Field Coordinator – Market Access & B2B Partnerships

Organization: Innovation for Development (I4D)

Project: Bridging Futures: Refugee-led and Turkish MSMEs in Trade

Duty Station: Gaziantep, Türkiye

Contract Type: Full-time, 10 months

Reporting to: Project Manager

About I4D

Innovation for Development (I4D) is a development organization working to promote inclusive economic development, entrepreneurship, private sector engagement, and social innovation, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities and underserved businesses.

About the Project

Bridging Futures: Refugee-led and Turkish MSMEs in Trade aims to improve the competitiveness and market access of refugee-led and Turkish MSMEs in Adana, Hatay, and Gaziantep.

The project focuses on connecting local producers with corporate buyers, including national retail chains, organized retailers, distributors, and institutional purchasers. Through tailored business support and B2B matchmaking activities, it helps MSMEs understand corporate procurement requirements, strengthen their supplier readiness, and access sustainable commercial opportunities.

Position Overview

I4D is seeking an experienced, proactive, and well-connected Field Coordinator – Market Access & B2B Partnerships to coordinate project implementation and business engagement activities in Gaziantep.

The Field Coordinator will lead local MSME outreach, facilitate relationships with corporate buyers and business networks, coordinate tailored business support activities, and oversee B2B matchmaking processes.

The position requires a strong understanding of the local business ecosystem, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to translate the needs of both producers and corporate buyers into practical market access opportunities.

The successful candidate will supervise field support staff and work closely with the Project Manager and technical experts to ensure effective project implementation and measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

1. Market Access and MSME Engagement

• Lead the identification, outreach, and engagement of refugee-led and Turkish MSMEs, local producers, and potential suppliers.
• Coordinate assessments of participating businesses, including their production capacities, product portfolios, commercial readiness, and market access challenges.
• Identify opportunities for participating MSMEs to access organized retail, distribution networks, and institutional markets.
• Guide MSMEs in understanding corporate procurement expectations, supplier requirements, and potential market opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with local business communities, entrepreneurship networks, and relevant institutions.

2. Corporate Buyer Engagement and B2B Matchmaking

• Identify and engage corporate buyers, including national retail chains, organized retailers, distributors, and institutional purchasers.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with procurement teams, category managers, sourcing specialists, and other corporate representatives.
• Assess buyer needs, sourcing interests, supplier selection criteria, and procurement requirements.
• Coordinate tailored B2B matchmaking activities, business meetings, supplier presentations, and buyer visits.
• Facilitate communication between participating MSMEs and prospective buyers to identify commercially relevant opportunities.
• Oversee follow-up activities, including supplier evaluations, product sample requests, registration processes, and emerging commercial discussions.

3. Tailored Business Support and Supplier Readiness

• Identify gaps between corporate buyer requirements and the capacities of participating MSMEs.
• Work with technical experts, consultants, and trainers to develop needs-based business support activities for both suppliers and buyers.
• Coordinate practical support on supplier readiness, product standards, quality requirements, packaging, pricing, logistics, and commercial procedures.
• Support MSMEs in preparing company profiles, product catalogues, and other materials required for corporate buyer engagement.
• Collect feedback from buyers and suppliers to continuously improve project activities and matchmaking approaches.

4. Field Operations and Team Coordination

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee project activities in Gaziantep in close collaboration with the Project Manager.
• Supervise and support the Field Coordinator Assistant and other field support personnel as assigned.
• Coordinate workshops, business consultations, networking events, B2B meetings, and stakeholder visits.
• Develop field activity plans, monitor implementation progress, and ensure the timely delivery of planned activities.
• Coordinate with chambers of commerce, business associations, development agencies, municipalities, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Identify operational challenges and propose practical solutions to ensure effective field implementation.

5. Monitoring, Reporting and Quality Assurance

• Monitor progress against project targets, particularly those related to MSME engagement, supplier readiness, B2B matchmaking, and market access outcomes.
• Oversee beneficiary records, business profiles, corporate buyer databases, and matchmaking follow-up documentation.
• Track potential commercial opportunities, supplier onboarding progress, and business linkages resulting from project activities.
• Prepare regular field progress reports, activity summaries, and inputs for donor reporting.
• Ensure that project activities follow I4D’s operational procedures, safeguarding principles, inclusion standards, and donor requirements.

Required Qualifications

Education and Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, international trade, marketing, development studies, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in business development, private sector engagement, MSME support, market access, or project coordination.
• Strong knowledge of Gaziantep’s business ecosystem, local producers, entrepreneurship networks, and relevant institutions is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with businesses, corporate stakeholders, chambers of commerce, or industry associations.
• Experience in B2B matchmaking, supplier development, organized retail, corporate procurement, or market linkage initiatives is a strong advantage.
• Previous experience coordinating field teams or implementing development projects is preferred.
• Familiarity with refugee-led businesses, inclusive economic development, or internationally funded programmes is an asset.

 

Language Skills

• Turkish: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Arabic: Strongly preferred, particularly for engagement with refugee-led businesses and Arabic-speaking entrepreneurs.
• English: Good working proficiency is preferred for project coordination, documentation, and reporting.

 

Personal Competencies

• Leadership and teamwork: Ability to coordinate field teams, delegate tasks, and foster a collaborative working environment.
• Business orientation: Strong understanding of business relationships, supply chains, and market access challenges.
• Stakeholder engagement: Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with entrepreneurs, corporate buyers, and institutional partners.
• Communication and negotiation: Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and business communication skills.
• Planning and problem-solving: Ability to manage multiple activities, anticipate challenges, and develop practical solutions.
• Local market awareness: Strong familiarity with regional business dynamics and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
• Adaptability and cultural sensitivity: Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Field orientation: Willingness to travel regularly within the project area and engage directly with participating businesses.

What We Value

At I4D, we value professionals who combine strong local knowledge with initiative, collaboration, and a commitment to inclusive economic development.

We particularly welcome candidates who understand both the challenges faced by small producers and the commercial expectations of larger corporate buyers.

The ideal candidate is someone who can build trusted business relationships, identify market opportunities, and help turn B2B connections into sustainable commercial partnerships.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• An updated CV.
• A brief motivation letter highlighting their experience in business development, market access, corporate buyer engagement, or MSME support, as well as their knowledge of the local business ecosystem and language skills.

Applications should be submitted through the application link provided in the vacancy announcement.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

I4D reserves the right to review applications and proceed with recruitment before the announced deadline.

I4D is committed to equal opportunity, diversity, inclusion, and safegua