Job #: 131706
Title: Food
and Sustainability Standards Specialist
Job Stream: Technical Assistance & Advisory
Services
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Background / General description:
IFC, a
member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution
focused on the private sector in developing countries.
We create
opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives.
We do so by
providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential
services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory
services to ensure sustainable development.
IFC’s
Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) teams work with companies to adopt
responsible business practices which transform markets and improve people's
lives.
We work
with a range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, infrastructure, oil,
gas, mining, services and manufacturing.
One of the
biggest challenges facing the private sector in Africa – particularly in the
agribusiness sector – is the need to develop and meet industry standards that
enable companies to sell their products to national and international markets.
To this
end, IFC is looking to recruit a Food and Sustainability Standards Specialist
to advise IFC and its clients on issues relating to food safety, animal welfare
and sustainable agriculture.
The
position can be based in Nairobi or Johannesburg.
Candidates
are invited to indicate their preferred location in their motivational letter
and CV.
IFC will
accommodate personal preferences as much as business needs allow.
The
position will report to the SBA Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The overall
role of this post will be to develop and manage IFC’s standards program for
clients in the agri-business and manufacturing sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The
incumbent will work in close coordination with global and regional investment
departments, country managers and other advisory services business lines to
identify advisory opportunities and will provide leadership and relevant
expertise to develop a pipeline of related advisory projects in the region.
S/he will
also be an active member of the core global Standards practice group and
support and develop global projects/programs in other regions as requested.
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
design relevant, cost-effective interventions based on client needs: conduct
initial assessment of opportunity; define scope of required support to client;
engage external consultants on as needed basis and oversee quality of their
work; present results of engagements to management of the client company.
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.
Selection Criteria:
- 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.
Note: If the selected candidate is a
current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he
will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment.
All others
will be offered a 3 year term appointment.