The Lead, Environment and Nutrition at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a strategic leadership position responsible for directing GAIN's environmental and nutrition strategies. This role is open to applicants based in Kenya with the existing right to live and work in the country. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between planetary health and human nutrition by overseeing global programs, managing multidisciplinary teams, and securing resources to tackle climate-related food system challenges.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Direction: Oversee GAIN’s programmatic work and activities related to environmental action for health and the planet, including defining the overall direction of the work aligned to the GAIN Strategy.
- Technical Focal Point: Act as the focal point for GAIN’s Environment work, both internally (including to SMT and the Board) and externally, and drive internal and external awareness of GAIN’s work on environment.
- Network Building: Build and maintain a network of relevant partners and experts in the field and proactively seek their input to help share and grow the environment work and contribute to existing global discourse.
- Project Guidance: Advise / guide project teams during the design process in GAIN countries and provide technical know-how to deliver strategically relevant, sound and feasible project designs with an environmental angle.
- Project Review: Periodically review all of GAIN’s specific environment-focused projects in close collaboration with country Project Managers and other team members, with participation in QUAD calls as relevant. Convene GAIN staff to share projects updates and learnings.
- Learning Agenda: Collaborate with KL focal points to define learning agenda for the nexus of nutrition and environment and collaborate on designing M&E framework.
- Resource Mobilization: Generate resource mobilization opportunities in collaboration with the Chief Technical Officer and other Thematic/Programme Leads and lead on proposal development for environmental related initiatives.
- Team Management: Manage and mentor the environment team, interns and/or consultants, and lead on the recruitment of key staff including country-based roles involved in environment related projects and initiatives.
Requirements
- Education: A postgraduate qualification (MBA/MSc/MA) in environmental science, food policy, food systems, sustainable development, or a closely related discipline.
- Leadership Experience: Demonstrable experience leading or supporting multi-country environment or climate programmes at a senior level, ideally across African and Asian contexts.
- Technical Expertise: Strong track record of providing technical leadership or advisory support on food systems, nutrition, climate change, or broader environmental sustainability issues.
- Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex partnerships effectively, including engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders such as donors and government counterparts.
- Contextual Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of environmental challenges and opportunities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a strong understanding of the interconnections between climate change, food systems and nutrition.
- Desirable Attributes: Familiarity with global climate finance mechanisms is highly desirable, and private sector experience would be an advantage.
- Legal Standing: Applicants must have the existing right to live and work in the country of application (Kenya).
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the GAIN recruitment portal. Access the application page via this link or visit the official career site at gainhealth.occupop-careers.com.