Sr Project Officer – Enterprise & Market Development in Bhubaneswar | Heifer International

Heifer International

Passing Gifts Private Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA. It works in India and abroad with people and organisations who support social advancement and sustainable development. Its services cover education, consulting, training, advising, and professional and technical support. Much of that work is with small farmers and producers, helping them earn better and more steady incomes from what they grow and rear. This role sits within PGPL's programme team in Odisha, which builds Farmer Producer Organisations into businesses that farmers themselves own and run.

Role

The Senior Project Officer for Enterprise and Market Development helps Farmer Producer Organisations become strong, member-owned businesses that can stand on their own. You will build business and growth plans with FPO boards, find real market opportunities, connect producers to buyers, and strengthen how produce is collected, graded, packed and sold. You will also open doors to finance, government schemes and other services that FPOs need. The work is hands-on and close to farmers, boards and partners on the ground.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement business and enterprise plans for FPOs.
• Conduct market research, value chain and feasibility studies to identify business opportunities.
• Develop and scale business models, value-added products and market linkages.
• Build relationships with buyers, traders, processors, retailers and institutional markets.
• Strengthen FPO governance, farmer ownership and business operations.
• Support branding, packaging, quality standards, compliance and product promotion.
• Track market trends, pricing, demand and competition to support FPO decision-making.
• Support sales, production planning, investment decisions and MIS reporting.
• Build the capacity of FPO boards, CEOs, staff and Producer Groups through training and coaching.
• Monitor sales, profitability, market linkages and farmer price realisation, and document learnings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or a related field.
• 6–7 years of relevant experience, preferably in FPOs, enterprise development, agriculture or rural value chains.
• Strong knowledge of business planning, market development, value chains and stakeholder management.
• Experience in programme implementation, monitoring, reporting and proposal development.
• Knowledge of government schemes supporting farmers, FPOs and rural enterprises.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead teams and provide technical support to partners.
• Basic knowledge of financial systems and Microsoft Office tools.
• Fluency in Odia and English, both spoken and written.
• Willingness to work flexibly, independently and with diverse communities.

Benefits

• Work with Heifer International's India arm on farmer-owned enterprises that carry real income outcomes for producer families.
• A senior, hands-on role with direct influence over FPO business strategy, governance and market decisions.
• Close working relationships with FPO boards, buyers, government programmes and financial institutions across Odisha.
• Scope to design, test and scale new business models rather than only run existing ones.
• Training, exposure visits and business-to-business learning opportunities as part of the work.

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