Theme Leader – Sustainable Value Chains and Investments (Value Chains) at Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

Overview:

• As the Theme Leader, you will lead the development and implementation of a strategy and project portfolio that delivers impact at scale for socio-economic development based on sustainable natural resource management.

Duties and responsibilities
Leadership in R&D on sustainable value chains and investments:

• Formulate ground-breaking research for development on sustainable value chains and investments, influencing policy and driving development impact.
• Define and achieve medium-term KPIs and annual goals, contributing to institutional targets and adjusting strategies for impact at scale.
• Cultivate transformative partnerships with research, donors, policy, and development organizations, driving collaborative efforts for thematic and institutional goals.
• Identify and prioritize areas for the theme, potentially modifying current focus areas.
• Ensure career and capacity development opportunities for staff, including mentoring scientists and PhD students.

Develop and lead fundraising strategy:

• Lead the strategic development of project proposals and donor relationships, creating a robust project portfolio.
• Oversee project sequencing, content, and implementation for sustainable funding, staff development, and policy contribution.

Oversight of analytical and methodological approaches:

• Provide scientific and strategic guidance, ensuring research aligns with evidence-based development approaches.
• Support progress along impact pathways, making research relevant to policy, private sector, and practitioner communities.

Generation of robust evidence and scientific outputs:

• Lead the publication of high-impact scientific articles, ensuring accessibility and quality.
• Safeguard evidence integrity and align scientific outputs with staffing and funding levels.
• Convey scientific evidence to stakeholders through user-friendly products and engagement activities.

Deliver impact at scale:

• Develop and implement scaling strategies, identifying critical points in impact pathways for socio-economic development.
• Oversee business and investment case development in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF's Resilient Landscapes.
• Foster integration of evidence-based scaling research and document achieved impact.
• Work closely with relevant units to deliver, monitor, and document research outcomes and impacts at scale.

Education, knowledge and experience

• Subject matter authority for tropical commodities value chains.
• Ph.D. and/or MBA in a relevant disciplinary field.
• At least 15 years of proven experience if lacking degrees in the relevant field.
• Expertise in forest products, tree crops, or agri-food value chains.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Thought leadership on value chains in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Proven track record in research and development initiatives.
• Documented leadership and management experience.
• Strong track record in business development and resource mobilization.
• Experience in negotiating with executives, managers, and sustainability directors.