Hotels/Restaurants/Catering (HoReCa) Competitiveness Manager

Job Description

About IESC: Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries.

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.

Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.

Project Background: USDA Food for Progress Cambodia HortSafe (2024 – 2029)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress Cambodia HortSafe project is a five-year $15M project implemented by Venture 37, with IESC leading efforts to raise awareness and compliance with food safety standards among tourism industry actors. HortSafe will strengthen Cambodia’s food systems and increase productivity in fresh fruit and vegetable value chains in key horticultural production and tourism geographies across the country through the implementation of four key Activities:

1. Capacity Building – Government institutions to strengthen food safety standards and control systems;

2. Capacity Building – Enhance laboratory technical capacity in testing, inspection, and certification;

3. Training – Improve post-harvest handling and processing; and

4. Capacity Building – Increase food safety awareness and food compliance.

Position Summary: The HoReCa Competitiveness Manager will act as the Activity 4 lead, providing technical oversight for all activities related to capacity building, technical assistance, behavior change and information campaigns for actors within the Cambodia tourism sector. This position will oversee all technical aspects of grants under Activity 4 in collaboration with the Grants Manager (Venture37) and Horticultural Value Chain Manager (Venture37) and will directly supervise the Food Safety Behavior Change Associate (IESC), Food Safety Awareness Coordinator (IESC) and Events Coordinator (IESC).

Responsibilities:

• Lead the review and prioritization of current knowledge and capacity gaps related to food safety and food hygiene awareness and practices in Cambodia utilizing findings from the baseline assessment and foundational studies.
• Oversee the design and implementation of multi-media campaigns to raise the awareness of hotels, restaurants, wet markets, street vendors and consumers on food safety and food hygiene standards and best practices.
• In collaboration with the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager, liaise with the appropriate entities at the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Health to ensure maximum alignment with current government interventions and priorities.
• Guide the development of a comprehensive training program for food service professionals to improve compliance with basic food handling and hygiene principles in collaboration with the National Hotel Association, Cambodian Restaurant Association and National Tourism Association.
• Oversee, with support from Grants Manager (Venture37) and Grants Specialist (Venture37), the identification of high performing microenterprises in the tourism HoReCa sector for support under the Safe Food Investment grant facility.
• Supervise the implementation of a basic food hygiene capacity building program for street vendors, food stalls and wet markets in coordination with the Cambodian Ministry of Health.
• Spearhead the creation of a national program to recognize tourism food businesses who are meeting or exceeding both domestic and international food safety standards.
• Lead the development of robust scopes of work for needed short term technical assistance.
• Take part in routine pause and reflect sessions, providing updates against the approved project workplan and targets related to Activity 4.
• Support routine data collection in coordination with the  Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager (Venture37).
• Assist in the development of annual work plans and regular progress reviews.
• Contribute to donor reporting on a semi-annual basis, including but not limited to drafting assigned sections and reviewing for completeness and accuracy.
• Support the Communications Coordinator (Venture37) and other technical staff to develop success stories and other communications materials.
• Serve as IESC’s legal representative in Cambodia as required.
• Supervise other Activity 4 staff (up to 4 people). 

Recommended Minimum Requirements:

• A.B or B.S. degree required.
• 6-7 years of progressively responsible experience related to food safety for hotels, restaurants and catering services.
• Khmer and English oral and written proficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Previous experience working with or for FBOs in the tourism sector. 
• Previous experience working with the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Tourism related to food safety awareness or capacity building preferred.
• Previous experience designing or conducting behavior change campaigns preferred.

About the Organization

About IESC: Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries.

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.

Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.