Business Development Services (BDS) Specialist

Role Overview

The BDS Specialist will lead country-level BDS implementation, ensuring high-quality training, coaching, and enterprise support in coordination with implementing partners, financial institutions, and other ecosystem actors.

What You Will Do

The BDS Specialist will focus on building viable enterprises, strengthening coach capacity, improving financial literacy, and preparing participants to access finance.

Why It Might Be a Fit

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of relevant experience in business development services, enterprise development, or agribusiness support within donor-funded or development programs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of relevant experience in business development services, enterprise development, or agribusiness support within donor-funded or development programs
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Agribusiness, or related field; Master’s or another advanced degree strongly desired
• Demonstrated experience designing BDS or entrepreneurship curricula for low-literacy and rural audiences
• Proven experience designing and delivering Train-the-Trainer programs and supervising large networks of trainers or coaches across multiple locations, including quality assurance
• Proven track record supporting women-led or youth-led micro and small enterprises, preferably in agricultural value chains
• Experience preparing micro and small enterprises for financing, including credit readiness assessments and business plan development
• Understanding of how financial service providers appraise and lend to first-time borrowers, including group lending and seasonal repayment structures
• Practical experience with savings groups, cooperatives, SACCOs, or microfinance; familiarity with the regulatory frameworks that govern them in West Africa is an advantage
• Experience using assessment and monitoring data to improve training quality
• Understanding of safeguarding, client protection, and gender-responsive approaches
• French and English business fluency is required; knowledge of local languages is a strong advantage
• Knowledge of the West African agricultural and financial sector landscape (or previous work experience in it)
• Experience working in developing countries
• Demonstrated leadership skills; preferably in fast-moving and complex environments
• Excellent analytical ability and discipline; ability to think clearly, structure problems logically, and then design and implement solutions that focus on the core issue
• Strong facilitation skills; ability to translate business and finance concepts into practical content for diverse audiences
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues in stressful environments
• Excellent presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences
• Comfort with ambiguity; ability to operate effectively in a changing context
• Willingness to work and live in a sometimes challenging environment

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid holidays
• Vacation time
• Savings plan
• Retirement plan
• Learning budget
• Parental leave
• Wellness program
• Visa sponsorship
• Relocation assistance