Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Duration: Full-time position; 12-month contract  

Reports to: Business Development Manager

Context:

Founded in 2004, Building Markets is an award-winning nonprofit that creates jobs and encourages economic growth in crisis-affected countries by connecting competitive local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to supply chains and investment. Through this approach, the organization has built a network of more than 25,000 verified SMEs, assisted them in winning over $1.3 billion in contracts,

and helped create over 70,000 jobs in countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, Timor-Leste, and Liberia. Building Markets is headquartered in New York City and currently operates programs in Jordan, Myanmar and Turkey. For more information, please visit www.buildingmarkets.org and https://entrepreneurs.buildingmarkets.org.

Job Summary:

The Business Development Associate is a highly motivated professional responsible for driving Building Markets’ matchmaking services in specific sectors and with key buyers in Turkey. These services are centered around facilitating linkages and contracts between the organization’s network of buyers and suppliers, hosting matchmaking events, producing matchmaking reports, providing tender distribution services, and ensuring engagement on Building Markets’ online matchmaking platform.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Matchmaking:

• Create, follow up with, and track matchmaking leads;
• Respond to matchmaking requests by compiling supplier information and disseminating matchmaking reports to potential buyers;
• Assist the Business Development Manager with other tasks, as needed.

Tender Distribution:

• Compile tenders and post them on Building Markets platforms in English/Arabic/Turkish;
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in understanding business requirements and supplier qualifications;
• Coordinate online and social media engagement with the communications department to drive traffic towards Building Markets tender distribution services;
• Develop Building Markets’ tender distribution database through online research and close relationships with procurement officers in-country;
• Proactively share tenders with specific businesses when you identify a match;
• Monitor and track tender distribution services to inform engagement strategy.

Events Planning:

• Contribute to matchmaking event strategy, planning and implementation;
• Monitor and track event registrations, attendance, and event evaluations, including follow-up via calls and emails;
• Support the drafting/translation of event outreach materials and event communication needs;
• Engage Building Markets network online to encourage event participation.

Web/Online Data Maintenance:

• Support the development of business profiles on Building Markets’ Matchmaking Platform, including data management;
• Share online profiles with businesses and engage them on Building Markets’ Matchmaking Platform through follow-up via calls and emails; 
• Translate business profiles into Arabic and Turkish.

Reporting Lines:

Reports to Business Development Manager

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in a relevant field;
• 3-5 years of experience with sales, marketing, customer service, data management, and/or events planning (please highlight all relevant experiences in cover letter). Ideally in the private sector;
• Fluency in English, with additional Arabic and/or Turkish language skills;
• Work authorization in Turkey (not required at the time of application);
• Strong organizational skills and attention to details, including managing data on client interactions;
• Extroverted personality who enjoys outreach and interacting with a range of clients;
• Highly driven fast learner, who is results-driven with a resourceful ‘can do’ attitude;
• Motivated to promote private sector development and support refugee communities in Turkey;
• Good written and oral communication skills across diverse cultures;
• Unintimidated by technology and comfortable using Google Drive, Excel, online database, and other tech-based resources.

Travel:

Possible travel in-country

Compensation:

Salary commensurate with experience

Applications:

Interested candidates are invited to send a CV/resume, cover letter, and three professional references by email no later than August 30, 2020  The subject line must read “Business Development Associate - Turkey”.