The Team Leader – Marketing & Business Development will lead the development, operationalisation and market positioning of District-Level Marketing Federations promoted under the MSRLS project. The role will focus on building sustainable District Level Marketing federatio and market linkages for products, strengthening women-led marketing institutions, developing institutional and retail sales channels, and establishing commercially viable business models for District-Level Marketing Federations.
The position will work closely with MSRLS,S MMU , District and Block Mission Management Units, Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs), SHG enterprises, producer groups, artisans, buyers and other market stakeholders to build an integrated, sustainable and scalable marketing ecosystem for rural women entrepreneurs in Meghalaya.
2. Key Roles and Responsibilities
A. Formation and Strengthening of District-Level Marketing Federations
• Support the formation, institutional development and operationalisation of District-Level Marketing Federations in identified districts of Meghalaya.
• Conduct market assessments, institutional capacity assessments and feasibility studies to identify suitable business opportunities for the federations.
• Facilitate consultations with SHGs, CLFs, Block-Level Federations and district-level stakeholders to develop the federation's vision, business objectives and operational strategy.
• Support the development of business plans, governance structures, membership systems, revenue models and operational guidelines.
• Facilitate the identification and aggregation of high-potential farm and non-farm products from SHGs, producer groups and rural enterprises.
• Develop clear roles and responsibilities for federation members, management committees and marketing teams.
• Support the establishment of systems for procurement, inventory management, pricing, quality control, order fulfilment and financial sustainability.
B. Market Research and Business Development
• Undertake market research to identify demand, market opportunities, consumer preferences, competing products and potential buyers for products from Meghalaya.
• Identify high-potential products based on market demand, quality, production capacity, price competitiveness and scalability.
• Develop district-specific marketing and business development strategies for products from East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, West Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills.
• Map and establish linkages with wholesalers, retailers, distributors, institutional buyers, hospitality businesses, tourism outlets, corporate buyers and e-commerce platforms.
• Explore opportunities with government procurement agencies, corporate gifting programmes, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions and other bulk purchasers.
• Develop a pipeline of prospective buyers and maintain a structured database of market opportunities, sales leads and business partnerships.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing, volumes, delivery schedules and long-term supply arrangements with buyers.
C. Marketing Strategy, Branding and Promotion
• Develop and implement an integrated marketing strategy for District-Level Marketing Federations and their associated product portfolios.
• Support the development of district-level product identities, branding, packaging, labelling and promotional materials.
• Position Meghalaya's traditional, ethnic, handloom, handicraft, food and other rural products as distinctive market offerings.
• Develop product catalogues, price lists, sales presentations, promotional brochures and digital marketing content.
• Identify opportunities for participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, festivals, tourism events and national-level marketing platforms.
• Support the development of a common brand or coordinated marketing identity for products marketed through the federations, where appropriate.
• Build market visibility through online and offline channels, including social media, digital catalogues and e-commerce platforms.
D. Sales Development and Market Linkages
• Develop annual and quarterly sales plans for each District-Level Marketing Federation, with clear targets for revenue, buyer acquisition and repeat orders.
• Establish and strengthen retail, wholesale, institutional and online sales channels.
• Facilitate buyer-seller meetings, product demonstrations, sampling exercises and business negotiations.
• Develop linkages with state emporia, Unity Malls, tourism outlets, urban retail outlets and other relevant market platforms.
• Facilitate the execution of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), supply agreements and other commercial partnerships.
• Support the federations in managing enquiries, preparing quotations, processing orders, coordinating dispatches and ensuring timely delivery.
• Develop strategies for customer retention, repeat purchases, cross-selling and expansion into new markets.
• Monitor sales performance and take corrective action to address gaps in market penetration and revenue generation.
E. Procurement, Pricing and Supply Chain Management
• Develop systems for demand-driven procurement and aggregation of products from SHGs, producer groups and rural enterprises.
• Support transparent procurement mechanisms that ensure fair and timely payments to women producers.
• Establish product-wise pricing frameworks covering production costs, aggregation, packaging, transportation, marketing expenses and federation margins.
• Coordinate with production clusters to align supply with market demand, product specifications and delivery timelines.
• Identify logistics and distribution challenges and develop cost-effective solutions for transportation, warehousing, packaging and last-mile delivery.
• Support the development of standard operating procedures for inventory management, stock rotation, order tracking and returns.
• Promote product standardisation, quality assurance, packaging improvements and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
F. Business Planning and Financial Sustainability
• Prepare business plans and financial projections for each federation, including operating costs, working capital requirements, sales forecasts and revenue streams.
• Develop strategies for generating sustainable income through commissions, service fees, trading margins and other appropriate revenue models.
• Assess working capital requirements and facilitate linkages with banks, financial institutions, government schemes and other funding sources.
• Support the development of transparent financial management, accounting, billing and business reporting systems.
• Monitor gross margins, operating expenses, inventory turnover, receivables and profitability.
• Help federations transition from grant-supported activities towards commercially viable and member-owned institutions.
• Identify opportunities for convergence with government programmes, CSR initiatives and other development partners to strengthen marketing infrastructure and business operations.
G. Capacity Building and Mentoring
• Assess the marketing and business management capacities of federation board members, SHG representatives and marketing personnel.
• Design and conduct training on business development, sales, customer relationship management, pricing, negotiation, merchandising and digital marketing.
• Mentor federation leaders in business planning, decision-making, market analysis and commercial negotiations.
• Build the capacity of women entrepreneurs to understand consumer preferences, product positioning, quality expectations and market requirements.
• Develop practical training materials, business tools, standard operating procedures and monitoring formats.
• Promote professional management practices while ensuring that the federations remain accountable to their member SHGs and producer groups.
H. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
• Develop a performance monitoring framework with measurable indicators for federation formation, business development, sales, profitability and member benefits.
• Track monthly and quarterly performance against approved business plans and sales targets.
• Maintain a dashboard covering buyers, sales, product categories, orders, inventory, producer payments and market channels.
• Monitor the number of SHGs and producers linked to the federations and assess the impact on their market access and incomes.
• Document success stories, innovations, market partnerships and lessons learned.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, presentations and review documents for ICCo and MSRLS.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for improving federation performance, expanding markets and scaling successful business models.
Coordination and Reporting Relationships:
• The position will report to the Executive Director/Project Manager at ICCo.
• Work in close coordination with the MSRLS State Mission Management Unit and relevant district and block teams.
• Coordinate with District Mission Management Units, Block-Level Federations, CLFs, SHGs and producer groups.
• Build working relationships with buyers, retailers, institutional purchasers, logistics providers, government agencies and development partners.
• Coordinate with other TSA experts, including those working on non-farm livelihoods, product development, handloom and handicrafts, food enterprises, quality assurance and enterprise development.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience:
• Postgraduate degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Rural Management, Agribusiness, Development Management or a related discipline.
• Approximately 5–7 years of relevant professional experience in marketing, business development, sales, rural enterprise development or value-chain promotion.
• Experience in developing market linkages for SHGs, producer organisations, women-led enterprises, cooperatives or rural producer institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in business planning, market research, sales strategy, buyer engagement and institutional partnerships.
• Understanding of rural livelihoods programmes, the NRLM framework, community-based institutions and women-led enterprises.
• Experience in building retail, wholesale, institutional and digital market channels.
• Strong communication, negotiation, team leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office, business reporting, data analysis and sales tracking tools.
• Experience in the North-East region, particularly Meghalaya, will be an advantage.
7. Core Competencies:
• Strategic marketing and commercial orientation
• Business development and partnership building
• Market intelligence and analytical skills
• Team leadership and mentoring
• Financial and business acumen, Negotiation and relationship management
• Results orientation and accountability, Ability to work in geographically dispersed rural areas
Interested candidates may send their resume to info@iccoindia.org with a covering letter highlighting why s/he think is the right fit for the position along with a passport size photograph.
ICCo is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all candidates, irrespective of gender, background, or other personal characteristics. Women candidates are especially encouraged to apply.