Food and Sustainability Standards Specialist- Nairobi, Kenya

Job #:	131706
Title:	Food and Sustainability Standards Specialist
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	Nairobi, Kenya
Closing Date:	09/01/2013
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.

http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/Careers_Ext_Content/IFC_External_Corporate_Site/IFC%20Careers/Career%20Opportunities/CareerOpportunityPlaceHolder?JobReqNo=131706