Programme & Business Development Associate

Job Summary

The Programme & Business Development Associate will support the planning, coordination, and delivery of Thistleberry Agro-Processing Academy's training programmes while contributing to business development and stakeholder engagement activities. Working closely with the Founder/Executive Director and the academy team, the Associate will assist with learner admissions and onboarding, programme administration, event coordination, partnership engagement, documentation, and operational support. This entry-level role is ideal for a highly organized, digitally proficient, and proactive young professional with an interest in education, agribusiness, enterprise development, food systems, and programme management. The position offers practical experience in programme operations, client engagement, business development, and institutional coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Support learner recruitment, admissions, onboarding, and ongoing participant engagement.
  
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of training programmes, webinars, masterclasses, workshops, and other academy events.
  
• Maintain accurate programme records, learner databases, attendance registers, feedback forms, certification records, and implementation trackers.
  
• Facilitate communication with learners, facilitators, partners, internship hosts, and other stakeholders through email, phone, WhatsApp, and other digital platforms.
  
• Prepare meeting minutes, action logs, reports, and follow-up communications to support programme implementation.
  
• Assist with business development activities, including lead generation, proposal preparation, partnership engagement, client documentation, and relationship management.
  
• Support marketing and outreach initiatives to enhance programme visibility, learner recruitment, and stakeholder engagement through digital channels and social media.
  
• Coordinate practical training sessions, field visits, internship placements, and post-training follow-up activities.
  
• Conduct research on funding opportunities, institutional partnerships, market trends, training needs, and enterprise support programmes.
  
• Monitor programme activities, track deliverables, and support timely execution of projects and organizational initiatives.
  
• Provide administrative, operational, and logistical support to ensure the efficient delivery of academy programmes and business operations.
  
• Perform other duties and special assignments as may be required to support the Academy's strategic objectives.