Project Officer-Business Development

Job Description

Title: Project Officer-Business Development

Company Name: United Purpose

Vacancy: 1

Age: Na

Job Location: Cox`s Bazar, Cox`s Bazar (Ukhia)

Salary: Tk. 66387 (Monthly)

Experience:

• 3 to 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Bachelor/Honors

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or related field (Master’s preferred).

• 3 to 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in livelihoods, small business development, or entrepreneurship training—preferably within humanitarian or NGO settings.

• Proven experience in financial literacy training, microenterprise development, or value chain strengthening.

• Strong understanding of market systems in humanitarian contexts, particularly in Cox’s Bazar.

• Experience engaging with women’s groups and promoting gender-sensitive livelihood models.

• Good communication, facilitation, and capacity-building skills.

• Proficiency in KOBO, Excel, and other data collection and analysis tools.

• Fluency in Bangla and English; knowledge of Rohingya or Chittagonian dialects will be given preference.

• Ability to join immediately will be given priority

• Strong technical and analytical skills in business and entrepreneurship.

• Gender sensitivity and understanding of socio-cultural norms in refugee contexts.

• Teamwork and coordination across multi-sectoral teams.

• Accountability, transparency, and integrity in all project operations.

• Problem-solving and adaptive management under tight timelines.

Project: Self-reliance improvement of rohingya women through technical skills development training (WPP) Project

Location: Based in Cox’s Bazar and frequent visit to Rohingya Camp in Ukhiya

Contract type: Fixed Term (initially for 2 months, with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds)

Hours: Full time

Reports to: Project Manager, WPP Project

Organization overview:

United Purpose is a UK based international development organization working in Bangladesh since 1993.

Self Help Africa (SHA) and United Purpose (UP) merged in late 2021 to implement projects to end extreme hunger and poverty in 17 countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The merger doubled its size and reach, with SHA implementing poverty eradication projects in 17 countries in 2022. The group includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, TruTrade, and Cumo Microfinance. In 2022, SHA will reach over six million people and invest €45m in over 100 development programs to improve food systems, access to markets, financial services, climate change, gender inequality, and access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Job Purpose:

The "WPP Project, implementing by United Purpose Bangladesh and funded by International Organization for Migration (IOM), aims to address economic vulnerability among women in border communities, where limited livelihood opportunities and gender disparities hinder financial independence. The project aims to empower 200 women through entrepreneurship training in café operations and handicrafts, enabling them to establish women-led businesses and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Key activities include comprehensive skills training in café management and handicraft production, supplemented by business management learning and in-kind support such as equipment and materials. These activities will directly support 200 trained women equipped with business toolkits and resources to launch enterprises in Rohingya Camp 9, 10, 11, 12.

The Project Officer – Business Development is a key technical position responsible for designing, facilitating, and supporting the delivery of entrepreneurship, café operation, and handicraft business development training for 200 Rohingya women in four camps. The position plays a crucial role in ensuring the project’s success by providing technical guidance on small business management, financial literacy, and income-generating activities.

The role is central to strengthening beneficiaries’ entrepreneurial capacity, developing sustainable business models, and establishing a functioning women-led café management team. It also contributes to post-training mentoring, market linkages, and the sustainability of women-led enterprises, supporting United Purpose’s broader goal of promoting self-reliance and women’s economic empowerment within the Rohingya response.

Key Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities include (not limited to):

1. Business Development & Training Support

• Design and deliver tailored training modules on entrepreneurship, café operations, and small business management.

• Facilitate sessions on financial literacy, bookkeeping, pricing, marketing, and profit-sharing mechanisms.

• Support the development and roll-out of financial management tools (e.g., ledgers, receipt books) for café and handicraft groups.

• Mentor participants to apply business concepts in real-life scenarios, emphasizing cost control and record-keeping.

• Provide continuous coaching to ensure post-training sustainability of women-led businesses.

2. Technical & Market Linkage Support

• Conduct rapid market assessments to identify viable opportunities for café and handicraft products within and beyond camps.

• Support the establishment and functioning of the core café management team, ensuring transparent and inclusive decision-making.

• Identify potential suppliers, buyers, and promotional opportunities to enhance product sales and visibility.

• Coordinate with relevant private-sector actors, NGOs, and local markets to explore future scaling or replication potential.

3. Implementation & Coordination

• Work closely with the Project Manager to ensure alignment of all business development components with project objectives.

• Coordinate with Camp-in-Charge offices, IOM’s Site Management and Site Development (SMSD) team, and community leaders for smooth implementation.

• Support procurement of in-kind business materials and ensure their proper distribution and use.

• Supervise and guide Community Mobilizers in day-to-day field engagement and beneficiary follow-up.

4. Monitoring, Documentation & Reporting

• Collect and verify training attendance, business formation records, and café management data using KOBO tools.

• Support post-distribution monitoring and provide timely feedback to the Project Manager.

• Document success stories, challenges, and lessons learned related to business development outcomes.

• Contribute to monthly progress reports, ensuring accurate, data-driven updates to IOM and UP management.

Key Relationships:

• Internal: Interim Lead-DRM & ER Unit, Head of Finance & Admin, Project Manager, Finance & Admin Officer, HR & Logistics Officer and the project’s relevant staff of the Country Office and field office.

• External: District levels local government authorities, relevant GOB line departments, health professionals and assistants, media, local communities and other stakeholders.

Grade: IIIC

Salary and Benefits: BDT 66,387 Per Month including Bonus proportionately and OPD