Business Development Intern - The Randstad

Job Title: Business Development Intern · About the Role: · You are an entrepreneurial, business-minded and organised MSc student or starting professional. You have the ability to spot opportunities and to turn your ideas into action. In close collaboration with the Forward · Inc ...

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Job Title: Business Development Intern

About the Role:

You are an entrepreneurial, business-minded and organised MSc student or starting professional. You have the ability to spot opportunities and to turn your ideas into action. In close collaboration with the Forward·Inc business development team you have the responsibility to find new donors and sponsors and support the BD team in writing attractive proposals. You have a keen interest in sales and business development and you are not afraid to get your hands dirty.

About the Organisation:

Forward·Inc is an Amsterdam-based international organisation that supports newcomers in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams and building sustainable businesses in the Netherlands. Through various programs, the organisation provides free business coaching, mentorship, student consulting support, and a network of experts to help participants develop their ideas from concept to market-ready ventures. Forward believes in the incredible talent of people with a refugee background, their value to society, and their potential to build bridges across communities. 

Job Type

: internship (40h/w)

Time period

: Start date - March 2026, as soon as possible. Duration - approximately 6 months.

Language:

English required.

For non-EU nationals:

permission to work in the Netherlands or enrollment at a university is required.

EU-nationals:

already living in the Netherlands, we cannot support with relocation efforts.

Please note:

• To apply for this role, you must be located in the Netherlands, within a 1-hour commute to Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
• We
  do not accept

unsolicited applications outside the recruitment process and channels.

Vision 2050

By 2050, Forward·Inc aims to establish 20 national and regional self-sustainable refugee entrepreneurship networks, supporting over 100,000 businesses and connecting 1 million entrepreneurial refugees worldwide. We empower refugees and host communities to ensure they live in strongly connected societies that thrive.

Overview of the Role

You are an entrepreneurial, business-minded and organised MSc student or starting professional. You have the ability to spot opportunities and to turn your ideas into action. In close collaboration with the Forward·Inc business development team you have the responsibility to find new donors and sponsors and support the BD team in writing attractive proposals. You have a keen interest in sales and business development and you are not afraid to get your hands dirty.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Find new leads that fit the criteria of FI as potential funders/sponsors
• Identify the right entries into these leads: clarifying application processes, and individuals responsible for handling grant requests and collaboration requests.
• Managing the entire fundraising pipeline in CRM-system Hubspot for your leads and opportunities
• Come up with new approaches for lead generation & partnership development
• Developing best practices for lead generation and outreach
• Helping prepare BD team members for meetings and supporting with writing proposals and reports
• Support entrepreneurs in a Forward Program with setting up a business
• To support the team in other tasks where needed

Commitments

• You have a strong conviction to empower entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses.
• You empathise with entrepreneurs who do so without connections and startup capital and who come from a different cultural background.
• You are not afraid to roll up your sleeves and work alongside entrepreneurs. You go beyond giving advice and provide practical support;
• You are an all-rounder and able to support Forward·Inc in its vision, mission and objectives.

Must-have requirements

• You are fluent in English.
• You have a finished BSc or MSc degree
• You are a good communicator who gains energy from networking and meeting people.
• You are tech-savvy;
• You have a proactive, entrepreneurial, results-oriented attitude with an ability to work effectively in a fast-paced organisation;
• You are flexible and can deal well with a lot of uncertainty. You have a solution-focused mentality.
• You are allowed to work in the Netherlands

This is NOT the role for you if

• You prefer to stick to the script:

If you find it challenging to deviate from established guidelines or processes, and you don't like to engage in conversations, this role might not suit you.
- You struggle with accountability:

If you often overlook tasks or shy away from taking responsibility for your work and others, this may not be the best fit.
- You resist change:

If you find it difficult to adapt to new priorities or approaches, and you like to keep a fixed routine, you might not thrive in this environment.
- You avoid challenging situations:

If you're quick to give up when faced with limited resources or obstacles, or prefer not to engage in conversation, this role may not align with your strengths.
- You don't enjoy collaboration:

If working closely with diverse individuals and understanding their unique backgrounds isn't your preference, this position may not be ideal for you.

What we offer

• International environment
• Remote days to work outside of the NL
• Hybrid setup - 2 days a week at the office and 3 days remotely

Perks

: you join an amazing team with colleagues from the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Egypt, Lebanon, Indonesia, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mozambique and Ireland. We are deeply committed to Forward·Inc's mission and ensure teamwork makes the dream work.

Remuneration

: we provide an internship compensation of 500 EUR for BSc graduates and 750 EUR for MSc graduates, based on 5 days per week. 12 paid holidays are provided as part of the internship. Travel and other business-related expenses are fully covered.

Location

: Amsterdam or Rotterdam. We currently work 2 days a week at the office (Monday AMS & Thursday RTM) and 3 days remotely.
You need to live within one hour travel distance of 1 of the office locations.