Job Description: Business Advisors

Location: Mumbai – 01 Pune – 01 Bangalore – 01 Delhi - 01

1. About TechnoServe:

TechnoServe (TNS) is a not for profit economic development agency which creates business solutions to poverty.
We work closely with rural and urbanizing women and men in developing countries to build enterprises that
generate income, create livelihood opportunities and fuel economic growth. Headquartered in the United States,
we operate in more than 30 countries.

TNS has been active in India since 2007, working to:

1) Strengthen value chains: We work hands-on with smallholder farmers, enabling them to grow high-value
products, engage with private sector companies and sell in profitable markets - F&V value chain;

2) Support entrepreneurs in poor areas: We provide business training and support to women and men who want
to create thriving, sustainable enterprises - large scale livelihood and institution building;

3) Promote sustainable local economic development: Our market-led approach increases incomes for target
groups, catalyzing further economic and social development in their communities - access to finance.

We are presently working with a diverse set of partners and funders, including Capgemini, Cargill, Citi Foundation,
HDFC Bank, Kellogg, NABARD, Visa Foundation, Walmart Foundation, etc. to execute largescale, multi-year
programs, based on our core areas of expertise. In the past, we have worked in various organisations including
Abbott, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Cairn Energy, IFC Advisory, JP Morgan, National Rural Livelihoods
Promotion Scheme and USAID. In 2021 alone, TechnoServe facilitated incremental financial benefits in excess of $
25 Million for its 54,000+ beneficiaries across 8 states in India. Internationally, our work has been recognized for its
high impact and returns on donor investment. In November 2019, we were awarded as the “#1 Non-Profit” among
1,000 non-profit organisations in the category of “reducing poverty” by ImpactMatters, an independent charity
evaluator which rates charities on impact and cost-effectiveness. TechnoServe has won numerous awards for the
work in India and all information can be found in our website.

TNS is working to support the livelihoods of small entrepreneurs and connect them with leadership and business
skills. The initiative is to support enterprising people to transform their roles in their businesses, and to strengthen
the ‘Growing Green Enterprises’ in the local communities by taking on leadership roles to drive employment
opportunities and sustainable eco-systems.

More information on TNS can be found at www.technoserve.org

Read more about our work on Entrepreneurs tackle plastic problem

2. Program Description:

TechnoServe will launch a multiyear ‘Green Entrepreneurship Accelerator’ program, to build the capacity of small
and growing entrepreneurs (SGBs) with an aim to have a transformative impact. The ambitious program in
partnership with IKEA aims to achieve environmental and sustainable goals by scaling up small & growing green
businesses. The program team will work with 400 green small and growing enterprises directly impacting the
businesses in waste, textiles and forestry industries over the next 3-4 years. The program will enable Green SGBs to
achieve greater environmental impact, and enable them to operate at scale. In the long term the learnings from this
multi-year program will be incorporated into green accelerators worldwide (A tour of our business training for
woman entrepreneurs in India program).
Our program includes the following unique elements:
1. Holistic approach: The program offers a package of support, designed to address the interactions between
different barriers faced by green SGBs. This multi-dimensional approach ensures that green SGBs can
effectively address their constraints.
2. Bespoke Support: Given the diversity of green SGBs and their unique challenges, the proposed program will
provide targeted support, based on the specific short- and medium-term priorities identified by each green
SGB.
3. Green assistance from specialized consultants: Our program will provide in-depth support and handholding
by specialized consultants on tracking environmental impact, accessing emerging green technologies for
production, packaging, product design, etc.
4. Network Effect: The program aims to create a network effect across all its stages, enabling Green SGBs to
thrive independently, even after the program ends. TechnoServe will facilitate access to green knowledge
sharing and ecosystem platforms, emerging research from academia in the environmental space, and
networks of peers.
5. Extended execution support: We recognize that green SGBs are constantly developing and testing new
ideas, which require time. We will therefore provide execution support for an extended period, throughout
Green SGBs’ journeys of implementing innovative ideas.

The project will support program participants and lead SGBs addressing key areas for their growth:

i) Provide training on business and management skills, and planning advisory to develop business plans
and identify short term and mid-term priorities.
ii) Provide one to one business advisory support and mentorship by industry insiders.
iii) Identify partners for access to finance and support in developing fundraising plans.
iv) Facilitate linkages between Green SGBs and financial institutions, green financing firms, government
subsidies etc.
v) Provide exposure to a gamut of service providers through seminars, etc.
vi) Enable access to knowledge sharing and ecosystem platforms for Green SGBs.
vii) Facilitate peer networking within Green SGBs.
viii) Facilitate access to green technologies and research institutes and assistance by specialized
consultants.

3. Role Description:

The incumbent will be accountable for:

A. Project Management
 Managing and implementation of program deliverables as per the timeline
 Facilitating mobilization and selection of Green Entrepreneurs
 Monitoring and tracking progress of businesses in the program

B. Business Advisory Support

 Developing, preparing and facilitating training topics and workshops to the beneficiary
businesses/entrepreneurs.
 Developing strategic tools that contribute to strengthen knowledge and improve the performance and
growth of the businesses.
 Providing targeted support, based on the specific short- and medium-term priorities identified by each
enterprise.
  Providing one on one business advice to entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of the program,
providing comprehensive advice in different key areas (marketing and sales, costs and finances,
operations, legal aspects, among others).
 Providing individual mentorship to program participants; diagnosing individual needs of the start-up
businesses and help scale and improve their environmental impact.
 Facilitating the development of a business growth plan for all program beneficiaries, with clear
milestones.
 Facilitating entrepreneurs with access to start-up funding and business support for beneficiaries
through green financing firms (venture capital and impact investors).
 Conducting periodic meetings/workshops (either virtual or in-person) for peers to exchange ideas of
tested green solutions, business models, marketing strategies, etc
 Supporting in making Green SGBs capable of adapting to and managing uncertainties in the COVID-19
pandemic

C. Stakeholder Management
 Supporting businesses to connect with green networks to promote information sharing, collaboration,
and nurture innovation.
 Supporting entrepreneurs in anchoring important discussions with market players; research
organisations, market buyers, financial Institutions, industry experts, etc
 Providing technical & program management support to senior management in monitoring the project,
oversee training activities and curriculum design, mobilization efforts, convergence with government
schemes, etc.
 Providing information on the progress of the program to Senior leadership team

D. Knowledge management
 Enhancing knowledge sharing through exposure visits, sharing experiences of similar projects
undertaken, approach paper, development of manuals; guidelines; good practice notes; knowledge
materials, etc.
 Creating a repository of knowledge on markets, value chain partners and different financial institutions
and their products.

E. Reporting and analysis

 Consolidating and reporting key data, field level intelligence, performance of enterprises and cohort
and oversight to administration activities.
 Coordinating with M&E team and suggest key insights to ensure project targets are on track.

4. Requirements:
 MBA in Management / Business Administration / Economics / Marketing / Development from reputed
institutions
 8-12 years of experience with start-ups businesses, development sector / corporate organizations
 4 years of management consulting and project management experience preferred
 Experience of managing projects focused on entrepreneurship and scaling business operations
 Exposure to building enterprises will be added advantage
 Flare for travel as the job profile requires 70% travel time
 Experience of managing diverse teams
 Sound knowledge M/S Word/ Excel/ PPT
 Demonstrated ability to create and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, high growth mindset,
and possess strong solving skills, self-motivated and able to work independently.
 Applicants should be open to relocate to any of the major cities in India

5. Application Instructions:
Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word-formatted single document consisting of cover letter,
resume (in MS Word format) and salary history to Sridhar at sshankar@tns.org Please identify the position for
which you are applying in the subject line.

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer