Entrepreneurship in the territories: is it the right time?
Your exciting role
Over the past 10 years, Impact Hub Phnom Penh has supported more than 900+ ventures across Cambodia, helping entrepreneurs grow impactful businesses across sectors.
As we continue to strengthen our support systems, we recognize that access to markets is one of the most critical drivers of success for SMEs, especially in agriculture, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and eco-tourism. While many entrepreneurs develop strong products, they often face barriers in reaching the right buyers, positioning themselves effectively, and building long-term commercial relationships.
To address this, we are seeking a Market Access & Partnerships Lead to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap.
This person will be highly specialized in:
- Connecting entrepreneurs to relevant market opportunities, both locally in Cambodia and across regional and international markets, using storytelling and relationship-building to position products and open doors.
- Supporting ventures to become market-ready (product positioning, credibility, pricing, storytelling).
- Designing and executing market access strategies that lead to real commercial outcomes
- Leveraging Impact Hub’s reputation and network as a trusted platform to open doors and build credibility with buyers
At its core, this role is about turning potential into real market traction, ensuring that great products don’t just exist, but actually reach the shelves, menus, and customers they are meant for. You are the in-house salesperson.
Key Responsibilities
Market Access & Deal-Making
- Identify, engage, and convert high-potential buyers for products from local entrepreneurs in our capacity-building programs.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of commercial opportunities and partnerships.
- Lead B2B matchmaking, negotiations, and deal closure.
- Support SMEs in pitching, pricing, and securing contracts.
- Maintain relationships with buyers post-deal to enable repeat business and account growth.
Relationship Building & Ecosystem Connection
- Act as a key connector across SMEs, buyers, distributors, and partners.
- Build long-term relationships with strategic industry players.
- Represent Impact Hub in events and ecosystem spaces.
- Continuously identify and unlock new collaboration opportunities.
Product Positioning & Sales Strategy
- Lead the commercial positioning of products (market fit, differentiation, pricing) through some 1-1 mentoring.
- Guide SMEs on sales readiness and value proposition.
- Define branding and packaging direction aligned with target markets.
Showcasing & Commercial Activation
- Lead the design of product showcasing opportunities (demo days, pop-ups, tastings).
- Organize and facilitate B2B events and networking sessions.
- Create strong buyer engagement moments that drive sales.
Visibility, Storytelling & Marketing Strategy
- Define the content and marketing strategy to position SMEs and their products.
- Oversee the development of marketing materials (catalogs, product sheets, digital assets).
- Drive storytelling and visibility campaigns to attract and convert buyers.
Account Management & Growth
- Ensure follow-up and relationship management with buyers.
- Support SMEs in maintaining and growing long-term commercial partnerships.
- Track and drive sales performance and deal conversion.
Team Collaboration & Leadership
- Own commercial vision, content direction, and market strategy.
- Collaborate with Program Managers and Community Activators who work directly with entrepreneurs on the ground to improve product quality and readiness.
- Work closely with a Program Officer who supports logistics and coordination of event execution.
- Set the brand and marketing direction for the Graphic Designer to execute.
- Partner across IHPP departments so that what entrepreneurs experience is cohesive and high-quality.
What Success Looks Like
- SMEs secure real contracts and grow their sales.
- IHPP develops a strong, engaged network of buyers and commercial partners.
- High-quality Cambodian products are well-positioned in local, regional, and international markets.
- IHPP is recognized as a key market connector within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- Value flows back through the supply chain to smallholder farmers and local communities.
What Will Excite You in This Role
- You love being out there – meeting people, building relationships, and opening doors
- You get a real kick from closing deals and making things happen
- You enjoy turning connections into concrete opportunities for others
- You are curious about products, markets, and what genuinely sees how the dots connect bringing value for all.
- You thrive in dynamic environments where no two days are the same
- You want to play a key role in supporting local entrepreneurs
- You are genuinely very driven to see value being distributed across the supply chain especially going to the smallholders farmers and local community.
- You enjoy combining strategy + action – thinking big, then making it happen on the ground
What This Role Asks of You
This role lives outside the office more than inside it. We want to be honest about what that looks like day-to-day, so you can decide whether it’s the kind of work you do well:
- You’ll spend most of your time with people (buyers, partners, entrepreneurs) rather than at a desk.
- You’ll spend more energy on selling and negotiating than on planning and reporting
- You’ll initiate conversations with strangers and senior stakeholders, often without warm introductions.
- You’ll create opportunities rather than wait for them.
- You’ll navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities with energy.
- You’ll sit at the center of multiple stakeholders and moving pieces, and find that energizing.
- You’ll travel regularly to the provinces where our entrepreneurs are based.
If that sounds like the way you work, keep reading!
More details about the role here: https://phnompenh.impacthub.net/jobs/market-access-partnerships-lead/
