Foodscape Innovation Specialist at Nature Conservancy

• The Foodscape Innovation Specialist will lead the Agriculture Strategy scaling programme by utilising transdisciplinary data to guide the development and implementation of innovative solutions that significantly contribute to TNC 2030 Goals. You will manage (collect, collate, analyse, share) various data types related to climate, water, biodiversity, and livelihoods outcomes. You will use these data to catalyse collective and/or coordinated action among diverse actors involved in the CHEF, to drive an ambitious scaling program. The data will not lead to a static how-to plan to scale, but rather a living strategy that serves as a “north star” to guide the scaling mechanism through the Foodscape Innovation Hub. This strategy will consist of CHEF-wide key actionable products tailored to meet TNC’s unique Ag-conservation work across four ecologies, a variety of production systems, and to serve corporate partners. You will support the CHEF Director to regularly convene CHEF actors: governments, corporate and private sector, CGIAR, NGOs, funding partners, producer entities to review foodscape implementation progress, share lessons learned, and adapt as necessary based on the contextual, internal and external factors.
• You will lead TNC staff and partners to deliver the CHEF scaling strategy, including working closely with TNC regional and global Corporate Engagement Teams to organise customised training and engagement programs in regenerative systems to enable the private sector transition into nature-positive actors. You will work closely with the Africa Agriculture Strategy members, the Freshwater Strategy team, Global Provide Food and Water teams, CHEF partners, Kenya Country program teams, and the Africa Business Unit staff to advance progress across the five action areas of the Agriculture Strategy. You will work with the full range of CHEF actors, including government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, communities, and other stakeholders.
• The Foodscape Innovation Specialist reports to the CHEF Director and will be based in Nanyuki Town, Kenya. No employment visas or relocation assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

• Are you looking for a career to influence the transition to regenerative food systems for people and nature? We are looking for you. We are looking for a data professional to lead our scaling strategy. You will apply data science to extract and integrate knowledge (from CHEF five pillars of regenerative practices, market systems, capacity, policy and finance) to guide the development of new producer & foodscape Innovation Hubs . You will lead a structured process founded in policy, to identify and implement immediate next steps, arrive at cost projections for different scaling scenarios. You will be the main contact point for the entire Agriculture Strategy for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and the TNC Integrated Data Management Database (HUB).

Specific Roles And Key Responsibilities

• The principal role (70%) of this position is to lead the utilization of data models to make strategic decisions in solving complex agriculture-conservation problems:
• The core role is to extract knowledge from large data sets and apply the knowledge and insights from those data to guide CHEF’s transdisciplinary five pillars.
• Lead the coordination of data management among TNC partners, TNC strategies/ programs, and develop products and plans for the CHEF scaling strategy.
• Execute the CHEF monitoring and evaluation plan, ensuring that projected actions are taken.
• Collaborate with the CHEF Field Coordinator, Africa Ag. Ecologist, TNC MEL specialists to gather data on the scaling process and put in place a learning continuous adaptation plan for CHEF.
• Ensure the process of validation and development of producer hubs & foodscape Innovation Hub (FIH) from initiation to full-scale feasibility.
• Work directly with the Africa Ag. Ecologist to bring to visibility advances in CHEF field regen portfolios using analytics, presentations, and social media product designs.
• Contribute to drive the CHEF portfolio and investment decisions using data analytics, necessary for private sector participation work closely with internal and external MEL partners.
• Leverage overall TNC conservation portfolio data along with CHEF partner data to create a detailed analytics plan tailored for strengthening Agriculture Strategy pathways to 2030 Goals.
• Reviewing and contributing to recommendations of action plans in collaboration with other CHEF staff as required.
• Assessing partner organizational technical capacity required to fully implement the CHEF, including making recommendations on how to bridge any gaps.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

What You'll Bring

• BSc degree in statistics, business statistics, behavioral/development economics, business administration or equivalent degree.
• 5 years’ experience in scaling, program development, partnerships, or management consulting.
• Experienced in data management skills, analytical, leadership, intellectual curiosity, and partnering skills.
• Experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation plans, including working with partners to undertake collaboration, learning and program adaptation activities.
• Experienced in data analytics and visualization tools e.g., Power BI and/or Tableu.
• Experienced in making and executing project decisions.
• Experience in indirectly influencing or managing senior leaders across multiple organizations.
• Agriculture or conservation experience is preferred.
• Mastery of systems such as Agile, Oracle ERP, and cloud software.
• Experience working in technology with some experience e.g., in SaaS enterprise software or equivalent.
• Experienced in using technology in creating records, sourcing, executing, and nurturing strategic partnerships.
• Experienced with problem solving and decision-making processes.
• Collaborative with other team members to achieve sound outcomes.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.

Desired Qualifications

• MSc degree or a combination of training in statistics or business statistics and behavioural/ development economics or business administration.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Over 7 years’ experience in agriculture-environment field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the utilisation of complex data sets to plan and adapt agriculture-conservation projects, and to influence, develop, and implement related policy.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in agriculture-conservation discipline and regions.
• Ability to work effectively and pragmatically under pressure within a variety of simultaneous competing initiatives and issues. Track record of success negotiating complex partnerships with varying interests.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Demonstrated experience or knowledge in fundraising.
• Politically savvy.