Specialist, Markets Practice at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya

The Role:

• To support the Markets Practice and Practice Leader with specialist content and thought leadership especially in the areas of global market dynamics and trade, driving sustainability and traceability along supply chains, promoting corporate stewardship (i.e. moving from individual corporate action to collective public-private action), and the role of consumer initiatives in driving sustainable change.
• To support the development of WWF’s markets strategy in consultation with other Practice leaders, especially to deliver against the priority conservation goals.
• To provide strategic guidance to support the Network on the most relevant strategic global corporate engagement targets, and provide technical input to assess and develop the most impactful corporate sectors and partnerships with a view to leveraging significant market change

Main responsibilities:

• Support the analysis of global market and trade dynamics with the view to identifying key actors and strategic intervention points.
• Co-ordinate and direct Goal Practices and network action towards key actors and opportunities for change. Integrate efforts with Finance and Governance Practices.
• Lead and define strategies within a defined area of expertise (those areas mentioned above) in order to build a strong business case for action.
• Work with the Markets Practice Leader to identify « early win » signature initiatives that engage a broad coalition and demonstrate the next generation WWF Markets practice.
• Support and lead as needed signature initiatives defined by the Markets Practice in coordination with the WWF Network.
• Engage and influence key platforms, actors and processes within their technical sphere of expertise.
• Create signature platforms and alliances to drive change and work with other relevant parties to develop innovative approaches and tools.
• Provide thought leadership in developing sector and issue specific competence building on the current WWF work on in soft commodities, water and climate & energy.
• Assist the Practice in moving beyond certification to broader platforms and solutions.
• Maintain a strong co-ordination between the Global Partnerships Committee (GPC) and the Markets Practice.
• Support the development of an innovation pipeline and approaches that bring the innovation to scale through skills, networks and finance.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• 12+ years of work experience in business and sustainability
• Further experience in one or more of the following areas: Sustainable value chains and/or global sustainability standards and certification; Multi-stakeholder partnerships; Global market regulation and policy; Building consumer demand for sustainable products and services
• MBA or a post graduate degree in Economics, Marketing, Sustainable Development, or other related fields;
• Perfect command of the English language. Any other language/s an asset.
• Proven knowledge and understanding of global market & business dynamics
• Demonstrated experience in building large scale alliances, initiatives or platforms for change that leverage the capacity of partners.
• A network of external relationships that extends WWF’s current reach.
• Evidence of agile proactive thinking combined with an optimistic approach within a realistic framework.
• Self-starter, excellent communication and network skills, strong business acumen,
• Ability to interact with senior business leaders.
• Proven ability to deliver initiatives.
• Strong team player and internal organizational networker.
• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.