Leader, Africa’s Food Future Initiative at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya

Job Summary

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years working in a senior management position on large, multi-country conservation programs.
• Master’s degree or higher in agriculture, international development, business administration, natural resources management, biodiversity conservation or other relevant discipline(s).
• Technical proficiency in the field of sustainable agriculture or agro ecological approaches, land-use planning and management, sustainable value chains, natural resource management, and/or international project management.
• Excellent written and oral skills in English, and any other languages would be an asset.
• Demonstrated project management experience including experience successfully managing multimillion-dollar budgets with many variables, geographies and deadlines.
• Experience working in a large, complex, global organizational network.
• Proven experience engaging with donors, corporate and government actors at the highest levels.
• Excellent understanding of social and environmental risk-based approaches to managing projects and programs.
• Experience working on blended finance and development of bankable projects a plus.

Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead in the development of the Africa’s Food Future “Full Concept” strategy (according to WWF International guidelines) in partnership with WWF staff and consultants. 
• Lead timely and effective design, launch and implementation of the AFFI in selected priority countries, ensuring alignment between Country Strategic Plans, the Food Practice Strategy and potentially other Practice strategies (e.g. Wildlife and Governance Practices).
• Partner with multi-disciplinary teams consisting of WWF staff, national partners, consultants and/or contractors to analyze and adopt innovative approaches to food systems in Africa.  
• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership to multidisciplinary teams to assess AFFI opportunities at the global, national and regional levels and develop a long-term AFFI vision, strategy and work plans.
• Provide appropriate high-level representation for activities with governments, the private sector and NGOs to develop and implement AFFI actions. 
• Provide oversight of initiative technical and financial management including annual work planning, budgeting and reporting.
• Build the capacity of staff working on AFFI in WWF’s country offices and institutionalize safeguards and social policies related to AFFI work.
• Work closely with WWF communications staff on outreach activities that support initiative delivery.
• Lead fundraising and fund tracking efforts for the AFFI, in collaboration with the Lead Office, Food Practice Leader, Food Practice Proposal Development Manager, relevant WWF National Offices, and network fundraising representatives.  
• Contribute to information sharing and documentation of experiences through the Food Practice ACAIs. 
• Carry out other relevant tasks as assigned.