding mechanisms for destination development
• Formulate and implement community-based tourism, ecotourism and other niche tourism projects.
• Design and implement destination development programs and establish product development frameworks.
• Conduct research on tourism investment potentials and infrastructure gaps in and around tourist attractions.
• Prepare projects on tourist facilities and infrastructure development in different areas based on tourism potential.
• Prepare standards for tourist commodities and apply technical skills to refine existing tourist commodities.
• Establish a tourism Enterprise support system and assist SMEs development.
• Support and facilitate the National Tourism Resource mapping project.
• Establish and maintain Destination information systems.
• Research craft trends and customer buying patterns in order to inspire designs and marketing strategies.
• Develop product packaging, display and pricing strategies for tourist commodities.
• Create a framework for developing concepts or creative ideas for craft objects, designing functional or decorative objects, and determining materials, dimensions, and finishes specifications.
• Set a mechanism to build drawing skills, create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted, and select materials based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics for tourist commodities.
• Design and Promote a Tourism Business Incubator Program and leverage on existing programs.
• Devise strategies to promote tourism startups and facilitate the growth of existing enterprises.
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor or management

Job Responsibility #2: Staff Management and development

• Train and coach interns working with him/her
• Manage and support subordinates reporting to him/her

Job Responsibility #3 Monitoring, Evaluation, Networking 

• Develop and organize local festivals and events to make destinations more attractive, including sourcing partners and sponsors.
• Initiate and/or support the development of local, thematic trails and attract different stakeholders to support, manage and promote the trails.
• Collaborate with tour operators, train other tourism stakeholders, provide inputs on potential tourism products, and build relationships with these businesses to facilitate sales and promotion of tourism products.
• Mentoring and coaching the product development team in the Ministry to build their capacities.
• Build and strengthen DMO's partnership and cooperation opportunities.
• Design public-private partnership schemes to jointly develop parks and other natural resources sustainably.

Job Responsibility # 4 Reporting

• Submit monthly, quarterly and annual reports on performances
• Prepare ad-hoc reports as required by the Minster and other executives 

Job Requirement

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Education/Training

• Master's Degree in Tourism Management, Economics, business management, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, Ecotourism and wildlife management, Crafts Art, and related disciplines. 

Experience

• Ten years experience in working for startups, tourism businesses, enterprise development, Destination development, product development, marketing and branding, ecotourism and community-based tourism development, resources identification and mapping, a good understanding of crafts art and experience in Market research.

Values, Technical and Other Skills

• Proficient with MS Office
• Excellent writing, communication, time management, and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail
• Strong business acumen with analytical skills and problem-solving thinking
• Proficient project management skills
• Strong desire and curiosity to learn, continuously improve and expand skills
• Self-starter with the ability to solve problems creatively, manage multiple projects simultaneously and work with internal and external stakeholders.
• Business impact measurement, costing, marketing and sales plan, investment pitches and risk assessments skills
• Team player with the ability to seek out the views of others and build positive working relationships
• Impact-focused
• Ability to work within a multicultural environment
• Commitment to organizational and legal compliance and responsible management of donor funds