Food and Sustainability Standards Specialist Job Vacancy at IFC in Nairobi Kenya September 2013
Background / General description:
We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives.
IFC’s Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) teams work with companies to adopt responsible business practices which transform markets and improve people’s lives.
The position can be based in Nairobi or Johannesburg.
Specific duties include:
Program Development and Implementation:
Strategic: Develop and implement a three year business plan for IFC on sustainable agri-business standards- including food safety, animal welfare and sustainable agriculture.
Technical: Develop and implement technical solutions for Agribusiness and Manufacturing clients.
The Food and Sustainability Standards Specialist will improve the compliance of IFC client’s against recognized food safety, productivity, social and environmental standards.
She/he will work with IFC investment clients to support the implementation of IFC’s performance standards, develop environmental & social management system (ESMS), support supplement the environmental & social action plan, and improve their environmental & social risk rating (ESRR).
When necessary she/he will work with clients and key external stakeholders at a sector level to develop appropriate industrial standards for key commodities such as cocoa, poultry and vegetables.
Provide specialist industry knowledge to IFC: Share best practice, develop deep knowledge in at least one area of global importance for IFC’ Advisory Services, and serve as a global recourse for the topic, ie a commodity such as Palm, Coffee, Cocoa, Tea, Livestock or Poultry.
People Management: Mentor, support and supervise the team of project leaders and support staff to set and achieve targets; be responsible for recruitment and on-boarding of new staff, facilitate knowledge sharing among staff members and support program team members to develop professional skills and expertise.
Project and Portfolio Management: Set yearly program/project targets and ensure effective implementation of the projects in terms of activities, timeline, budget and expected impact. This includes technical guidance, supervision and quality control from project start-up, through to implementation, closure, evaluation under IFC’s M&E framework and project management policies, the review and the sign-off of all supervision and project closure reports.
Budget Preparation: Prepare annual budgets and regular cash forecasts, and manage funds so that financial targets are achieved.
Fundraising: Work with the regional manager formulating the SSA strategy related to food safety and sustainability standards and assume responsibility for fund raising in collaboration with the Regional Donor coordinator.
Communication: Draft and circulate regular communications on client and program performance.
Relationship Management with Food and Sustainability Standards Stakeholders: Liaise with IFC and WBG internal stakeholders active in food safety and sustainability standards; represent IFC externally to relevant global and regional industry players, international organizations and donors.
- Masters level degree in food safety, agriculture, environmental science or equivalent and 8+ years of relevant work with private sector clients.
- Technical expertise in implementing voluntary standards in the agribusiness or manufacturing sector.
- Demonstrated understanding of how markets function, especially in developing countries, and the ability to provide informed insights about the role of the private sector in promoting sustainable business.
- Experience in writing project proposals, logical frameworks and budgets
- Excellent communication skills in English, and the ability to present ideas and information clearly and concisely; candidates with French or Portuguese language skills have a competitive advantage.
- Experience managing complex projects, monitoring programs, and reporting on a project cycle basis.
- Excellent organizational and people management skills.
- Ability to operate successfully in a multicultural environment, and to develop and maintain effective relations with a large, and diversified group of internal and external stakeholders.