Business Establishment Project Manager

ANERA BACKGROUND

Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan live with purpose and hope.

Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Our staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.

That’s how Anera received more than $171 million in support of programs in 2023 alone, and it’s how we will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Business Establishment Project Manager is responsible for managing and ensuring quality assurance of Anera’s Business Startups component within the Workforce Development Program, supporting the transition of trained youth from Competency-Based Training (CBT) into sustainable self-employment. The role provides technical guidance across the business establishment cycle from entrepreneur selection and business planning to in-kind startup support, mentorship coordination, and post-launch monitoring.

Working in close coordination with internal teams and external partners, the manager ensures that business startups are market relevant, operationally feasible, and aligned with Anera’s livelihood strategy, donor requirements, and compliance frameworks. The position contributes to strengthening youth economic resilience through structured entrepreneurship support and continuous program improvement.

The role operates at a senior technical level, providing expertise, coordination, and process oversight.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Design & Quality Assurance

• Design, refine, and standardize methodologies, tools, and procedures for the Business Startups component.
• Ensure robust systems are applied across the full startup cycle, including entrepreneur selection, business planning, mentorship, post-launch follow-up, and tracking.
• Establish clear performance frameworks, including KPIs, financial and non-financial indicators, and minimum sustainability benchmarks for supported businesses.
• Develop business performance baselines at startup stage, using key financial indicators (e.g. costs, revenues, margins, break-even points).
• Introduce and maintain structured performance monitoring mechanisms to track business progress, viability, and sustainability over time.
• Drive continuous program improvement by testing new approaches and integrating lessons learned and performance data into program design.

Entrepreneur Selection & Business Planning

• Manage the identification, screening, and selection of youth entrepreneurs emerging from CBT programs.
• Review and strengthen business proposals to ensure financial feasibility, market relevance, and startup readiness.
• Provide technical guidance to youth to improve business models, costing, pricing, cash flow projections, and operational planning.
• Ensure that all approved business plans include clear financial projections and measurable performance targets.

Startup Support & Procurement Coordination

• Manage the transition from approved business plans to in-kind startup support.
• Liaise with procurement teams to ensure transparent, compliant, and timely sourcing of startup equipment.
• Validate startup kits to ensure alignment with approved business needs, financial projections, and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure that procurement decisions support income generation and business sustainability, rather than asset delivery alone.

Mentorship & Post-Launch Support

• Establish structured mentorship and coaching arrangements with internal and external resource persons.
• Ensure systematic post-launch follow-up to monitor business performance, address operational or financial challenges, and promote growth.
• Track business performance against agreed KPIs and financial benchmarks during the incubation period.
• Facilitate access to additional technical assistance, training, or market exposure opportunities based on performance gaps.

Partnership & Market Linkages

• Build and maintain relationships with private sector actors, suppliers, and service providers to connect youth with market opportunities.
• Facilitate youth access to buyers, distribution channels, and business networks that strengthen enterprise viability.
• Explore strategic collaborations that expand youth exposure to real market environments and demand-driven opportunities.

Monitoring, Reporting & Learning

• Establish and maintain systems for monitoring startup performance, including financial indicators such as revenue, profitability, customer acquisition, and break-even achievement.
• Track outcomes and sustainability indicators at regular intervals (e.g. 1, 3, and 6 months post-launch).
• Ensure accurate documentation, data quality, and evidence generation for internal reporting and donor communication.
• Analyze performance trends, identify risks or underperformance early, and recommend corrective actions and program improvements.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with Anera’s procurement, financial, and donor requirements throughout the startup cycle.
• Identify operational, financial, and market risks affecting supported businesses and propose mitigation measures.
• Ensure accountability, transparency, and value for money across all startup support interventions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies, or a related field (Master’s degree is an asset).
• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in entrepreneurship development, project management, business startup support, or livelihood programming.
• Proven experience designing or implementing business startup or self-employment initiatives within NGO or development settings.
• Experience working with youth-focused economic empowerment or vocational training programs is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of business planning, market assessment, and early-stage enterprise development.
• Solid understanding of financial analysis, KPIs, and performance monitoring for small businesses.
• Experience coordinating in-kind startup support and working with procurement processes in compliance-based environments.
• Ability to assess business feasibility and provide practical, market-oriented guidance to youth entrepreneurs.
• Strong coordination skills to work effectively across internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to establish and manage linkages with private sector actors and service providers.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently with high professionalism, accountability, and attention to quality.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Anera strives to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, political or national views or background, ethnicity, religion, age, handicap, sex, or any other factor unrelated to ability to perform the required work. Anera does give strong preference in employing Lebanese, Palestinian, or other resident Arab nationals (other than for the country director position and internships). In all cases, recruitment decisions are first and foremost based on merit and qualifications. Anera holds local project institutions to the same standards.

Code of Conduct

Anera is committed to conducting its operations with the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism across all contexts in which we work. We strive to deliver high-quality services and maintain a reputation built on fairness, respect, responsibility, and sound judgment. All employees, managers, officers, and representatives are expected to uphold these standards at all times and act per their duty of loyalty to Anera. No individual may misrepresent the organization or speak on its behalf without proper authorization. Confidential and sensitive information—including financial data, strategic plans, or information related to partners and beneficiaries—must be handled with the utmost discretion and only shared on a need-to-know basis, in line with Anera’s confidentiality and privacy policies. Any violation of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. The level of disciplinary response may take into account whether the violation was self-reported and whether the individual cooperated in the investigation process.

Our values

We are inspired: We are committed to energize, engage, and motivate others to forge the best outcomes for the diverse communities we serve.

We are people-centric: We are respectful and empathetic. We believe that each person, no matter their circumstances, embodies promise and has the power to shape the lives of their community and world.

We are collaborative: Teamwork and collaborative action are at the heart of how we do our work and deliver results.

We are versatile: In a region burdened by obstacles, we make the right connections to find a way and bring can-do, innovative approaches to everything we do.

We are impactful: We make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve by delivering impactful solutions at the local community level.

We are accountable: Our words, actions and results stay true to our mission and values.