Job Description – Consultant – Cluster Development

Designation

Consultant – Cluster Development

Positioned at State Mission Management Unit (SMMU), SERP – Telangana

About the Organization

The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in Telangana is an autonomous organization under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Telangana, dedicated to reducing rural poverty by strengthening self-help groups (SHGs) and enhancing livelihoods. It focuses on social mobilization, financial inclusion, and promoting sustainable income opportunities for rural women. 

SERP under the government’s flagship programme “Indira Mahila Shakti”, aims to empower women by transforming them into entrepreneurs and providing financial independence. It supports Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by skill building, technology support and market linkages, eCommerce platform along with Branding, Packaging support and also facilitates the compliances which are essential to reach global markets. The women federations area also supported with other initiatives like managing solar power units, operating buses, and setting up food enterprises to strengthen rural economies. 

Role Overview

The Consultant – Cluster Development will function as a State-level technical specialist providing strategic and operational support for development of craft-based clusters under various non-farm initiatives of SERP, Telangana. The role involves strategic planning, value chain strengthening, technology upgradation, financial structuring, product diversification, institutional capacity building, and market integration.

The Consultant will support in providing technical and structured guidance to various stakeholders and field functionaries involved in implementation of the cluster development initiatives.

The Consultant will support in ensuring the transition of craft-based clusters (Ex: Brass, Bamboo, Pottery, Handlooms and other crafts) from traditional subsistence production models to organized, market-oriented, scalable enterprise ecosystems.

The position requires significant field engagement across identified districts and close coordination with government departments, financial institutions, and market stakeholders.

Mode of Employment

• Fixed tenure contractual position with consolidated remuneration.
  Initially for a period of one year (extendable based on performance and project duration).

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in Management (MBA – Rural Management / Rural Development / Marketing / MSME Management, or related discipline) or
• Post Graduate degree or diploma in crafts and designs.
• Expertise in Cluster Development Approach (CDA), MSME ecosystem, craft-based value chain strengthening.
• Strong analytical skills with hands-on experience in enterprise costing, financial modelling, business planning and project appraisal.
• Strong leadership, ability to work with government bureaucracies and fluency in Telugu.

Desirable

• Experience in Cluster Development, MSME Management, Value Chain Analysis or Entrepreneurship Development.
• Exposure to national and export markets in handicrafts.
• Experience in working with women-led SHG enterprises in Telangana or similar socio-economic contexts.

Experience

Minimum 05 years of relevant post qualification experience in:

• Relevant experience in Craft-based cluster development initiatives.
• Enterprise promotion under government or donor-supported programmes.
• Preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), feasibility studies, and cluster-level investment proposals.
• Market linkage development including institutional buyers, wholesale networks, exhibitions and digital commerce platforms.
• Facilitating credit linkages with banks under MSME and allied schemes.
• Working with community institutions, producer groups, cooperatives or federations.

Job Roles and Responsibilities

• State-Level Cluster Strategy and Planning
  • Support in identifying craft-based clusters across Telangana based on economic potential, artisan density, skill availability and market opportunity.
  • Conduct comprehensive sector diagnostics and value chain assessments to identify constraints in production, raw material supply, infrastructure, financing, design capability and market access.
  • Support districts in integrating cluster priorities into Annual Action Plans (AAPs).
  • Support in designing structured Cluster Development Plans (CDPs), incorporating:
  • Production enhancement strategies
  • Technology modernization plans
  • Institutional strengthening mechanisms
  • Financial structuring models
  • Market expansion roadmaps
• Production Systems Strengthening and Technology Modernization

  Support in assessing existing production systems and recommend technology interventions that enhance productivity, reduce wastage, and improve product quality.

  • Facilitate introduction of improved tools, mechanization where feasible, for developing craft-based clusters.
  • Support in operationalization of Common Facility Centres (CFCs) with appropriate infrastructure planning, equipment specification, costing frameworks, and operational guidelines.
  • Support in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and quality benchmarks to ensure standardization and scalability of cluster enterprises.
  • Promote & facilitate environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient production practices.
• Product Diversification, Design Development and Branding
  • Facilitate collaboration with designers and technical institutes to introduce contemporary product lines aligned with current consumer trends.
  • Promote diversification from low-margin traditional products to higher-value market segments.
  • Support development of prototypes, sampling strategies, and pilot marketing before scale-up.
  • Guide enterprises in packaging innovation, labeling standards, branding architecture, and storytelling aligned with Telangana’s identity.
  • Support in developing cluster-level branding strategies to enhance visibility and recognition of women-led craft enterprises.
• Financial Structuring and Investment Planning
• Support in developing sector-specific financial models including:
• Cost of production frameworks
• Working capital assessment models
• Break-even analysis tools
• Profitability benchmarks
• Provide technical guidance to CBOs, field functionaries concerned in appraisal of cluster-based enterprise proposals.
• Facilitate structured credit linkages under MSME, PMMY, PMFME, and related schemes.
• Support in promoting blended finance models where feasible, including convergence with subsidies and grant components.
• Ensure risk mitigation strategies including insurance, diversification, and institutional risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Market Linkages and Business Development
  • Conduct structured market research to identify domestic, institutional, and digital market opportunities.
  • Support in developing forward linkages with retailers, wholesalers, exporters, and online platforms.
  • Facilitate participation in state, national and international trade fairs and exhibitions.
  • Facilitate collective marketing mechanisms to improve bargaining power and price realization.
  • Support digital onboarding and enable enterprises to leverage e-commerce ecosystems.
• Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building
  • Support to design and deliver capacity-building modules for various stakeholders and field functionaries of SERP.
  • Facilitate to strengthen governance structures of cluster institutions, including financial management systems, inventory tracking, and compliance mechanisms.
  • Promote leadership development within cluster-level federations to ensure sustainability.
• Convergence and Policy Alignment
  • Facilitate convergence with relevant departments including MSME, Industries, Handicrafts, Rural Development, Skill Development and Financial Institutions.
  • Represent SERP–Telangana in sectoral consultations, policy discussions, and knowledge platforms related to craft cluster development.
  • Support SPMU – SERP in developing policy inputs for strengthening cluster-based enterprise promotion under various non-farm initiatives.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
• Support developing cluster-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) focusing on:
• Enterprise turnover growth
• Productivity enhancement
• Credit mobilization
• Employment generation
• Women leadership participation
• Facilitate district teams to establish periodic review mechanisms.
• Document best practices, innovations, and impact case studies.
• Submit structured monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to SMMU highlighting progress, risks, and corrective actions.
• Administrative & Coordination Support:Work closely with other functionaries of SMMU – SERP, SVEP – PMU, District teams and thematic experts in designing and monitoring key initiatives.
• Preparation of Annual Action Plans (AAPs), review reports and policy briefs.
• Represent the program in various district forums, industry conclaves and knowledge-sharing events.
• Any other works as assigned by the senior management time-to-time.
• Remuneration: Consolidated pay of ₹80,000/- – ₹1,00,000/- per month (commensurate with qualification and experience)

Apply Link: https://serprecruitment.cgg.gov.in/erecruitment/