Business Development Specialist – West Bank

Position Title: Business Development Specialist – West Bank Location: MA’AN Ramallah Office Reports to: Project Manager Position Type and Duration: 12 months (renewable) Start Date: ASAP Target Locations: Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and Hebron

ABOUT MA’AN:

MA’AN Development Center is an independent Palestinian non-profit organization, established in Jerusalem in January 1989. Relying on a human rights-based approach, community partnerships, and active participation, MA’AN works to enhance the resilience, empowerment, and realization of the rights of those most in need, the poor and marginalized groups and individuals, as well as unleash their latent capacities to enhance their active participation in sustainable development and their abilities to respond to and recover from crises. 

Job Purpose:

MA’AN Development Center is seeking a qualified and committed Business Development Specialist to support the implementation of the project “NOUR – Nurturing Opportunities for Uplifting Resilience: Empowering Women and Persons with Disabilities through the MA’AN Innovation Hub.”

The Business Development Specialist will be responsible for delivering high-quality business incubation and acceleration support to women- and PwD-led start-ups and MSEs. The position reports to the Project Manager and works in close coordination with the Project Coordinator, Hub team, mentors, and external experts to ensure businesses are market-ready, sustainable, and growth-oriented.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead sector and market mapping to identify viable livelihood opportunities aligned with local value chains (Agriculture, Handicrafts, Traditional Industries, Food Processing, Natural Products, Cosmetics, and E-commerce)
• Design and apply business assessment tools to evaluate start-ups and existing MSEs, including feasibility, market relevance, cost structures, and growth potential. Support the development of Business Plans, Business Model Canvases (BMCs), and Growth Support Plans (GSPs) for selected beneficiaries.
• Provide one-on-one technical coaching and mentorship throughout incubation and acceleration phases.
• Deliver and/or facilitate advanced trainings for entrepreneurs on business modelling, financial planning, pricing, operations, and market access.
• Support the technical design and follow-up of performance-based grants, ensuring alignment between funding, milestones, and business progress.
• Coordinate with marketing, branding, and digital experts to support product development, packaging, and go-to-market strategies.
• Support beneficiaries’ preparation for pitching events, market linkages, and ecosystem engagement.
• Promote inclusive and green-friendly business practices, including employment of women and persons with disabilities.
• Work closely with the Project Coordinator to ensure smooth field implementation and beneficiary follow-up.
• Contribute to technical documentation, case studies, lessons learned, and reporting in coordination with the MEAL team.
• Ensure all technical support complies with MA’AN standards, donor requirements, safeguarding, and inclusion principles.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an asset.
• Experience:
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in business development, SME support, entrepreneurship, or private sector development.
• Proven experience in business incubation and/or acceleration programs.
• Strong background in business assessments, business planning, and growth strategy development.
• Demonstrated experience working with women entrepreneurs and/or persons with disabilities.
• Solid understanding of local market systems, constraints, and opportunities in the West Bank.
• Experience working in donor-funded projects and performance-based grant mechanisms

• Professional Skills:
• Solid analytical and market-oriented thinking with the ability to translate assessments into practical business solutions.
• Strong ownership and follow-through, with the ability to independently track tasks and close action points
• High level of professionalism and emotional maturity when working under pressure or in sensitive field contexts
• Proactive problem-solving and sound judgment, with the ability to flag risks and implementation challenges early
• Commitment to accountability, ethical conduct, safeguarding, and inclusion principles
• Clear, adaptive communication with beneficiaries, partners, and management
• Organized, detail-oriented approach to documentation, reporting, and information management.
• Work Conditions, Contract & Benefits
• The work schedule is 40 hours per week.
• The probation period is 3 months and can be extended to another 3 months according to the Labor Law.
• Annual leave: 21 working days/year
• National and Religious leave: 16 days per year.
• Sick leave: 14 days/year
• Indemnity Payment: Equivalent to one month’s salary for each complete year of service.
• Reimbursement for work-related transportation expenses is according to MA’AN’s by- laws.
• Time flexibility is recognized by both parties with consideration that this position might need to do part of the work after 4:00pm.
• Contract Type: Project-based / Renewable
• Salary & Benefits: Competitive and based on experience and organizational salary scale.
• Other Benefits: professional development.