Landscape Director- Southern Kenya Grasslands at Conservation International

• The position is critical to the success of the CI Kenya program. CI is therefore looking for a strategic, delivery-focused, down-to-earth, action-oriented conservation leader, who will help shape CI's vision, and deliver CI goals in the landscape through program and partnerships growth and seamless execution of existing activities. They will be the primary, day-to-day lead person for all CI work in this landscape. The position’s primary focus is the coordination and consolidation of current CI work, growing partner relationships while overseeing program expansion in the larger landscape.

Key area of focus

• Consolidation of current projects into programs and integration of thematic work – e.g. grasslands, forests, freshwater, policy, conservation finance (including carbon project development) as envisaged in the Africa Field Division strategy.
• Ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and social safeguards considerations are built into program design and delivery.
• Consolidate and grow existing partnerships that are key to delivery, fundraising, and communication to ensure CI visibility is enhanced.
• Ensure that transboundary aspects of the landscape to support CI growth plans within the landscape, mitigate risks, and take advantage of existing and new opportunities.

Responsibilities
Landscape Strategy Development and Implementation

• Lead the development of a southern Kenya grasslands strategy and theory of change, building on existing Chyulu (sub-landscape) and other CI strategies for input.
• Consolidate current projects into a program with clear outcomes for which each project is delivering for the landscape in line with the landscape’s theory of change.

Policy engagement

• Support CI Kenya policy work related to landscape restoration, carbon, and restoration value chain.
• Lead engagement with relevant County governments in Kenya to influence local policies in favor of CI’s vision and goals for the landscape.

Partnerships, fundraising, and communication

• Build clear partnership strategies and outcomes and support the delivery of these outcomes.
• Lead the CI partnership engagement within the landscape to ensure implementation delivery, fundraising, and communication targets are met while enhancing CI visibility.
• Support fundraising and communication efforts by CI Kenya directed at the landscape and the larger CI Kenya portfolio.
• Develop new funding concepts/proposals focused which speak to the landscape’s theory of change and draw on various areas of CI expertise – such as nature-positive enterprises, impact investing, and carbon project development.
• Ensure familiarization with donor agreements and donor requirements as well as CI's donor-related policies and procedures to ensure that projects under the portfolio adhere to all donor and CI policies and requirements.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with the various County Governments (e.g. County governments of Kajiado and Narok) and subnational government entities in the landscape.

People and resource management responsibilities

• Accountable for management of project and landscape staff ensuring integrity of our work with partners, staff, and partner performance management and support.
• Accountable for an operating budget that tracks and monitors expenditures. Initiates check requests or similar routine transactions within established guidelines.
• Activities support management of CI project funds from public or private donor sources to ensure resources are applied as designed and accountability systems are adhered to.
• Responsible for safety and proper use of the facilities and equipment assigned to facilitate field activities.

Maintain Implementation excellence of Projects

• Overall accountability for the local delivery of all CI Projects in the landscape and Oversight of landscape partner implementation activities.
• Coordinated Implementation of all active projects with optimal people and resource efficiency.
• Build strong relationships with the partners and stakeholders within the landscape.
• Liaising/co-ordination with CI Africa Field Division project lead; and stakeholders. Set up and manage a periodic governance structure to facilitate feedback and issue/risk identification and resolution related to projects.
• Leverage CI subject matter expertise and act as CI ambassador for the project and the liaison between community members and other project partners.
• Play a significant role in the design and implementation of activities encompassing enterprise development grants and facilitating technical assistance to community and local enterprises.
• Play a central role in compiling field-based project reports and communication materials.
• Ensure continuous delivery, risk assessment, and mitigation measures are put in place.
• Assist with the arrangement of site visits to the field, including arrangement of logistics, communication, guide, translation, etc.
• Lead the communication of CI activities within the landscape to a range of audiences.
• Liaising and coordinating with CI’s Operations and Finance teams providing implementation support to various projects.
• Oversee our service provider contract management in the field implementation of their TWENDE project activities to ensure quality, timely, and efficiency in delivery in line with contractual agreements.
• Currently, our active projects in the landscape include The Chyulus Hills Restoration Projects, The GCF (Green Climate Fund) TWENDE project, and the One Mara Carbon Project (OMCP).

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Nairobi-based with frequent travel to Chyulu-Amboseli, Kajiado-Ilbissil-Namanga, Magadi-Mosiro-Loita, and Masai Mara sub-landscapes.
• Hybrid working requirements - partly in a typical office environment and partly in field conditions.
• Flexibility to work outside normal work hours to meet deadlines as needed.
• This is a position only eligible to persons who have the right to work in Kenya without CI sponsorship.
• The position is for a fixed term of two years with the opportunity for renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Qualifications
Required

• Bachelor's degree in Terrestrial Ecology, Rangeland ecology, Natural resources management, Natural Resource Economics, or any other relevant field with experience in enterprise/economic development.
• 7 or more years of experience in conservation program management at a senior level.
• 2 or more years of supervisory experience.
• Experience in overseeing the development and implementation of restoration and climate resilience interventions.
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in overseeing carbon and REDD+ project design and implementation.
• Passion for conservation enterprises and experience in nurturing and growing community-based natural resources value chains especially those that have both livelihood and restoration of ecosystems function benefits.
• Deep knowledge of the Southern Kenya Landscape and partners working in the area.
• Proven track record in pastoral and agro-pastoral community engagement.
• Proven track record in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and donors.
• Proven track record on donor report writing and adherence to strict timelines.
• A strong people leader and prudent financial manager.

Preferred

• Post-graduate degree.
• Ability to work and speak Swahili, Maasai, or Kamba languages would be an added advantage.