Enterprise Development Associate

About SEWA Self Employment Women’s Association (SEWA) is a movement of women workers in the

informal economy, working towards self-reliance and full empowerment. Over 52 years, 2.9 million

women in India across 18 states have become members of this decentralized, grassroots movement.

SEWA Bharat is the National Federation of all SEWA Organisations. Its objective is to expand the

movement across India and to support individual SEWAs in their journey towards autonomy.

SEWA members have promoted over 160 collectively-owned social enterprises over 50 years of its

existence. SEWA Bharat has set up a Women’s Enterprise Support System (WESS) to help these social

enterprises scale, become sustainable and to engage with policymakers and private sector players on how

to create a more enabling environment for grassroots women entrepreneurs and collective social

enterprises. We are currently working to expand the reach of WESS to SRLMs in order to create greater

impact and an enabling environment for grassroot enterprises.

Overview

The WESS offers comprehensive support through access to finance, strategic business planning, accounts

and compliance, and access to market to help these enterprises reach sustainability. For more details visit

here. The WESS program is looking for a proactive Business Operations Associate to join its team, focused

on supporting women-owned enterprises. Based at the project location, the successful candidate will play

an essential role in assisting with the day-to-day operations and processes of these enterprises, ensuring

smooth operations and fostering growth. As an Operations Associate, you will collaborate with the team

to mobilise the members, maintain relationships, streamline operations, help implement standard

operating procedures (SOPs), and support business planning activities. Your work will be key in

strengthening the foundations of women-led businesses within India’s informal economy, driving

operational efficiency, and contributing to their long-term success and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

A. Needs Assessment & Planning

● Conduct needs assessments of the enterprise and state teams to identify gaps in operations,

production, and market readiness.

● Develop action plans based on assessments and track progress.

B. Enterprise & Operations Management

● Act as the Point of Contact (PoC) for the Phulia handloom enterprise and other assigned

enterprises.

● Draft, implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for production,

procurement, sampling, stock management, product coding and quality control.

● Oversee and track the sampling process (design approvals, timelines, and quality adherence).

● Ensure smooth business operations including procurement, inventory and documentation.

● Regularly review enterprise book-keeping, accounts and stock registers to ensure accuracy and

compliance.

C. Capacity Building

● Design and facilitate training for enterprise leaders, state teams and grassroots women on

business processes, financial literacy and market readiness.

● Provide ongoing mentoring and handholding support to ensure adoption of systems.

D. Business Development & Market Linkages

● Support enterprise teams in developing business strategies and identifying new market

opportunities.

● Facilitate connections with buyers, exhibitions and institutional partners.

● Collaborate with enterprise teams on product marketing and pricing strategies.

E. Documentation & Reporting

● Maintain records of training, enterprise growth and operational progress.

● Prepare regular reports, dashboards and case studies for internal review and periodic updates.

Required Qualifications & Skills

● Graduate or Postgraduate degree in Business Management / Development Studies / Social

Entrepreneurship or related field (or equivalent experience).

● 4–6 years of experience in enterprise development, livelihood programs or grassroots business

management, with strong preference for work in handloom weaving, artisan clusters or women-

led enterprises.

● Strong skills in operations management, business planning and team capacity building.

● Excellent communication and drafting skills (English and Bengali).

● Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with digital tools for reporting

& monitoring.

Competencies

● Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

● Proactive, self-driven and able to work independently.

● Sensitivity to gender and community dynamics.

● Ability to balance operational detail with strategic thinking.

Additional Requirements

● This position is based at Phulia, West Bengal. Travel to the field and other locations is mandatory

as and when required.

Compensation

Commensurate with industry standards and experience.

Contract Details:

• Commencement Date: Immediate Joining

• Contract type: Salaried

• Payment mode: Monthly

• Base Location: Phulia, West Bengal

• Reporting to: Enterprise POC and WESS Lead

If Interested please apply to wess@sewabharat.org