Job Description – Consultant – Food Enterprises / Services

Designation

Consultant – Food Enterprises / Services

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 – Food Enterprises / services will function as a State-level technical specialist providing strategic and operational support for planning, establishing, standardizing and scaling food enterprises in government institutions, PSUs, private organizations, hospitals, educational campuses, and other high-footfall spaces.

The Consultant will support in the institutional partnerships, operational frameworks, quality standards, financial models and monitoring systems required to successfully establish SHG-run food service units.

The Consultant will act as the interface between SERP and various Government Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), and private institutions to secure space allocation, formalize agreements, and operationalize Food enterprises.

The role will ensure that food enterprises operate with standardized menus, pricing structures, hygiene protocols, financial discipline, and sustainable revenue models.

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

• Graduate in Hospitality Management / Marketing / Operations / Hotel Management, Food Technology, Catering Management).
• Preference will be given to the candidate having Masters degree.
• Strong understanding of food service operations, institutional catering models, pricing systems, compliances and hygiene standards.
• Experience in vendor management, institutional negotiations and operational standardization.
• Strong leadership abilities, coordination skills and fluency in Telugu.

Desirable

• Experience of Certification in Food Safety (FSSAI), institutional catering management.
• Exposure to large-scale food service operations in government or corporate settings.
• Experience in working with SHGs, women-led enterprises, or community institutions.

Experience

• Minimum 05 years of relevant post qualification experience in:
  • Institutional catering or food service management.
  • Establishing and managing food enterprises in Government or private institutions.
  • Operations planning, vendor management and quality control systems.
  • Financial modelling for food service units including costing, pricing and working capital management.
  • Coordination with government departments and regulatory authorities.
  • Monitoring service delivery and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Job Roles and Responsibilities

• State-Level Strategy and Expansion of food enterprises:
  • Support in developing a comprehensive State-level strategy for expansion of Food enterprises across Government and select private institutions.
  • Support identification of potential institutions across districts where SHG-operated food enterprises can be established.
  • Prepare a phased roll-out plan with district-wise targets and timelines.
  • Support in developing standardized operational guidelines for food enterprises including infrastructure, staffing, procurement, pricing, and service delivery.
  • Support integration of food enterprise targets into district Annual Action Plans (AAPs).
• Institutional Partnership Development
  • Coordinate with Heads of Departments, District Collectors, institutional administrators and PSU representatives to secure space allocation for setting-up of food enterprises.
  • Prepare concept notes, proposals, and presentation materials for institutional approvals.
  • Facilitate execution of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements between SERP and institutions.
  • Coordinate with private institutions, corporate offices, hospitals and educational campuses for potential partnerships.
  • Ensure clarity in space usage norms, utility arrangements, rental terms and operational conditions.
• Operational Standardization and Systems Development
  • Support in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering:
    • Food preparation and hygiene protocols
    • Procurement systems
    • Inventory management
    • Waste management
    • Customer service standards
    • Cash management and record keeping
  • Support in designing standardized menu frameworks based on institutional requirements and local demand.
  • Develop pricing guidelines ensuring affordability and sustainability.
  • Support in establishing uniform branding and signage for food enterprises across the State.
• Food Safety, Quality Control and Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with FSSAI norms and other statutory food safety regulations.
  • Develop hygiene audit checklists and periodic inspection protocols.
  • Facilitate FSSAI registration and licensing processes for SHG-run food enterprises.
  • Continual interactions with the Government and private institutions regarding establishment, expansion and sustenance of the food enterprises across the state.
  • Train SHG members in food safety, quality control, and safe handling practices.
• Financial Structuring and Sustainability
  • Support in developing financial models for food enterprises including:
    • Capital investment estimation
    • Working capital planning
    • Revenue projections
    • Break-even analysis
    • Profit-sharing mechanisms
  • Guide district teams in evaluating financial viability before approval of new food enterprises.
  • Establish monitoring systems to track daily sales, expenditure and profitability.
  • Support in promoting financial discipline and timely repayment of working capital loans.
  • Support linkage with banks and financial institutions for capital and working capital requirements.
• Convergence and Stakeholder Coordination
  • Facilitate convergence with relevant Government Departments including Health, Education, Transport and other public institutions.
  • Coordinate with Food Safety Department, local authorities and regulatory bodies.
  • Support SPMU – SERP in developing inputs for strengthening food enterprise models as a scalable women-led enterprise initiative.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
  • Support in developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as: Daily sales turnover, Profit margins, Customer satisfaction, Compliance with hygiene standards, Operational sustainability etc.
  • Facilitate district teams to establish periodic review mechanisms.
  • Identify operational bottlenecks and provide corrective guidance.
• Administrative & Coordination Support:
  • Work closely with other functionaries of SMMU – SERP, SVEP – PMU, District teams and thematic experts in designing and monitoring key initiatives.
  • Support in preparation of Annual Action Plans (AAPs), review reports and policy briefs.
  • Facilitate 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/