About this role
Our team at Wilder Institute Ghana is growing and is seeking a fixed-term, full-time Business Development Officer to support initiatives in Avu Lagoon, Ghana. This is an incredible opportunity to support the creation of sustainable, conservation-compatible livelihood strategies and builds governance capacity within communities to ensure transparent, equitable, and effective local leadership structures.
The Business Development Officer will be responsible for designing, coordinating, and delivering business and governance training initiatives across Wilder Institute Ghana’s community conservation programs. The officer will work collaboratively with community groups, cooperatives, and local institutions to foster economic resilience and stewardship of natural resources in alignment with the Wilder Institute’s mission.
The position will also support market access, enterprise growth, and community participation by strengthening local capacity to develop sustainable income-generating activities that contribute to both improved livelihoods and conservation outcomes.
Our Purpose | We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.
Our Core Values | Drive impact, nurture connection, cultivate hope, and be bold.
Location: Avu Lagoon, Ghana
Contract:
- Start Date: October 2026 or as soon as possible
- End Date: December 2029
What you will do:
Business Capacity Development
- Develop and deliver business skills training programs tailored to the needs of rural and community-based organizations (e.g., bookkeeping, cooperative management, financial literacy, marketing, and value chain development).
- Support the development and implementation of sustainable, conservation-friendly microenterprises or cooperative ventures (e.g., ecotourism, agroforestry products, value-added goods).
- Facilitate business activities in collaboration with partners or experts.
- Support producer groups and cooperatives in developing business plans, marketing strategies, and financial sustainability plans.
- Facilitate linkages between community enterprises and buyers, financial institutions, service providers, and relevant government support programs.
Governance Training and Support
- Design and deliver governance workshops and leadership development initiatives for community conservation committees or other local institutions.
- Support the development of standard operating procedures for local organizations or committees to improve transparency and accountability.
- Provide coaching and mentorship to community leadership to foster good governance practices, democratic decision-making, and conflict resolution.
- Support communities to establish clear governance structures, roles, responsibilities, and succession planning mechanisms.
- Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in governance and decision-making processes.
Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with local businesses, government departments, NGOs, and community organizations to facilitate collaborative business development opportunities.
- Represent Wilder Institute Ghana in meetings, workshops, and business forums that promote community-driven development and conservation finance.
- Engage with traditional authorities, district assemblies, and relevant government agencies to support community enterprise development and conservation objectives.
- Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance market access, training opportunities, and resource mobilization.
General Administrative and Operational Support
- Assist in budgeting, procurement, and logistical planning for training sessions and business development events.
- Contribute to proposals and donor communications to secure funding for community enterprise development.
- Support annual work planning and budget development processes related to community enterprise and governance programming.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of community conservation and livelihood objectives.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
What you will bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, Community Development, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in business development, enterprise development, cooperative strengthening, community development, or a related field.
- Equivalent combinations of relevant education and significant practical experience may be considered.
- Experience working with rural communities, community-based organizations, farmer groups, or conservation-linked livelihood initiatives. Is required.
- Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development is required.
- Professional certification in entrepreneurship development, cooperative management, project management, or adult education would be considered an asset.
- Strong facilitation and training delivery skills, with the ability to adapt material to varied literacy and education levels.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, work respectfully in diverse cultural settings, and support community-led decision-making.
- Understanding of gender equity, inclusive business practices, and participatory governance approaches
- Approach community and relationship building with cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Ability to think strategically by incorporating broader business concepts and impact to address business queries
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote field locations.
- Fluency in English required; proficiency in local Ghanaian languages (Ewe, Twi, and/or Wala) is required.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite; knowledge of business or data management tools is preferred.
Working Conditions:
- Extensive office work involving long periods of sitting at computer workstations.
- Based (living in) at project locations engaging with community members, which may include field work/conditions which may involve hazards such as dangerous animals, insects, sunburn, working with field equipment such as trucks or ATVs, heavy lifting of field equipment, exposure to wildlife diseases, and working in rural areas and/or remote communities. Field conditions might also involve working long, irregular hours in inclement weather.
- Reside in field locations in inclement weather.
- Driving on highways and dirt roads.
- Work schedule is based on a 40hr work week.
- Travel between project sites and head office as necessary.
- Flexible schedule to accommodate working across multiple time zones (Ghana and Canada)
The Wilder Institute Ghana may require outdoor work and staff must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute’s Ghana follows the advice of local weather authorities when responding to temperature and air quality issues.
What the Wilder Institute Ghana Offers:
- We offer competitive compensation!
- A fun, rewarding work environment dedicated to driving forward inclusive, sustainable conservation.
Are you ready to join a leader in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you.
Apply by doing the following:
- Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0)
- Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system.
- Fill in the Application questions:
- Confirm eligibility to work in Ghana.
- If hired, when would you be available to start?
- Please briefly describe how your experience and skills would align with this position.
- Do you have a valid driver’s licence?
- What are your salary expectations?
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Ghana.
If this position is a fit for you, we encourage you to apply with a resume and cover letter online by our application deadline: August 19, 2026.
The Wilder Institute strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. As a conservation organization, we respect and value the diversity of all life and come together as individuals and teammates to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work to advance our culture to ensure diverse viewpoints are heard, and everyone has an equitable chance to succeed and thrive.
This position is an existing vacancy within our organization. The Wilder Institute uses basic knockout questions in application to support screening; applications are otherwise assessed and selected by real humans.
All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that they will be contacted once applications have been reviewed, and a final decision has been made.
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