Vacancy title:
Agriculture Program Manager

[ Type: FULL TIME , Industry: Nonprofit, and NGO , Category: Management Officer ]

Jobs at:
The Nature Conservancy

Deadline of this Job:
18 June 2022

Duty Station:
Within Tanzania , Arusha, East Africa


Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, June 07, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:
Agriculture Program Manager
Office Location
Kenya, Africa
Position is flexible to Kenya or Arusha Tanzania locations.

Who We Are
Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org  or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate. TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stand to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

Food production systems are responsible for approximately 80% of deforestation, 70% and 50% of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity loss, respectively. They contribute about 23% of all greenhouse gas emissions. In Africa, agricultural landscapes are where people and natural systems co-exist. Agriculture must go far beyond nature protection, to develop equitable household and community-level incentives for sustainable conservation. Traditional conservation efforts focused around protected areas will achieve little without going where nature is intertwined with agriculture. Lessons show that the future of agriculture in Africa will be derived directly from healthy ecosystems. Agriculture will be at the heart of climate mitigation, significantly and positively influencing C, water and nutrient cycles, pollination, and genetic diversity that are key for long-term viability of land enterprises. In view of these, TNC’s Africa Agriculture program, Global Regenerative Food Systems team, and other teams are working to better understand this and other complexities that underpin our global food system as a first step toward changing it. By driving systems change at the level of a foodscape we hope to build bridges between global ambition and local implementation.

TNC is working with partners to catalyze a transition to regenerative food systems; productive socio-cultural/economic arrangements that enable food security, food sovereignty, secure livelihoods, while supporting and valuing nature. Regenerative food system goes beyond sustainability. It ensures benefits and eliminate trade-offs. By developing smart strategies in partnership with producers and communities, we work to make farms, rangelands, ranches more productive, protect freshwater, increase biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst securing the food supply for a rapidly growing population. This work constitutes TNC’s systemic effort in regenerative foodscapes across the globe. For more information on TNC’s work in Foodscapes, visit: https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/foodscapes-regenerative-food-systems-nature-people/

Your Position With Tnc
The Africa Agriculture Program Manager will be primarily responsible for managing activities associated with the siting, assessment, and planning of the Kenya Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape (CHEF), oversee collaboration with external consultants, manage projects, and serve as key liaison to external partners. They will provide process leadership and analytical support to achieve the goals of the Foodscape while ensuring alignment with the Africa Agriculture Strategy and Global Regenerative Foodscapes strategic plan to catalyze transformational systems change in African agriculture. Reporting to the Africa Agriculture Director, the position will work closely with the Africa agriculture team, other Africa Strategy Directors, TNC Africa country teams, the global Regenerative Food Systems team, TNC’s Center for Sustainability Science,. The position will be based at TNC office in Kenya, or Arusha Tanzania. This is a two-year term limited position with a possibility of extension, subject to funding. No relocation or visa sponsorship or assistance is being offered with this position.

Essential Functions
The Agriculture Program Manager will apply best practices in program/project management and coordination to ensure the successful completion of all projects in the portfolio on time, within budget and to the specifications agreed with the individual project stakeholders and funding sources. The manager will identify and develop project key performance indicators, monitor and measure project progress, perform risk management, seek solutions to challenges and conduct corrective actions as necessary, carry out stakeholder mapping/ engagement/ management and resource leveraging, and optimally align strategies, processes, and tools. They will manage conflict; collaboratively solve complex problems; and ensure all organizational and divisional standards are met. They will manage contracts, tracking budgets and deliverables, and will serve as a key liaison for agriculture partners and TNC staff.

Responsibilities And Scope
• Lead the implementation of the Kenya Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape (CHEF) program, including to advance the theory of change, providing strategic leadership, and technical direction.
• Lead the day-to-day operations of a collaborative, complex and high-profile program, including managing project teams, setting deadlines, managing projects budget, and coordinating communications.
• Provide accountability for project deliverables, project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
• Lead technical reports writing, in collaboration with the agriculture program director and other staff.
• Builds, facilitate, and manage partnerships and relationships across stakeholders, while identifying potential new partnerships and opportunities for the program. Develops terms of reference for partnerships/coalitions, MOUs, in collaboration with the Ag Director. Prepares concept notes and project proposals (as required) in collaboration with the Ag Director.
• Work with staff from across TNC and provide support to organization leadership; serve as point of contact for global Regenerative Food System staff, Africa and Global Agriculture staff, Africa staff, external project stakeholders, and others as necessary
• Lead interdepartmental teams to coordinate the work of peers; provide oversight for multiple key functions assigned to the team
• Act independently and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve complex problems and to elevate challenges and ensuring enabling conditions for project implementation.
• Implement the Africa Agriculture program and integrate its vision and strategic goals into the CHEF, ensuring alignment with the global Regenerative Foodscapes portfolio and strategy.
• Lead the development of projects budgets and negotiate and contract consultants/contractors.
• Assist the fundraising team by reviewing donor communications as well as assisting with proposal development.
• Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information that may arise during collaborative efforts.
• Ensure compliance with Conservancy policies and procedures and external (e.g., donor, legal) requirements; decisions may have organization-wide impact and bind the organization financially or legally.
• May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s degree in an economics, agriculture, environment, international development, or related field and at least 7 years’ experience in conservation or agriculture practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong knowledge and background in agri-food systems and key stakeholders in Africa.
• At least 5 years’ experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
• Experience providing strategic leadership while ensuring quality project deliverables in partnership with public, private, and civil organizations, and governments.
• Demonstrated social and emotional intelligence by successfully engaging and motivating others to support a new path forward, building energy and involvement to sustain results over time.
• Expert time management and organizational skills.
• Experience presenting to and/or communicating to diverse audiences including community or business leaders, program leadership, government agency staff, and/or similar audiences.

Desired Qualifications
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. Exposure to various cultures, geographies, nationalities, and points of view, appreciating the basis of each person’s worldview.
• Knowledge of policy, economic, social, other notable trends impacting Africa and what they mean for the future of agriculture.
• Ability to sensitively advise other staff on how to effectively engage with internal and external parties.
• Attention to detail and a good listener
• Capacity to advocate successfully using science and data, communicate with authenticity and credibility
• Ability to engage others through dynamic, empathetic, and articulate presentations and dialogue, conveying contagious enthusiasm that engenders a shared vision for the future.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
To apply for job ID 51651, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.