Cooperative Business Development Mentor | Volunteer Service Abroad/Te Tūao Tāwāhi

Job description

Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is

Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.

Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.

Connecting People – Transforming Lives.

Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role:

This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in Timor-Leste.

We are looking for an experienced Business development manager or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific. This assignment is set to run for 12 months and would primarily be based in Dili. The VSA supports volunteers by funding and organizing flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities for the duration of a deployment.

Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role:

If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.

Strong knowledge of cooperative principles, governance, and business planning.
5-10 years of experience in financial literacy, budgeting, and income-generating activities.
Ability to design and deliver practical training modules.
Experience in market research, product development, and linking producers to markets.
Understanding of value addition and branding for local products.

Our Partner Organisation – Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop):

Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop) established in 2017 the purpose of SECoop is for the cooperative movement contributing to the creation if an independent, prosperous, fair, and sustainable society. Since forming in 2017 SECoop has established more than 247 cooperatives in Timor-Leste.

SECoop’s purpose is to establish and promote an inclusive and non-discriminatory economy, improve cooperatives and create conditions for all enterprises to become key factors in socio-economic development, expand credit cooperatives as intermediaries for financial access, strengthen cooperatives, small and medium enterprises to ensure their self-reliance and grow cooperatives, micro small and medium enterprises.

The Assignment:

The overall goal of this assignment is to strengthen the capacity, sustainability, and inclusiveness of cooperatives in Timor-Leste by supporting SECoop across a number of key areas. A volunteer on this assignment would be working in capacity building, enhancing market connections, supporting the design of new ways of connecting with new demographics, reviewing system and data use, building on existing relationships with external stakeholders and general process review.

A volunteer on this assignment would be reporting directly to the Chief of Staff and Coordinator for External Cooperation and will be accountable to the Secretary of State of SECoop. On a day-to-day basis, the volunteer would predominately be working with the National Director for Cooperative Policies and Reform.

The Country – Timor-Leste :

There are 1,225,000 people living in Timor-Leste (formerly known as East Timor). Timor-Leste is one of the world's newest nations and the newest in Southeast Asia with history of colonisation and occupation.

Timor-Leste became independent in 2002, after it suffered a violent history through decades of struggle for independence from Indonesia. As a young nation, Timor-Leste is moving from a post-conflict fragile state to quickly transition as a developing resilient nation.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply: Please apply for this opportunity through our website. For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, you are welcome to email our recruitment team at: volunteer@vsa.org.nz. Noting that due to VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.

What’s included

Included when you join us

Flights

VSA organises and fully funds return economy-class international flights between New Zealand and your host country, plus any approved domestic travel connected to your assignment.

Insurance

You’re covered under VSA’s comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy, which also includes emergency evacuation and personal belongings coverage. Before departure, you’ll receive full information on what’s covered and how to access support.

Accommodation

VSA arranges and funds safe, furnished accommodation throughout your assignment, whether you're in a capital or rural location. A housing checklist ensures your needs are met for comfort and security.

Living allowance

You’ll receive a modest monthly living allowance, paid into a local bank account, designed to cover essentials like food, transport, and utilities. This is in line with VSA’s cost-of-living support for volunteers.

Pre-departure training

Before you leave, VSA provides a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington, fully funded by VSA. This includes cultural orientation, language training, health and safety guidelines, and logistical preparation to get you deployment-ready

In-country support

From your first day on assignment, you’ll have strong in-country support from VSA staff, Programme Managers and Coordinators, who provide orientation, security briefings, pastoral care, and ongoing assistance throughout your placement.

Preparation

How to prepare?

Understand the recruitment process

Be prepared for a comprehensive recruitment journey. This includes initial screening, background checks, and two interviews, one of which is a panel interview with a subject matter expert. Only after successfully completing these steps will you receive a provisional offer and begin the onboarding process. It’s essential to wait for VSA’s confirmation before making significant life changes, such as resigning from your job or selling property, as there may be delays in immigration or medical clearances.

Participate in the briefing course

Once accepted, you'll be invited to attend a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington. This course equips you with tools for success, covering cultural orientation, safety protocols, health preparation, and assignment logistics. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other outgoing volunteers.

Be adaptable and resilient

Volunteering abroad can be both deeply rewarding and personally challenging. Conditions may be unfamiliar, and change is often constant. Bring flexibility, a sense of humour, and a willingness to learn from others, you’ll grow alongside the community you’re there to support.

Manage health and safety

You’ll need to complete a health screening and ensure all required vaccinations are up to date. VSA provides medical and travel insurance, but you are also responsible for managing your day-to-day wellbeing. Think about how you'll maintain mental and physical health while overseas.

Engage in fundraising efforts

VSA asks volunteers to become ambassadors for the kaupapa. You will be asked to fundraise $1,000 to support the programme and raise awareness about your assignment. We provide resources and guidance to help you share your story and connect your networks with the impact of your work.

The platform we ask you to use is Raisely.

Complete necessary documentation

From visa applications to police checks and health forms, there are a few critical administrative tasks before departure. Our team will guide you through the steps to make sure everything is completed on time and with ease.