Regional Manager

Primary Roles and Responsibilities: 

The Regional Manager, East Africa will: 

• Lead on the scoping, identification and development of forest partnership businesses that align with the programme strategy and results framework. 
• Oversee delivery of grants and technical assistance to project partners, including leading on diagnostics and implementation of recommendations
• Manage the implementation of the programme’s regional strategy, workplan and budget to achieve the regional targets, in collaboration with other programme staff.  
• Demonstrate relevant expertise in developing and communicating a clear strategic vision and overseeing its effective implementation. 
• Support the Regional Director in building relationships across a wide range of stakeholders including civil society organisation, public and private sector. 
• Act as the programme’s primary representative in the region, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania Uganda and Madagascar.  
• Participate in relevant regional events and conferences, raising the profile of the programme in the region. 
• Lead the regional design and development of other key initiatives, including supply-side, demand-side, enabling conditions and those with a focus on smallholder empowerment and GESI.  
• Work with partners and regional / country teams to identify and facilitate key opportunities relevant to the programme, including potential private public partnerships. 
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance for selected project activities, outputs and deliverables. 
• Provide regular feedback to the Team Leader, Project Director and other PMU-based teams 
• Provide monthly and regular pipeline and strategy updates to the FCDO-SRO. 
• Oversee the preparation and quality of project concepts/proposals for approval by Internal Approval Committees and the Client. 
• Manage a regional team comprised of various workstreams, supporting to ensure effective collaboration and delivery of timely work and high-quality outputs. 
• Ensure team motivation and wellbeing is prioritised, adhering to good staff management practices including staff planning, recruitment, on-boarding, appraisal, and development. 
• Frequent regional and domestic travel may be required, often at short notice and to insecure locations.  
• Any other tasks requested by the Regional Director, East Africa or the central programme team.

Essential Criteria:

• Entrepreneurial, self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced, results-driven business environment.
• Extensive relevant experience in international forestry, commercial agriculture or commodity trade policy, processes and investments, at a senior management level.  
• Senior level experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams and leading on delivery of high-quality results against tight deadlines.  
• Track record of leading a team, delivering results and contributing to positive impact (i.e., economic, social and environmental) with a passion for achieving business and development outcomes.
• Proven track record in leading programmes or managing large, complex projects involving high-level local and regional stakeholder engagements and PPPs.  
• Prior experience of working with international development agencies, for example FCDO. 
• Demonstrated experience in outreach and partnership building across a range of stakeholders, particularly with private sector in East African countries.  
• Relevant experience in sustainability, markets and supply chains for agricultural or forest commodities such as, coffee, cocoa, timber products, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) etc. 
• Cross-cultural sensitivity, with the ability to build and maintain constructive and collaborative relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders across different socio-cultural contexts; 
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills with experience working in an open and collaborative manner across a diverse multi-disciplinary team. 
• Track record of managing a high performing team
• A high degree of personal resilience, flexibility and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. 
• Strong personal qualities, including integrity, equality, openness, inclusiveness and collegiality  
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential. 
• Must have the right to live and work in Kenya without sponsorship/visa support.

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience working on programmes or initiatives that build livelihood resilience/ focus on enhancing support and empowerment of smallholders and local communities within the forestry sector.  
•  Knowledge and understanding of key barriers to participation and equity for marginalised groups in the sector and/or region, including, women and girls, IPLCs and/or people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of local languages will be considered as an advantage.