Senior Enterprise Development Specialist: Driving Economic Transformation in Kano at TechnoServe

Sustainable poverty reduction is only achievable when hardworking individuals are linked to the information, capital, and markets necessary to build wealth. In the context of Northern Nigeria, fostering a resilient entrepreneurship ecosystem is the key to unlocking the potential of a massive youth population and creating lasting social stability. As a Senior Enterprise Development Specialist at TechnoServe, you will be the architect of these vital connections, transforming local micro-businesses into engines of job creation and economic growth.

Job Summary

The Senior Enterprise Development Specialist is a high-impact leadership role responsible for scaling the reach and effectiveness of the SAY WEE project. Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, you will oversee the delivery of innovative entrepreneurship training, capacity building, and market-linkage strategies. Your primary mission is to ensure that project participants—particularly women and youth—gain the sophisticated business acumen and industry connections required to launch successful enterprises or secure high-quality employment.

Why This Role is Important

With unemployment and underemployment remaining significant hurdles in Nigeria, the SAY WEE project provides four critical pathways to prosperity: self-employment, business acceleration, job readiness, and ecosystem development. By leading these initiatives in Kano, you are not just teaching business skills; you are building the infrastructure that allows young women and men to enter high-growth sectors like STEM. Your work bridges the gap between raw talent and the formal labor market, ensuring that economic development is inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership & Ecosystem Cultivation

• Build and manage strategic alliances with industry leaders, business associations, and private sector employers to facilitate internships and job placements.
• Establish robust market linkages for emerging entrepreneurs, connecting them with reliable buyers, suppliers, and specialized mentorship networks.
• Strengthen local institutions by helping them establish or revitalize career service units and entrepreneurship hubs.

Mentorship & Gender-Responsive Programming

• Identify and onboard high-achieving female role models and mentors, with a specific focus on leadership and STEM-oriented growth sectors.
• Implement a structured, gender-responsive mentorship framework that equips mentors to provide targeted support to young women.
• Coordinate career counseling sessions and peer-support groups that build the confidence and decision-making capacity of female participants.

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Lead the recruitment and enrollment of qualified entrepreneurs for the business acceleration track.
• Supervise a team of Business Advisors to ensure the highest quality delivery of training modules, aftercare services, and technical linkages.
• Collaborate with consultants to integrate sustainable business practices and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into the project curriculum.

Monitoring, Learning & Reporting

• Document success stories, lessons learned, and “promising practices” to inform impact measurement and project iteration.
• Provide accurate and timely data to the M&E team to track partner participation, job outcomes, and enterprise uptake.
• Produce high-quality progress reports and communication products that showcase project milestones to donors and stakeholders.

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• Academic Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Economics, Sociology, or a related field with 5 years of experience (or a Master’s degree with 3 years).
• Core Experience: At least 2 years of specialized experience in enterprise development, micro-business incubation, or value chain support.
• Gender Expertise: Proven track record of promoting gender equality and applying gender-mainstreaming principles in a professional setting.
• Communication & Language: Professional fluency in English is required; proficiency in Hausa is highly desirable for the Kano context (Yoruba is an asset).
• Technical Literacy: Advanced skills in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for data management and reporting.
• Leadership: The ability to work independently, embrace complex challenges, and inspire a team toward common goals.

Benefits of Joining TechnoServe

• Sector Leadership: Work for a global leader in business-led poverty solutions with a 40-year track record of results.
• Professional Growth: Manage complex, multi-sectoral projects and build an extensive network within the Nigerian private sector and INGO community.
• Social Impact: Play a pivotal role in a project that directly addresses youth unemployment and female empowerment in Nigeria.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team that values human rights, diversity, and inclusive approaches in all its implementations.

Salary Expectations

Competitive (TechnoServe offers a professional compensation package commensurate with experience and the seniority of the role).

About the Organization

TechnoServe is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that creates business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets. We believe that when hardworking individuals have the right tools, they can generate the income and wealth necessary to transform their own communities. Our work is centered on the power of private enterprise to drive sustainable change, and we have proven results in over 30 countries. In Nigeria, we are committed to building competitive industries and helping entrepreneurs tap into high-growth sectors to create lasting economic opportunity for all.

Application Details

• Location: Kano, Nigeria
• Status: Full-Time
• Travel: Moderate field visits required.
• Application closing: Not Specified
• How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications through the TechnoServe recruitment portal: Apply for Senior Enterprise Development Specialist

Tips for Applicants

1. Showcase Your Network: TechnoServe values connections. If you have an existing network of private sector partners or industry leaders in Northern Nigeria, highlight this in your application.
2. Be Specific About Gender: Don’t just say you are “gender-sensitive.” Provide a concrete example of how you have promoted gender equality or supported female entrepreneurs in a previous project.
3. Focus on Outcomes: When describing your experience, emphasize results—such as the number of businesses accelerated or the number of job placements facilitated—rather than just listing tasks.