Senior Green Entrepreneurship & Accelerator Program Officer

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

In the Sultanate of Oman, GGGI has partnered with the Government through the leadership of the Environment Authority (EA) to develop the "Accelerating Resilience and Innovation for Sustainable Ecosystems management" (ARISE) Program. The ARISE Program is a USD 100 million initiative spanning six years, designed to deliver climate action, ecosystem restoration, and economic growth through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) integrated into the Bioeconomy and Sustainable Special Economic Zones (SSEZs). The program ultimately targets the restoration of 30,000 hectares of land, an estimated 750,000 tCO2e/year in greenhouse gas emission reductions, and the creation of over 1,000 green jobs. The implementation of the ARISE Program is structured around two phases. Phase 1 will cover 2 years, and Phase 2 will be over 4 years. The funding has been approved for Phase 1.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to ARISE Program Lead, the Senior Green Entrepreneurship & Accelerator Program Officer (“Senior Officer”) will design, rollout, and implement the ARISE Program’s Bioeconomy Businesses Accelerator, contributing to green economic diversification in the Dhofar region. The Officer will also support capacity-building activities for government stakeholders to successfully establish, govern, and manage the Sustainable Special Economic Zones (SSEZs).

This role requires high-level technical expertise in green enterprise scaling, as well as extensive experience in institutional capacity building. The Senior Officer will bridge the gap between private sector innovation and public sector coordination, supporting entrepreneurs through access to micro-credits and incubation support while assisting government agencies in strengthening relevant frameworks and implementation capacities.

PURPOSE

• Support the establishment and operationalization of the Bioeconomy Businesses Accelerator, supporting the growth and scaling of at least 1,000 green startups, micro-businesses, and SMEs in Dhofar.
• Support capacity-building initiatives for government stakeholders (Output 1.3), developing and implementing a comprehensive Capacity Building Plan (CBP) to strengthen the public sector's readiness for SSEZ governance and management.
• Provide strategic guidance for the institutional development and operationalization of the Oman Authority/Agency for SSEZ Implementation and Support (OASIS).
• Design and implement comprehensive business skill training programs targeting local livestock owners, youth, and women
• Provide technical expertise to structure micro-credit mechanisms that incentivize the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

ENGAGEMENT

• Engages extensively with key Omani government stakeholders to conduct capacity needs assessments and facilitate the institutional setup of OASIS.
• Contribute to building strategic partnerships with Private Sector off-takers and supply chain leaders to secure market access, off-take agreements, and B2B linkages for the accelerated startups.
• Collaborates with financial institutions, i.e., Oman Development Bank, Oman Future Fund, to facilitate access to micro-credits and green financing for rural entrepreneurs.

DELIVERY

• Undertake a capacity-building needs assessment for stakeholders to deliver targeted training sessions and knowledge-sharing events.
• Design and manage operations of the Bioeconomy Businesses Accelerator, supporting business development from ideation to earl-stagy growth.
• Assist in the development and delivery of entrepreneurship and incubation training programs.
• Ensure the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) by prioritizing women and youth in the targeted Wilayats (Rakhyut, Dhalkot, Salalah, etc.).
• Support the provision of technical assistance and financial support (micro-credits/grants) to beneficiaries transitioning to sustainable animal breeding and fodder production practices.
• Organize and manage program events.
• Disseminate knowledge products and research to strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in business administration, entrepreneurship, public policy, sustainable development, economics, or a related field.
• Preferred 7-10 years of relevant professional international experience related to entrepreneurship, business incubation & acceleration programs, SME development, and public sector capacity building.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing institutional capacity-building programs and governance frameworks for government stakeholders, ideally related to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) or green industrial parks.
• Strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by rural startups, agropastoral communities, and green entrepreneurs in developing or emerging economies.
• Demonstrated experience in designing micro-credit schemes or mobilizing investment for early-stage startups and MSMEs.
• Proficient written and spoken skills in both English and Arabic are requirement to effectively engage with Omani government officials and local communities.
• At least 2 years of international experience living and working outside of home country.

FUNCTIONAL

• Strong understanding of entrepreneurship ecosystems, SME development, accelerator/incubator program delivery.
• Deep knowledge of bioeconomy principles, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), and how to translate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into profitable business models and government policies.
• Ability to conduct institutional needs assessments and translate them into actionable training modules and governance frameworks (e.g., for OASIS).
• Excellent organizational and management understanding with demonstrated experience in the successful mainstreaming of gender, poverty reduction, and social inclusion components into business and public programs.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within deadlines.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate concepts into practical program activities.
• Good knowledge of monitoring and evaluation systems within a performance-based management context.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including reporting and preparation of technical documents.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Excel at problem-solving, ask questions and seek support when needed, and share information and knowledge easily with others both internally and externally.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport, and resolve conflict easily.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining high productivity.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Green Entrepreneurship & Accelerator Program Officer is an G9 grade level in GGGI's international salary scale, details of which can be found in the GGGI Staff Rules on GGGI’s website. In addition, GGGI provides 27 days of annual leave, flexible work arrangements and contribution towards private health insurance that covers dental and vision. 

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work commitments and personal and family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity and well-being of Staff members.

For more information on GGGI's terms and conditions (allowances, health care, education etc.) please familiarize yourself with GGGI's Rules and Regulations that can be found here: https://gggi.org/policy-documents