Food Marketing Coach

LOST is seeking a resourceful and creative Food Marketing Coach to support beneficiaries—often aspiring entrepreneurs or small-scale food producers—in learning how to market their food products or services effectively. This role focuses on training participants in branding, sales, customer engagement, pricing, and promotion strategies suited for local markets, street vending, retail, or small-scale catering. The coach plays a vital role in helping beneficiaries understand their target audience and build sustainable food-based businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver training in basic marketing concepts including product positioning, pricing, promotion, and packaging for food businesses
• Coach beneficiaries on how to identify their target market and develop a customer-focused sales strategy
• Teach cost-effective techniques for local promotion, including word-of-mouth, digital tools (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram), posters, and product sampling
• Guide beneficiaries in developing basic branding tools such as product names, labels, and displays
• Support participants in improving customer service and presentation skills to attract and retain customers
• Conduct hands-on workshops on food photography, storytelling, and creating appealing menus or catalogs
• Train on pricing strategies that cover costs, ensure profitability, and stay competitive
• Work with trainees to develop basic business and marketing plans
• Assist in organizing local exhibitions, food fairs, or sampling events for market exposure
• Provide one-on-one coaching to help troubleshoot marketing challenges in real-life settings
• Collaborate with livelihood officers or business coaches to align marketing efforts with product development and business models
• Track progress and report on marketing capacity development and business performance post-training

Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in food business marketing, small business coaching, or entrepreneurship development
• Strong knowledge of food product branding, local sales channels, and grassroots marketing strategies
• Practical experience in working with micro-entrepreneurs, informal vendors, or community-based enterprises
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and mentorship skills
• Ability to train people from diverse backgrounds, including those with limited literacy or digital access
• Fluency in the local language(s); working knowledge of English is an advantage
• Diploma or degree in Marketing, Business, Food Technology, or related field preferred
• Familiarity with vocational programs, NGOs, or livelihood initiatives (e.g., women’s collectives, SHGs, PMFME, Skill India, etc.) is highly desirable

Preferred Skills & Attributes:

• Creative mindset with practical marketing ideas suitable for low-budget entrepreneurs
• Empathy, patience, and cultural sensitivity
• Basic digital marketing knowledge (social media, mobile-based promotion)
• Ability to provide coaching in both group and one-on-one settings
• Strong documentation and reporting skills

Working Conditions:

• On-site at training centers, food business locations, or community venues
• May involve local travel for field visits, mentoring, or event coordination
• Flexible schedule to accommodate different batches or seasonal business activities

NB: LOST has zero tolerance for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of beneficiaries. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is everyone’s responsibility and all staff are required to adhere to the code of conduct, that enshrines the principles of PSEA, always (Both during work hours and outside work hours). Familiarization with, and adherence to, the code of conduct is an essential requirement of all staff, in addition to related mandatory training. All staff must ensure that they understand and act in accordance with this clause.