UNOPS

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

UNOPS supports both humanitarian response and early recovery in Gaza. Currently, UNOPS support in Gaza focuses on key humanitarian enablers, including on access, via the Security Council-mandated UN 2720 Mechanism and the Access Support Unit (ASU), humanitarian fuel and energy, and mine action. Operations are envisaged to continue in the coming period with a focus in line with the UNOPS mandate: (i) infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, (ii) procurement and (iii) project management.

As part of the Business Development and Economic Empowerment Track under the QUDSI-R4R project, UN-Habitat aims to strengthen the economic resilience, income-generating capacity, and sustainability of project-supported beneficiaries and affiliated initiatives in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Within this framework, the project seeks to support the development and operationalization of a small sewing business initiative as a viable and sustainable income-generating model. The intervention is intended to enhance local production capacity, respond to identified market needs, and create employment and livelihood opportunities for the targeted beneficiaries.

To ensure the successful establishment of this initiative, a comprehensive and structured business development process is required. This process will cover the full lifecycle of business development, including business model design, market validation, operational planning, commercialization strategy, and feasibility assessment, culminating in a fully actionable business plan.

The assignment will adopt an iterative and evidence-based approach, whereby initial business assumptions are tested and refined through market analysis and demand validation, and subsequently translated into operational, financial, and implementation frameworks.

To support this effort, UN-Habitat seeks to recruit a Business Development Expert (Individual Consultant) responsible for leading the end-to-end development of the sewing business model and ensuring that it is market-driven, operationally feasible, and financially viable.

The consultant will work closely with the project team and relevant stakeholders to ensure that all components of the business are well-designed, integrated, and aligned with local market conditions and project objectives.

The Business Development Consultant will be responsible for leading the end-to-end business development process for the sewing business initiative. This includes developing an initial business model, validating it through market and demand analysis, designing operational and production systems, developing a marketing/commercialization strategy, and conducting a comprehensive technical, operational, and financial feasibility assessment.

The consultant will consolidate all outputs into a complete, implementation-ready business plan, including a clear roadmap and performance monitoring framework. The role aims to ensure that the sewing business is strategically sound, practically implementable, and financially sustainable, thereby contributing to the broader economic empowerment objectives of the QUDSI-R4R project.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Desired

• A Master’s degree in the above mentioned areas or related field is desired.

Required

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in business development, feasibility studies, business planning, and SME Development with a bachelor’s degree, OR  a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience required with a master’s degree.

• Experience in business model development, market research, competitive analysis, financial modeling, feasibility assessments, and business plan preparation is required.

• Experience working with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurship programs, or income-generating projects is required.

Desired

• Experience in light manufacturing, textiles, garment production, or sewing-related businesses is highly desirable.

• Experience working with donor-funded projects, international organizations, NGOs, or development programs is desired.

• Experience working in East Jerusalem or similar socio-economic contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.