Program Officer (Enterprise Development Professional)

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About the Organization

WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) is a prominent non-profit organization committed to fostering economic prosperity alongside ecological security for communities in rainfed regions across India. Since its inception in 1999 and based in Hyderabad, WASSAN has worked intensively in four states and engages extensively through networks in another ten states.

With an annual turnover of approximately INR 40 crores and a dedicated team of over 400 staffs across various locations, WASSAN implements impactful programs focused on natural resource management, rainfed agriculture, and agroecological transformation.

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Enterprise Development Professional with strong experience in the development sector, particularly in agriculture, rural livelihoods, and micro-enterprise promotion. The role involves building, supporting, and scaling rural enterprises—especially those promoted by rural women and smallholder farmers. Telugu fluency is highly preferred.

Job Responsibilities

Enterprise Promotion & Development

• Support establishment of micro-enterprises aligned to demands of regenerative agriculture system and strengthening local circular economy
• Micro enterprises such as input supply, local processing, value addition etc with special focus on food system based enterprises such as millet based snack-making enterprises, cafes, Poshan Vanithas etc
• Facilitate enterprise planning: feasibility, business models, financial projections.
• Provide training on business management and production workflows to the rural entrepreneurs.
• Community Engagement & Capacity Building
• Mobilize rural women and farmers; facilitate trust and leadership.
• Interface between community based organizations (FPOs, WSHGs), enterprise groups/entrepreneurs, hyper-local markets and urban markets to strengthen local supply chains.
• Conduct trainings, exposure visits, demos.
• Mentor first-generation entrepreneurs.

Agriculture & Food Systems Knowledge

• Understand rainfed farming landscapes and local crop systems.
• Guide value-addition enterprises based on millets, pulses, oilseeds, spices.
• Strengthen production–processing–marketing linkages.

Business Operations & Market Linkages

• Set up accounting and stock systems.
• Facilitate business planning processes at enterprise , FPO level
• Support branding, packaging, communication.
• Identify buyers, markets, institutional channels.
• Achieve financial viability for the enterprises and community based institutions (FPOs) with respect to relevant business lines
• Achieve targets as laid out in annual business plans for the enterprises and plan for steady growth in business

Monitoring, Documentation & Reporting

• Set up program level dashboard for monitoring all onboarded enterprises
• Track enterprise performance indicators.
• Prepare reports and case studies.
• Contribute to programme strategy and scaling.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

Preferred Educational Qualifications

• MA Economics
• PGDRM (Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management)
• MBA – Agri Business
• MA Enterprise Development
• MA Social Enterprise
• Related fields from a reputed institution

Essential

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in relevant fields.
• 3+ years in livelihood promotion or micro-enterprise development.
• Fluency in Telugu; working English proficiency.
• Experience with rural women, SHGs, farmer communities.
• Understanding of food enterprises and value addition.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently in rural settings.

Desirable

• Experience in millet-based or nutrition-oriented enterprises.
• Knowledge of government schemes and livelihood programs.
• Familiarity with digital tools for monitoring or enterprise support.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset and problem-solving ability.
• Empathy and patience with first-generation entrepreneurs.
• Strong organisational discipline.
• Willingness to travel in rural areas.

Interested people may apply through Google Form: https://forms.gle/fLEtURQvczx3sWKXA

Last Date to Apply: 12th December 2025

For more information please check the Link

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