Micro & Small Business Development Specialist

This Volunteer Placement is Located in: Kingston, Jamaica

Start Date: September 2026

Placement Length: 6 months

Language Requirements: English Level 4-Advanced

Eligibility: Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only

The Volunteer’s Role

As a volunteer, your responsibility will be to work alongside our partner, the Private Sector of Jamaica (PSOJ), in developing and implementing a comprehensive scale-up assessment tool. This instrument will evaluate key areas such as governance, financial management, operational systems, and strategic readiness, specifically tailored for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

As a volunteer, you'll play a vital role in helping PSOJ design the MSME Scale-Up Readiness Diagnostic Tool, empowering businesses to become both market-ready and investment-ready for future growth.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity-apply today!

As a volunteer, you will:

• Develop a Scale-Up Readiness Diagnostic Tool that encompasses elements of governance, financial management, operational systems, and strategic preparedness.
• Deploy the Diagnostic Tool with selected organizations. This will involve consulting with the Executive Director and their team to complete the tool, as well as evaluating the organization's readiness to enter the market.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in organizational management, business administration, business process automation, or a related discipline.

Essential Background:

• A dedicated commitment to and thorough understanding of youth development.
• Extensive background in strategic planning, expertise in developing organizational plans, familiarity with operational plans and policies, and experience in business planning and management.
• Strong interpersonal skills, proven experience collaborating within teams, and excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proven problem-solving capabilities and independent judgment, attention to detail, and a high level of initiative with the capacity for self-motivation.
• Proven experience in delivering training.

What’s in it for YOU? A life-changing experience!

About Us

Cuso International (Cuso) is an international cooperation and development organization based in Canada that works to create social and economic opportunities for equity-deserving groups. Building on over sixty years of impactful work, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. Working alongside our partners, we are focused on efforts to improve economic resilience, advance equity and inclusion for all, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Guided by our values of courage, inclusion, sustainability and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and enduring partnerships to create lasting, meaningful change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Project: Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE)

Partner: Private Sector of Jamaica Foundation

Volunteer Support and Requirements

Support Package

Cuso International provides a comprehensive support package to ensure volunteers maintain a modest and healthy lifestyle aligned with local standards. This includes:

• Monthly living allowance
• Accommodation
• Health insurance (including required vaccinations and antimalarial medication)
• Round-trip airfare and visa/work permit costs
• Pre-placement, in-country and reintegration training (along with access to self-directed materials and online resources)
• Ongoing local support
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program during and after placement

Selection and Screening

If you are shortlisted, you will need to:

• Confirm passport or permanent resident details for travel
• Provide two professional references and one personal reference
• Complete a language assessment during the initial phone interview
• Pass a police check and medical clearance before departure
• Comply with anti-terrorism checks
• Agree to uphold the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policy and Code of Conduct

Residency and Citizenship: Candidates are responsible for confirming how volunteering internationally may affect their citizenship or residency status. Canadian Permanent Residents should verify requirements with Immigration Canada before travel.

Inclusion and Accessibility: Cuso International welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving groups. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout recruitment and placement. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us for support.

Ready to Make a Difference? Apply to volunteer today!