Jobs and Careers

TERM : 

Full-time, 40 hours a week

JOB DESCRIPTION : 

Shen NGO is looking for an experienced Collaborative Structures/ Cooperative development expert to support beneficiary agricultural and agroforestry cooperatives in establishing economically viable, transparent, and sustainably managed cooperative structures.

The expert will be engaged under Shen NGO’s “Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia (FORACCA)” project, co-funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), and the “Empowering Smallholders through Cooperation, Agroforestry, and Supportive Policies” project, co-funded by Bread for the World.

The position involves close collaboration with community-based initiative groups and cooperatives operating in agriculture and value-added agroforestry-related activities, with a focus on strengthening governance, economic performance, and long-term sustainability.

RESPONSIBILITIES : 

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Management, the Consultant will be responsible for:

- Assessing existing and emerging cooperative structures to analyze their needs, capacities, and development potential, in line with the RA Law “On Agricultural Cooperatives”;
- Supporting the establishment, formalization, and registration of beneficiary collaborative structures and cooperatives;
- Mapping and analyzing agricultural and agroforestry value chains relevant to beneficiary collaborative structures and cooperatives;
- Providing technical assistance to improve the competitiveness, governance, and financial sustainability of cooperative-based structures;
- Designing and delivering capacity-building programs on cooperative/collaborative structures management and administration, governance, transparency, and accountability, legal and regulatory frameworks for cooperatives and other collaborative structures in Armenia, international best practices in cooperative values and principles;
- Supporting cooperative/collaborative structures leadership in the preparation and implementation of Strategic development plans, Business plans, Value chain–based business models;
- Conducting regular field visits to monitor progress toward establishing self-sustaining and viable community-based structures;
- Support market access, domestic/regional trade of cooperative products;
- Preparing analytical reports, progress notes, and recommendations for project management;
- Performing other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS : 

- Advanced university degree in Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Agriculture, or a related field;
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in cooperative development, agribusiness, rural development, or related fields;
- Demonstrated experience in supporting or developing cooperatives and collaborative structures in rural contexts (strong asset);
- Proven ability to develop strategic plans, business plans, and value chain analyses;
- Solid understanding of sustainable livelihoods, community-based economic development, and participatory approaches;
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills;
- Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and negotiation skills;
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively;
- Fluency in Armenian, with working knowledge of English.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES : 

All eligible candidates are encouraged to send their CV in English language in either MS Word or Adobe PDF format to career@shen.am by February 20, 2026. Please make sure to indicate the title of the position ("Collaborative Structures / Cooperative Development Expert") in the subject line of the email. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested applicants are appreciated; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the Interview.

Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this announcement through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am. Thanks.

REMUNERATION/ SALARY : 

The remuneration is competitive, based on the candidate’s experience and the organization’s budget.

OPEN TO/ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA : 

All candidates meeting the required qualifications.