James Phiri
Solwezi
Summary
Hardworking and motivated professional with several years of experience and record of success in industry. Solid history in Commercial and Business management/Community development work/ M&E/ Customer relations / Programme development work coordination/Social work in rural and urban communities. I have experience in capacity building, community mobilization, Sensitization to ensure effective participation of community members including women in development projects/programs. Decisive leader with good planning and organizational skills.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Manager Corporate Planning
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
02.2023 - Current
- Leading and directing company activities in Planning, Strategic plan development, information and communications, monitoring and evaluation, business development and Corporate affairs.
- Providing advice to the Managing Director on the formation, development and application of policy and strategic decisions relating to the Corporate Services.
- Supporting the Managing Director in ensuring that staff and members of the public are well informed and up to date on developments affecting corporate services and the company in general (internal and external communications to ensure good company image)
- Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
- Developing systems so as to ensure review of procedures and systems of Governance Structure
- Coordinating the development, revision and implementation and monitoring of the Company Strategic Plan and direction.
- Providing an advisory and consultative service to line managers on all aspects of Business Development, corporate affairs, and Information and communication technology.
- Coordinating and managed all aspects of Corporate Planning (Annual, Quarterly plans), Business Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, supervision of periodic monitoring and evaluation of projects.
- I networking/interacting with government departments, community-based organizations/ leadership, tradition leaders etc.
Acting Public Relations & Commercial Manager
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
04.2021 - 02.2023
- Contributed to financial viability and sustainability of the company through effective and efficient billing, revenue collection and customer care.
- Implemented the company’s commercial policy in order to ensure efficient billing and revenue collection.
- Developed collection strategies and programs to improve collection efficiency.
- Consolidated daily collections submitted by districts so as to show total daily collections for the company.
- Consolidated Government bills for NWWSSCL-serviced properties and forwarded them to Lusaka for payment upon certification by GRZ departments.
- Investigated and resolved major customer complaints.
- Prepared management reports on commercial activities and submitted them to Senior Management and NWASCO as needed.
- Served as main communication channel for commercial matters between NWWSSCL and customers.
- Attended management meetings, represented NWWSSCL at fairs, sits on committees tasked with review of tariffs so as to provide technical input for new tariff proposals.
Commercial Officer
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
01.2019 - 04.2021
- Contributed to the company's financial viability through maintenance and revenue collection from GRZ, Commercial, and Domestic accounts.
- Assisted management in the implementation of commercial policy.
- Analyzed and executed commercial and revenue maximization strategies under management's guidance.
- Assisted management in developing collection strategies and programs, resulting in enhanced collection efficiency.
- Supported management by analyzing commercial data, devising debt management strategies, and putting them into action.
- Managed customer relationships to minimize risk of bad debts.
- Ensured that the commercial facilities and infrastructure are operational and maintained at all times in liaison with other key players.
- Enhanced customer service by effectively addressing and resolving customer complaints in a timely manner.
- Ensured revenue collection and proper documentation of all records/reports pertaining to revenue collection.
- Positively promoted the company and its services and ensure that a professional image is provided at all times to customers and the general public.
- Implemented and maintened a set of comprehensive Credit Risk Policies and procedures key to the Commercial Policy.
Commercial Services Supervisor
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Responsible for coordinating and managing all commercial services and related activities at the district.
- Managed the District Commercial Operation Activities relating to billing, service withdrawals, restorations, debt analysis, query resolution, customer commitments, visitation, disconnections and new customer connections by provide leadership and supervision to Commercial Assistants.
- Supported Manager - Solwezi in implementing Revenue Maximization Strategy at district level.
- Ensured revenue collection and effective debt management.
- Analyzed and compiled customer debt and commitment reports for the District, facilitating decision making by management for debt recovery.
- Ensured effective handling of customer complaints.
- Compiled statistics for commercial operating activities to aid in managerial decision making at the District and Departmental levels.
- Ensured availability and usage of relevant and approved documentation in operational execution.
Operations Supervisor - Sanitation
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Ensured overall coordination and supervision of Sanitation and Hygiene programs.
- Ensured the promotion and marketing of sanitation and create demand for the new sewer connections in the serviced areas.
- Ensured Billing of customers connected to sewerage network.
- Ensured the Operational and maintenance of waste water Treatment Systems.
- Ensured Operations and maintenance of Sewerage Treatment Ponds.
- Served as the central contact for all support services pertaining to WASH activities.
- Promoted awareness in communities on sanitation and hygiene education by effectively inculcating a sense of responsibility and ownership in order to ensuring sustainability of water and sanitation services.
- Promoted behavior change towards sanitation and hygiene practices and strengthen the relationship between NWWSSCL and the Communities by promoting dialogue and feedback.
Peri Urban Assistant
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
Solwezi
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Managed and coordinated company operations/projects in peri urban communities across the North Western Province.
- Demonstrated resource mobilization, project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation skills while effectively writing reports to donors and Management.
- Monitored & supervised the water kiosks operations & management as well as other water and sanitation installations in the peri urban areas.
- Recruitment and training (on kiosk system and management etc) of kiosk vendor (Volunteers).
- Conducted community mobilization and sensitization programs on public health, community development, and cross-cutting issues like HIV/AIDS, gender, corruption, and conflict resolution.
- Facilitated capacity building to enhance kiosk vendors' participation, specifically improving their entrepreneurship skills.
- Management of Kiosk Vendor Revolving Fund.
- Conducting research on livelihoods, analyzing data, and compiling reports for management, the board, and partners.
- Maintained up-to-date data base of operations in peri urban areas.
- Organized, facilitated and coordinated of meetings and company events.
- Provided regular updates to management regarding the impact of operations on socio-economic conditions.
- Facilitated the formation of task force teams in project areas/communities and capacity building of the teams.
- Provided backstopping support to staff in all eight districts of province, delivering desired results through training and coaching.
- Conducted performance appraisals and evaluations for direct reports.
- Networking through creation of partnership relationships as well as management /sustenance of the same.
- Collaborated with fellow employees to coordinate community activities, including HIV/AIDS and Gender issues.
Project-Community Liaison Officer
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited - Solwezi
Solwezi
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Managed and coordinated company projects in communities, focusing on community ownership and participation through the development of sustainability and engagement strategies.
- Coordinated and facilitated social-economic activities, community mobilization, and extensive community sensitization of crosscutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender, corruption, environmentalism, and poverty. Assisted with project publicity and related communications of information flow.
- Identified strategies in mobilizing and engaging communities.
- Monitored and evaluated project progress, assessed impact through Post Monitoring and Evaluation, and provided management with recommendations and technical advice.
- Capacity building on Water & Sanitation and Hygiene practices, Cross cutting Issues- HIV/AIDS and gender.
- Ensured full community participation and ownership of the project through training task force teams on their roles and responsibilities.
- Identified and coordinated resources for successful community program implementation.
- Ensured sustainability beyond project implementation phase.
- Networking through creation of partnership relationships as well as management /sustenance of the same.
- Collaborated with staff to coordinate community activities including HIV/AIDS and Gender.
- Assumed secretarial responsibilities in all company projects, overseeing document and data management.
- Performed data collection, compiled and analyzed data, and reported findings to management.
- Prepared projects progress reports, Documented project success stories and good practices, Shared lessons learnt.
Education
MBA -
Information And Communications University
Lusaka, Zambia12-2017
Participatory Monitoring & Evaluatition
University of Zambian
Lusaka, Zambia12-2017
Bachelor of Arts - Development Studies
Zambian Open University
Lusaka, Zambia12-2009
Skills
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Policy Implementation
- Business Administration
- Community Relations
- Community Sensitization
- Project Management
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Community Engagement
- Research
Accomplishments
- Contributed to improving the financial viability and sustainability of the company through effective and efficient billing, revenue collection and customer care
- Managed to improve collection efficiency at kiosks from as low as below 50% to above 95% on average, up scaled community participation in kiosk management, project acceptance and participation, and changed management`s low perception of the peri urban areas, and also contributed to reduction to NRW by improving response to plumbing complaints in the peri urban areas.
- Was able to facilitate the fulfillment of the Muselepete water supply and the Kandundu C Sanitation (DEWATS) projects through the development of sustainability strategies and community participation/engagement strategies.
- Was able to facilitate the fulfillment of the Solwezi and the Kabompo DTF water supply improvement projects through the development of sustainability strategies and community participation/engagement strategies.
- Was able to facilitate the fulfillment of the Mushitala phase 1 and the Wisdom MLGH water supply improvement projects through the development of sustainability strategies and community participation/engagement strategies.
- Organized and facilitated the fulfillment of the 2012 and 2013 North Western Water Supply and Sewerage Company Limited sponsored North Western Province Inter District School Quiz competition.
- Published and released two (2) Printed book based on my research entitled “Electricity demand and Load shedding: Impact on Zambian business. A case study of selected Solwezi based businesses” & “Effects of rural electrification on the Rural Poor in Zambian Communities. Case study of Solwezi Community. The book is on sale on online Book Shops: AMAZON, MORE BOOKS & Lambert Academic Publishing.
Personal Information
- Title: Development Economist/ Business administration
- Date of Birth: 03/19/84
- Nationality: Zambian
References
- Eng. Happy Musumali, Managing Director, North Western Water Supply & Sanitation Company, P.O. Box 110184, Solwezi, +260974386302, hmusumali@gmail.com
- Manson Sichali, Manager Human Resource and Administration, North Western Water Supply & Sanitation Company, P.O. Box 110184, Solwezi, +260960707077, masonbigsich@gmail.com
- Mushanyi Kapusana, Director of Engineering (Former), North Western Water Supply and Sanitation, P.O. Box 110184, Solwezi, 0977781750, ngafise@yahoo.com
Certification
- Economics Association of Zambia - Member
- Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication - Member
Timeline
Manager Corporate Planning
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
02.2023 - Current
Acting Public Relations & Commercial Manager
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
04.2021 - 02.2023
Commercial Officer
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
01.2019 - 04.2021
Commercial Services Supervisor
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
01.2018 - 01.2019
Operations Supervisor - Sanitation
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
01.2017 - 01.2018
Peri Urban Assistant
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited
01.2014 - 01.2017
Project-Community Liaison Officer
North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited - Solwezi
01.2011 - 01.2014
MBA -
Information And Communications University
Participatory Monitoring & Evaluatition
University of Zambian
Bachelor of Arts - Development Studies
Zambian Open University
- Economics Association of Zambia - Member
- Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication - Member
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