Project Officers

Job Description

Employer: Village Enterprise   

Industry: Nonprofit/International Development/Social Entrepreneurship   

Function: Programs & Impact Operations  

Position Name: Project Officers  

Position Type: Contract (1 year renewable) Reports to: Program Officer.  

Matrix Reports: Functional collaboration with MEL, Systems, Finance, and relevant technical teams  

Location: Bishoftu, Oromia Region Ethiopia (Must be fluent in Afaan Oromo (Oromia language, must be based in Bishoftu)

Available positions: 3 Project Officers  

About Village Enterprise   

Village Enterprise is an economic inclusion organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty through entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to markets. Its evidence-based Graduation approaches support sustainable livelihoods through direct implementation, partner and government replication, and systems influence.  

Position Summary  

The Project Officer is a frontline implementation professional responsible for directly delivering Village Enterprise’s ASCEND digital Graduation methodology in assigned communities. The role manages the full participant and enterprise journey from community entry and targeting through digital learning, business formation, savings, coaching, financial and market linkages, and graduation follow-up while maintaining strong participant engagement and implementation quality.  

Each Project Officer is expected to support the establishment of approximately 300–600 businesses during a 16-month implementation cycle, subject to approved country and project targets, geographical conditions, and resourcing. The role reports to the Program Officer, works independently across dispersed field locations, and coordinates 60 community Tech Champions and partners without holding formal line-management responsibility unless specifically delegated.  

Responsibilities  

ASCEND Delivery & Participant Journey  

• Translate approved implementation plans into weekly and monthly community activity schedules and deliver all assigned ASCEND milestones. and share weekly and monthly reports in a timely manner.  
• Lead community entry, geographic mapping, sensitization, targeting, verification, enrollment, and group formation in line with approved protocols.  
• Facilitate digital learning, entrepreneurship and livelihood training, savings group formation, coaching, mentoring, and market and financial inclusion linkages throughout the Graduation journey.  
• Support establishment of approximately 300–600 viable group businesses per 16-month cycle, alongside corresponding savings groups and participant milestones specified in the approved plan.  
• Track attendance, retention, participant progression, business functionality, and savings-group performance; follow up promptly on participants needing additional support.  
• Integrate gender equality, youth inclusion, climate resilience, participant agency, and locally relevant adaptations within approved methodology.  
• Work with field staff in identifying thriving value chains with cost benefit analysis  

Digital Facilitation & Tech Champion Support  

• Use approved ASCEND digital learning platforms and tools and support the Field associates and Business members use appropriate digital learning platforms, as the primary delivery mechanism, supplemented by appropriate in-person support.  
• Identify, orient, train, and coach community Tech Champions to facilitate learning, use digital tools, and provide sustainable peer support.  
• Support participants to access and navigate digital content, address routine digital-literacy and connectivity barriers, and escalate technical failures.  
• Maintain accurate digital activity and participant records using approved systems; avoid unauthorized parallel tracking tools.  
• Share user feedback and practical insights with Systems and Product & Innovation teams to improve usability and implementation effectiveness.  
• Collaborate and escalate any tech-related matters to the Product Digital Manager and Tech team.  

Program Quality, Monitoring & Adaptive Management   

• Apply ASCEND implementation standards consistently across training, coaching, mentoring, review salesforce, savings and business support.  
• Verify the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of participant and enterprise data, collaborating with MEL on spot checks and data-quality corrections.  
• Use approved dashboards and monitoring findings to identify lagging groups, weak businesses, attendance gaps, and emerging implementation risks.  
• Document participant feedback, delivery innovations, and lessons learned; propose feasible improvements without independently changing core methodology or eligibility rules.  

Community Engagement & Local Partnerships  

• Maintain trusted working relationships with program participants, community leaders, local administrators, private-sector actors, and relevant service providers.  
• Coordinate local stakeholder engagement and facilitate practical financial, input, business and market linkages for participant groups.  
• Represent Village Enterprise in routine community and local government forums within delegated authority, escalating strategic commitments or sensitive issues.  

Field Resources, Grants & Reporting 

• Plan and account for approved field activities, transport, materials, and other resources, demonstrating value for money.  
• Coordinate with Finance and the Program Officer to verify participant grant readiness, support timely disbursement, reconcile grant records, and flag failed or outstanding payments.  
• Submit accurate and timely weekly and monthly progress updates against assigned milestones, business and savings-group targets, and participant outcomes.  
• Maintain organized supporting records for field verification, donor visits, and audits; promptly flag operational constraints and budget variances.  

  Safeguarding, Inclusion & Risk Management   

• Explain participant rights, entitlements, complaint channels, and safeguarding measures, including risks of child abuse and sexual or financial exploitation.  
• Follow Village Enterprise safeguarding policies, Code of Conduct, security procedures and data-protection requirements in every interaction.  
• Report safeguarding allegations immediately through established confidential channels; do not independently investigate incidents.  
• Identify routine field risks and take authorized mitigating action; escalate serious compliance, security, reputational, or implementation concerns promptly.  

 Requirements  

• University degree or equivalent qualification in development, business, social sciences, agriculture, project management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.  
• At least three years of relevant community-based development or NGO program implementation experience.  
• Experience in Poverty Graduation, livelihoods, enterprise development, savings groups, or market systems development is strongly desirable.  
• Comfort facilitating digital learning and supporting community users of technology; familiarity with Salesforce, Taro Works, dashboards, or similar systems is an advantage.  
• Strong community facilitation, stakeholder engagement, written reporting, data quality, and independent field problem-solving skills.  
• Proficiency in the working language(s) of the duty station; relevant local languages are an advantage.  
• Ability to travel extensively to rural and remote communities. Core Competencies  
• Participant-centered facilitation and inclusion; digital confidence and adaptability.  
• Strong field execution, ownership of targets and discipline follow-through.  
• Data-driven problem-solving and continuous improvement.  
• Collaboration, integrity, sound judgment and effective local stakeholder relations.  
• Commitment to Village Enterprise values: Ubuntu, Passion, Integrity, Innovation and Sustainability.  

Key Performance Indicators  

Village Enterprise is committed to safeguarding and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).  

We do not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process or for applying to this position.  

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications coupled with a passion for changing lives of the extreme poor are invited to submit their applications and resume (PDF). Please follow this link to submit your application  

https://villageenterprise.careers.flair.hr/positions/a78Jw00000EsYizIAF  

Application Deadline: 9th November 2026  

Village Enterprise is an Equal Opportunity Employer     

Village Enterprise provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Village Enterprise does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law  

Safeguarding Statement:    

Village Enterprise is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees, volunteers, Visitors, associates (consultants, service providers and suppliers) and partners to uphold this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding policies and code of conduct. VE has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, exploitation, or harassment.    

Safeguarding Toll-free line is 8495.  

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include reference checks with previous employers, verification of qualifications, and criminal record or background screening where required by law  

 Benefits  

• An attractive salary commensurate with your experience.  
• Health Insurance Coverage  
• Group Life Cover  
• An opportunity to make a meaningful impact by lifting people out of extreme poverty through community mobilization  
• Individual Pension Plan