Sr. Consultant – Enterprise Development & Market Linkages

Country: India Organization: Heifer International Closing date: 10 Sep 2026 Scope of Work (SOW) Sr. Consultant – Enterprise Development & Market Linkages (Goat Value Chain) • Project: JSPVAT Phase-2.0 (Jeevika SPV for Agricultural Transformation) • Duration of Project: Until April 2029 • Duty Station: Araria, Bihar (Initially for Year 1 with travel across project districts and subsequent deployment to other JSPVAT-supported Goat Producer Companies in other districts or at Patna, as required) • Reporting: Project Director, Bihar and work in close coordination with MSC, JEEViKA, Goat Producer Companies (GPCs), Producer Groups (PGs), and other project stakeholders. Background Under JSPVAT Phase-2, Passing Gifts is providing specialized technical assistance to strengthen goat-based livelihoods and enterprises across Bihar. The project aims to develop commercially viable, women-centered goat value chains through strengthening existing Goat Producer Companies, supporting new GPC formation, promoting aggregation and market linkages, and establishing sustainable enterprise models. The Senior Consultant will serve as a key field-based enterprise development resource responsible for driving business growth, market expansion, value chain integration, aggregation systems, and enterprise operationalization within project-supported geographies. This is a results-oriented assignment requiring a highly entrepreneurial, self-driven, and execution-focused professional capable of translating business plans into commercially viable enterprise outcomes. Nature of the Work Engagement The key objective is to support the development of commercially sustainable goat enterprises by strengthening aggregation systems, establishing market linkages, supporting enterprise operations, facilitating business growth, and integrating producers into organized value chains. This position contributes directly to the achievement of JSPVAT Phase-2 goals related to: • Strengthening existing Goat Producer Company. • Establishing commercially viable goat aggregation systems. • Developing structured market channels for live goats and goat meat. • Supporting formation and operationalization of new Goat Producer Companies. • Strengthening JEEViKA-promoted Producer Groups. • Facilitating livestock feed and fodder business opportunities. • Supporting goat meat retail and market outlet development. • Enhancing producer incomes through market-led enterprise growth. Scope of Work • Enterprise Development and Business Growth • Support implementation of business growth strategies for Seemanchal Goat FPCL and subsequently other project-supported GPCs. • Identify, develop, and nurture viable business opportunities across the goat value chain. • Support development and implementation of Goat value chain-based enterprise business plans. • Track and improve key business indicators including procurement, sales, turnover, margins, customer base, and profitability. • Facilitate operationalization of enterprise systems and business processes. • Support institutional finance readiness and business expansion initiatives. • Market Linkages and Commercial Partnerships • Identify, assess, negotiate, and establish relationships with traders, processors, institutional buyers, retailers, wholesalers, meat businesses, hospitality enterprises, and modern retail channels. • Develop sustainable buyer networks within Bihar and selected interstate markets. • Facilitate commercial transactions between producers, GPCs, and buyers. • Support establishment of forward market linkages for live goats and goat meat. • Develop market intelligence systems and regularly monitor market trends, prices, and emerging opportunities. • Support development of long-term commercial agreements and business partnerships. • Goat Aggregation and Value Chain Development • Strengthen village-level and cluster-level goat aggregation systems. • Support implementation of systems for procurement, grading, weighing, traceability, pricing, logistics, and payment management. • Facilitate integration of Producer Groups with Goat Producer Companies. • Improve producer participation in organized marketing systems. • Support development of aggregation clusters capable of supplying commercial volumes to organized markets. • Assist in operationalization of aggregation centres, collection points, and related enterprise infrastructure. • Goat Meat Enterprise and Retail Development • Support design and operationalization of goat meat business models. • Assist in development of commercially viable goat meat retail outlets promoted under JSPVAT. • Support outlet planning, customer strategy, branding, supply chain systems, and business operations. • Facilitate compliance with food safety, hygiene, slaughter, processing, packaging, and retail regulations. • Support customer acquisition, retention, and demand generation strategies. • Assist in developing standard operating procedures (SoPs) for meat retail operations. • Livestock Feed and Fodder Enterprise Development • Support assessment of livestock feed and fodder market opportunities. • Assist in business diagnostics and feasibility assessments for feed-related enterprises. • Support development of business models for livestock feed production, distribution, and marketing. • Facilitate market linkages for feed and fodder enterprises promoted under JSPVAT 2.0. • Support operational planning and commercialization of livestock feed initiatives. • Identify opportunities for integration of feed enterprises with goat and poultry value chains. • Producer Group and Institutional Strengthening • Support JEEViKA-promoted goat PGs in aggregation, collective marketing, and enterprise participation related initiatives. • Facilitate implementation of PG-GPC integration frameworks. • Support development of business orientation among PGs. • Strengthen producer awareness regarding quality standards, market requirements, and commercial opportunities. • Support development of commercially oriented producer institutions capable of participating in organized value chains. • Capacity Building and Mentoring • Support in building capacities of GPC staff, PG leaders, community cadres, and enterprise personnel. • Facilitate business planning and market orientation sessions. • Support implementation of operational SOPs and business systems. • Mentor enterprise teams during initial operationalization and scale-up phases. • Support exposure visits and learning exchanges. • Reporting, Documentation and Performance Monitoring • Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports. • Maintain records of market linkages, business transactions, enterprise performance, and aggregation activities. • Support enterprise diagnostics and business assessments. • Document case studies, lessons learned, best practices, and success stories. • Contribute to project reviews and planning processes as required by Passing Gifts, MSC, and JEEViKA. Qualifications & Skills: • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development, Agribusiness or a related field is required, plus 7 years of relevant experience including three (3) years in managing teams in an international organization, OR a master’s degree in a relevant field plus five (5) years of experience. • Strong experience in agribusiness, livestock enterprises, producer companies, market systems, meat businesses, or value chain development. • Proven experience in enterprise development, business growth, market linkages, and commercial operations. • Strong understanding of goat, livestock, meat, feed, fodder, or allied rural enterprise sectors. • Ability to work independently in challenging field environments. • Strong networking, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills. • Entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated ability to convert opportunities into business outcomes. • Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring and evaluation). • Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully, and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people. • Willingness and ability to assign and review the work of line-managed staff and to use participatory management skills with junior and senior staff. • Knowledge of grant acquisition and management. • Understanding of the Government schemes, projects, provisions and other facilities for project communities and groups. How to apply https://jobs.jobvite.com/heifer/job/oYhkAfwT