Business Origination Advisor and Component Lead

Company Description

SNV (www.snv.org) is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Together with our team of over 1,600 people, our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995 and currently has over 50 national and international staff. SNV Vietnam operates from a head office in Hanoi and projects in over 20 provinces in the country, including in the poorest and most remote areas.

Vietnam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN–ADAPT) Project

Vietnam has become an agricultural powerhouse – a leading global producer and exporter of many major agricultural commodity crops, e.g. rice, coffee, shrimps, rubber, pepper as well as increasingly venturing into fruit-production and exports. Vietnam’s agriculture sector was and is of critical importance to socio-economic development, rural employment, and livelihoods. Recent successes in the uplands are, in addition to coffee, durian (high demand in China), avocado. Despite the emergence of more industrialised forms of agricultural production, smallholder farms still dominate. These enterprises operate often in buyers’ markets and are extremely vulnerable to commodity price shocks, market fluctuations and supply-chain disruptions. Vietnam’s emerging private sector is also heavily invested in agriculture, be it in production, processing, distributing or exporting.

Due to Vietnam's geographical location, the country is considered one of the countries most affected by climate change. Along the long coastline with the low-lying coastal and delta regions lives a large part of the population, which earns its livelihood from agriculture and aquaculture. Both in the Mekong Delta and in the provinces of the Central Highlands, the effects of global climate change have already made themselves felt, endangering production and incomes.

SNV is strongly committed to supporting the Government of Vietnam in promoting a more holistic approach that goes beyond agricultural production alone and aims to facilitate systemic change towards sustainable agrifood systems that strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers to both climate and economic shocks and trends.

Vietnam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN-ADAPT) is a 5-year, €15m national programme in Vietnam to be implemented from 2026 to 2029. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for - the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) via the International Climate Initiative (IKI). SNV Vietnam is the prime recipient of the funding, leads the preparation and implementation of the programme in consortium with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Centre for Environmental Management ICEM) Vietnam. The VN-ADAPT project has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) of Vietnam. MAE is also the primary political partner and Host Agency for this undertaking. SNV will work closely with MAE,  related ministries and provinces on full implementation of activities on the ground.

The project’s focus areas are two key climate vulnerable landscapes – the Mekong Delta (MD) and Central Highland regions. Here, VN-ADAPT aims to improve institutional capacity, to strengthen partnerships to channel private innovations and investment towards accelerated adoption of nature-based solutions in the agriculture sector. This shall be realised through four inter-related work packages, namely: i) Building multi-stakeholder consensus for Nature-based solutions for adaptation in Agriculture (NbSA); ii) Strengthening the enabling legal and policy framework for NbSA and the conservation of biodiversity in production landscapes (including the development of legal guidance for the establishment and implementation of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs); iii) Mobilising public and private innovation and investment in NbSA; iv) Communications, knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation.

Purpose of Job

The Business Origination Advisor and Component Lead (The Advisor) is accountable for coordination, technical quality, timeliness, and results of all activities under Work Package 3 - Mobilising public and private innovation and investment in NbSA. They will ensure strategic alignment of consortium actions to the project theory of change and impact indicators under the component and work closely with the Project Management in ensuring there is appropriate resourcing and timely delivery.

The Advisor will be responsible for leading and delivery of SNV’s activities under WP 3 (3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4), its outputs and impact related to value chain development for NbSA through co-investment with lead companies and business development with SMEs and cooperatives. They will coordinate with technical team members to identify a pipeline of co-investment businesses. The Advisor will also have primary responsibility in ensuring the provision of technical support to local companies and cooperatives within target value chains, with the aim to develop a pipeline of investable businesses cases in the target landscapes of the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. They will be the primary contact with shortlisted leading businesses for co-investments, ensuring delivery of grants and technical assistance needs in line with agreed proposals.

They will contribute to SNV Country Program’s, business development goals and priorities as a member of the program team.

Job Description

1. Component Lead – Work Package 3

• Lead the design, planning, and implementation of all technical activities under the assigned Component. 
• Be accountable for achieving Component‑level outputs, targets, and indicators within approved timelines. 
• Lead strategy development and adaptive planning to address implementation challenges and ensure results delivery. 
• Ensure technical coherence, quality assurance, and integration of cross‑cutting issues (e.g. GESI, safeguarding) within Component activities.  
• Lead Component‑level technical work planning and contribute inputs to the consolidated project workplan. 
• Lead and provide direct technical services relating business, entrepreneurship, grant management to project stakeholders
• Coordinate activities and timelines with other Components and consortium partners to ensure a one‑project approach. 
• Maintain activity schedules and track progress against agreed plans.  
• Serve as the primary focal point for technical engagement with relevant government departments, provinces, and focal points related to the Component. 

2. Business development and pipeline management

• Work with Value Chain Specialists and other VN-ADAPT technical and management team members to identify pipeline
• Ensure CRM system is updated.
• Contribute to organization of or participation in early market engagement, networking and SNV and project events
• Support in proposal development for co-investments and lead in facilitation of applications through to acceptance of proposals in line with the project partnership guidelines and environmental and social safeguarding requirements

3. Provide support in scoping and structuring new business cases in target landscapes:

• Contributes to the identification and preparation of investment proposals, undertaking analysis and discussions with internal staff & clients as appropriate
• Ensuring compliance of business cases with the project business partnerships guidelines and operational manuals
• Supporting planning and execution of due diligence assessments and plans of companies
• Analyses financial data including ratios, projections, budgets, etc.
• Supports legal contracting process together with the SNV business support team.

4. Monitoring a portfolio of contracted grants and technical assistance in the target landscapes

• Prepares (credit) reviews including market and financial analysis
• Provides inputs to the VN-ADAPT Management and Technical team by responding to requests for information/support
• Support MEL processes by providing technical inputs, data, and documentation for Component activities.

5. Monitoring Evaluation and Learning

• Contribute to analysis of results and identification of corrective or adaptive measures to achieve targets.
• Contribute to project and organizational reporting and communications
• Support the development of communications and Knowledge management products highlighting Component achievements.

6. Providing analysis and support

• Contribute to organizational business development and learning initiatives
• Assists team members in other aspects of the portfolio management process
• Other duties as assigned by line manager.

Qualifications

• Vietnamese citizen
• Master degree, preferably in agriculture, economics, finance, business administration, natural resource management or agriculture-related engineering;
• Minimum of 8 years working experience as investment and/or inclusive business expert;
• Working experience in an international environment and/or in emerging markets is a plus.
• Proven experience in providing business development and marketing support to companies
• Proven experience in developing bankable business plans for starting and existing companies
• Proven experience in the Agri Food sector (highly preferable)
• Knowledge of climate adaptation or nature-based solutions a plus
• Good understanding of environmental and social safeguards (assessments and plans)
• Knowledge of gender and social inclusion and women’s economic empowerment is highly preferable

Competencies

• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, including financial modelling skills;
• Strong administration skills with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to build productive internal and external working relationships
• Displays a strong service and client orientation;
• Strong team player;
• Good networking skills;
• Pro-active work attitude and 'can do, solution-oriented attitude;
• Strong skills in planning, administration, organising and prioritising;
• Risk aware and able to escalate issues when necessary;
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Affinity with SNVs mission and core behaviours.

Additional Information

Contract Duration: SNV Vietnam offers a one-year contract with the possibility of extension.

Duty Station: Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with travel within the Project area in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and beyond (ca.up to 25%)

Report Line: VN – ADAPT Deputy Project Manager (DPM)

Desired start date: ideally in June 2026

Working at SNV:

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org/careers.

How to Apply:

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation before 5.00pm on 22 May 2026.

SNV reserves the right to close the vacancy before the indicated deadline if the appropriate candidate is identified.

- We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement -