Job Title: Senior Enterprise Development Specialist

Project: Skilling Adolescents and Young Women for Entrepreneurship and Employability (SAY-WEE)

Location: Kano

Reports to: Program Manager, SAY WEE Project

About TechnoServe:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting.

Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary:

The main role of the Senior Enterprise Development Specialist—reporting directly to the Senior Program Manager—contributes to the strategic priority of scaling up the impact of our work through the development of a strong and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, the Senior Enterprise Development Specialist will be responsible for ensuring that project participants have the knowledge and skills to develop and run successful enterprises, or take on decent employment. In close collaboration and coordination with the Project staff, he/she will ensure successful, innovative, efficient, and effective functioning of all entrepreneurship training and capacity building activities in the project through effective planning, and delivery of project activities in collaboration with other project team members towards achieving the common goal.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

The project seeks to address unemployment in Nigeria through four pathways namely: self-employment, micro and small growing business acceleration, job readiness and ecosystem development. With a strong learning agenda, the project will pilot methodologies that drive behavior change and successfully link women and youth to relevant and lasting jobs.

To achieve its objectives, the project will leverage existing infrastructure, institutions, and organizations where possible. It will also apply lessons learned from other initiatives in the entrepreneurial ecosystem support space by adopting multiple proven approaches. The design will follow a common set of principles, such as being market-driven to help entrepreneurs tap into high-growth sectors, build youth skills, and facilitate linkages to drive job placement for targeted youth.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Lead enterprise development activities under the guidance of the Project Manager. S/he will perform the following tasks:

• Identify, engage, and manage relationships with employers, business associations, and industry leaders.
• Facilitate partnerships that support internships, apprenticeships, job placements, and career exposure opportunities.
• Facilitate market linkages for emerging entrepreneurs, including access to buyers, suppliers, and mentorship networks.
• Support institutions to establish or strengthen career services, job placement units, or entrepreneurship hubs.
• Track partner participation, job outcomes, enterprise uptake, and industry contributions.
• Document promising practices, lessons learned, and success stories to inform impact measurement.
• Conduct career fairs and job clinics that coincide with key academic and industry events to maximize engagement and impact.
• Identify, recruit, and onboard female mentors, counsellors, and role models from diverse professional backgrounds, with a strong focus on STEM, leadership, entrepreneurship, and growth-oriented sectors.
• Develop and deliver a structured mentorship framework, including guidelines, tools, and training that equip mentors to provide gender-responsive support.
• Coordinate gender-responsive career counselling sessions, ensuring girls receive accurate information on career pathways, labor market trends, and opportunities aligned with their interests.
• Facilitate peer-support groups and leadership development activities, enabling girls to build confidence, communication skills, and decision-making capacity.
• Organize STEM learning and coaching opportunities—such as workshops, bootcamps, industry talks, and hands-on activities—to strengthen exposure and interest in high-growth fields.
• Strengthen mentor–mentee matching processes, ensuring compatibility based on interests, career goals, and developmental needs and provide ongoing support to mentors and counsellors, including periodic check-ins and refresher training.
• Monitor and track participation, progress, and outcomes, maintaining up-to-date records on the number of mentors engaged and the impact of their support.