Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Associate

YAL; Kolkata District; On-site; INR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

YAL in Kolkata seeks an MBA graduate to work directly with the CFO, supporting business development and strategic relationship-building efforts. Fresh graduates or those up to two years of experience may apply, with strong communication and relationship-management skills essential for engaging senior executives and government stakeholders.

The role offers exposure to partnerships, strategic execution, and collaboration with product, technology, finance and leadership teams, in a fast-moving

Qualifications

• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification required or in marketing, strategy, finance, international business or related field.
• Fresh MBA graduates or candidates with up to two years of experience may apply.
• Strong communication, presentation and relationship-management skills.
• Confidence in interacting with senior executives, government officials and institutional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with corporate leaders, government stakeholders, industry bodies, institutional partners and other decision-makers.
• Identify potential business opportunities, partnerships, pilots and strategic collaborations.
• Support the CFO in preparing for meetings, stakeholder interactions and business discussions.
• Coordinate meetings, demonstrations, proposals and follow-up conversations with prospective partners.
• Conduct research on organisations, sectors, decision-makers and emerging opportunities.
• Prepare meeting briefs, presentations, proposals, partnership notes and progress updates.
• Maintain a structured tracker of stakeholders, conversations, commitments and next steps.
• Follow up consistently with internal and external stakeholders to keep opportunities moving.
• Work with product, technology, finance and leadership teams to convert business requirements into actionable proposals.
• Represent the company professionally at meetings, conferences and networking events.
• Provide the CFO with clear and timely updates on ongoing discussions, risks and required interventions.
• Take ownership of selected strategic initiatives from initial conversation through execution.

Skills

Relationship management

Communication

Presentation skills

English proficiency

Hindi proficiency

Education

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Strategy, Finance, International Business or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Google Workspace

Job description

About The Role

We are looking for a smart, driven and relationship-oriented MBA graduate to work directly with the CFO and support the company’s business development and strategic relationship-building efforts in Kolkata.

Office of the CFO

Location: Kolkata

The role is suitable for a fresher or an early-career professional who wants direct exposure to senior leadership, business development, partnerships and strategic execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with corporate leaders, government stakeholders, industry bodies, institutional partners and other relevant decision-makers.
• Identify potential business opportunities, partnerships, pilots and strategic collaborations.
• Support the CFO in preparing for meetings, stakeholder interactions and business discussions.
• Coordinate meetings, demonstrations, proposals and follow-up conversations with prospective partners.
• Conduct research on organisations, sectors, decision-makers and emerging opportunities.
• Prepare meeting briefs, presentations, proposals, partnership notes and progress updates.
• Maintain a structured tracker of stakeholders, conversations, commitments and next steps.
• Follow up consistently with internal and external stakeholders to keep opportunities moving.
• Work with product, technology, finance and leadership teams to convert business requirements into actionable proposals.
• Represent the company professionally at meetings, conferences and networking events.
• Provide the CFO with clear and timely updates on ongoing discussions, risks and required interventions.
• Take ownership of selected strategic initiatives from initial conversation through execution.

What We Are Looking For

• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Strategy, Finance, International Business or a related field.
• Fresh MBA graduates and candidates with up to two years of experience may apply.
• Strong communication, presentation and relationship-management skills.
• Confidence in interacting with senior executives, government officials and institutional stakeholders.
• Ability to conduct research, understand business requirements and communicate them clearly.
• Strong follow-up discipline and the ability to manage multiple conversations simultaneously.
• High level of ownership, discretion and professional maturity.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment with evolving priorities.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Google Workspace and professional business communication.
• Fluency in English and Hindi is required. Proficiency in Bengali will be a strong advantage.
• Candidates currently based in Kolkata or willing to relocate to Kolkata will be preferred.
• Willingness to travel when required.

Preferred Profile

• Exposure to business development, consulting, founder’s office, executive office, partnerships, key-account management or institutional sales.
• Existing professional or institutional networks in Kolkata or West Bengal.
• Interest in technology, AI, enterprise solutions or government transformation.
• Experience organising senior-level meetings, preparing proposals or coordinating cross-functional projects.

What This Role Offers

• Direct mentorship and working exposure with the CFO.
• Early involvement in important business and partnership discussions.
• Opportunity to build relationships with senior corporate, government and institutional stakeholders.
• Exposure to strategy, business development, finance and executive decision-making.
• A high-ownership career path with the potential to grow into strategic partnerships, business development or the CFO’s office.

Ideal Candidate

You are someone who can enter a room confidently, understand people quickly, build genuine professional relationships and ensure that conversations lead to action. You are organised, persistent and comfortable taking responsibility beyond a narrowly defined job description.