Venture Development Officer

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Venture Development Officer will support the development and growth of health innovations start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures within the Health Innovation Hub. The role will help innovators translate ideas research outputs and prototypes into viable market-oriented and sustainable ventures with a focus on business modelling market validation customer development financial viability commercialization and venture growth.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Venture Development

Support innovators and start-ups to develop viable business models and growth strategies.

Provide business advisory and practical support to ventures.

Support development of business plans value propositions and revenue models.

Guide ventures from ideation and validation through market entry and growth.

Market and Customer Development

Support market research and validation of health innovations.

Help ventures identify customers users and market opportunities.

Support customer acquisition sales and market-entry strategies.

Facilitate linkages between ventures and potential customers healthcare organizations and industry. 

Financial & Commercial Advisory

Support basic financial modelling costing pricing and revenue planning.

Help innovators assess the commercial viability and sustainability of their ventures.

Provide basic financial literacy and business management guidance.

Support preparation of business and investment-readiness materials.

Commercialization & Venture Growth

Support the transition of innovations from prototype to market-ready solutions.

Develop commercialization and growth strategies with innovators.

Identify opportunities for adoption scale and market expansion.

Track and support the growth of ventures within the Hub.

Incubation & Mentorship

Support incubation acceleration innovation challenges and entrepreneurship programmes.

Mentor students innovators and entrepreneurs on business development.

Coordinate business development workshops venture clinics and pitch preparation.

Support innovators to develop and present their ventures professionally.

Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement

Build relationships with businesses healthcare organizations industry and entrepreneurs.

Facilitate market and business linkages for supported ventures.

Represent the Hub at relevant innovation and entrepreneurship forums.

Support collaboration with universities research institutions and other ecosystem partners. 

Monitoring & Reporting

Track the progress and growth of ventures supported by the Hub.

Monitor market validation customer development commercialization and growth indicators.

Prepare periodic venture development reports.

Document success stories lessons learned and venture impact.

Qualifications :

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelors degree in commerce Business Administration Finance Economics Entrepreneurship Marketing or a related field.

25 years relevant experience in business development banking sales entrepreneurship venture development or customer relationship management.

Experience working with startups sales recruitment of new customers managing clients portfolios and financial records will be an added advantage.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Advanced excel

Market and customer development

Venture and business development

Loans management financial advisory and commercial analysis

Sales and relationship management

Coaching and mentoring of enterprise founders

Stakeholder engagement

Communication and presentation skills

Problem-solving and analytical skills

Additional Information :

Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. The closing date will be 10th November 2026.

All Amref International University open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly note that official emails from AmIU will arrive from an @ or @ address.

Amref International University is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref International University is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time