Program Associate – Market Development for MSME, Northeast India ( Contrac at Customized Energy Solutions

Shillong, Meghalaya, India -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

24 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

23 Feb, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Market Linkages, Value Chain Development, Enterprise Promotion, Product Development, Pricing Strategies, Market Compliance, Order Aggregation, Stakeholder Partnerships, SOP Development, Communication, Negotiation, Coordination, Rural Development, MSME Support, Eri Silk, Food Processing

Industry

Utilities

Description

Company Description Customized Energy Solutions (CES), a privately-held company, is a leading service provider of market intelligence and operational support services to companies participating in the retail and wholesale electric and natural gas markets. Utilizing deep know-how developed since the inception of the deregulated energy markets, CES provides accurate & timely analysis on regulatory changes, market opportunities, and operational efficiencies for electricity and natural gas commodities. Customized Energy Solutions Ltd. has been recognized regionally and nationally for its impressive and sustained growth, including INC. 500 | 5000 and The Philadelphia Business Journal as a Top 100 Companies in Philadelphia, Hall of Fame for five or more consecutive years. It was ranked as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal. We started our India operations as Customized Energy Solutions India Pvt. Ltd in 2010 with offerings in the fields like Energy Trading, Renewable Energy Consultations, Emerging Technology leadership, serving C&I Consumers, etc. CES is uniquely placed in the market through its expertise drawn from US markets, Emerging Technology and experience in the Indian electricity markets. CESIPL is the trading licensee as approved by Hon’ble Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. CESIPL is registered on the Exchange platform to facilitate trading requirements of its clients in Physical and REC segments. Customized Energy Solutions Foundation (CES Foundation) is the not-for-profit arm of Customized Energy Solutions (CES), committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive rural economic development through clean energy solutions. The Foundation focuses on leveraging Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) to drive livelihood generation, entrepreneurship, and community resilience. Under its flagship initiative CAREs (Customized Applications for Rural Economies), CES Foundation works with tribal and rural communities to integrate microgrids with productive end-use applications, enabling clean-powered enterprises in agriculture, food processing, and other rural sectors. Guided by its 3I philosophy – Innovate, Integrate, Include, CES Foundation designs and implements technical, social, and financial solutions that ensure holistic development — fostering self-reliant, prosperous, and sustainable rural economies. Our team of associates at CES is highly motivated, innovative, and passionate about providing excellent Services to our clients. We look for individuals interested in growing with our company, and working in an exciting, open and collegial work environment. Our main office is in Philadelphia, with satellite offices in various U.S. states, Canada, Japan and India. Visit www.ces-ltd.com for more details Job Description Market Linkages for Feed, Food, and Fiber Enterprises Develop end-to-end market linkages for decentralized enterprises across feed, food, and fiber value chains, including eri silk, garments, and processed food products. Map and engage with local, regional, and national buyers, including wholesalers, retailers, aggregators, institutional buyers, exporters, and social enterprises. Identify product-wise market opportunities based on volume, quality, pricing, and delivery timelines suitable for decentralized production models. Eri Silk & Fiber-based Products (Garments, Textiles, Handloom) Build market connections for eri silk yarn, fabric, stoles, shawls, garments, and home textile products produced at community and cluster levels. Engage with handloom buyers, designers, boutiques, cooperatives, government emporiums, and ethical fashion brands. Support enterprises in product development aligned with market trends, including design inputs, sizing, color palettes, and seasonal demand. Facilitate order aggregation across multiple decentralized units to meet buyer volume requirements. Support pricing strategies that balance fair producer margins and market competitiveness. Food Processing & Value-added Food Products Establish market linkages for locally processed food products such as spices, millets, pulses, fruits and vegetable products, bakery items, and traditional foods. Identify channels including local markets, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, institutional buyers, exhibitions, and online platforms. Ensure enterprises meet basic market compliance requirements, including labeling, packaging, shelf-life, and food safety standards. Coordinate with buyers to plan production schedules aligned with seasonal availability and DRE-powered processing capacity. Support enterprises in developing repeat orders and long-term buyer relationships. Feed and Allied Products Develop market connections for feed and allied products produced through decentralized units (where applicable), including supply to farmer groups, livestock units, and local enterprises. Support enterprises in identifying bulk buyers and institutional demand to ensure regular turnover. Facilitate agreements or informal MoUs with buyers for consistent offtake. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Rural Management, Economics, Agriculture, Social Sciences, or related fields. 2-5 years of experience in market development, enterprise promotion, value chain development, or livelihood programs. Prior experience working in North-East India is highly preferred. Experience with producer collectives, SHGs, FPOs, MSMEs, or social enterprises is desirable. Strong understanding of local and regional markets in Meghalaya and Nagaland. Ability to build and manage multi-stakeholder partnerships. Practical experience in enterprise SOP development and implementation. Good communication, negotiation, and coordination skills. Willingness to travel extensively in rural and remote areas. Additional Information Customized Energy Solutions offers competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is contract to hire role for 6 months. Customized Energy Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Responsibilities

The role involves developing end-to-end market linkages for decentralized enterprises across feed, food, and fiber value chains, including mapping buyers and identifying product-specific market opportunities. This includes supporting enterprises with product development aligned to market trends, facilitating order aggregation, and establishing pricing strategies for competitiveness.