Food Loss and Waste Associate
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization established to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. With over 2,000 staff members, WRI operates in more than a dozen focus countries and collaborates with partners in over 50 nations. The organization leverages data, expertise, and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across various systems, including food, land and water, energy, and cities. WRI's mission is to guide human society towards sustainable living that protects the environment and meets the needs of current and future generations. The organization values independence, integrity, impact, partnership, and care, and is committed to advancing gender and social equity in its mission, ensuring equal opportunities in employment for all qualified applicants.
Job Overview:
The Food Loss and Waste Associate will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of a multi-partner Food Loss and Waste (FLW) research project, particularly focusing on the Food Loss and Waste Action for Reducing Emissions (FLARE) initiative in South Africa. This position involves close collaboration with various stakeholders, including government ministries, city governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations, to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions through effective interventions across the food system. The Associate will be responsible for project coordination, ensuring that project objectives are met through effective engagement with partners and stakeholders. The role also emphasizes the importance of building and strengthening strategic partnerships to enhance the quality and impact of the program's initiatives. The Associate will be expected to bring innovative ideas to the food loss and waste portfolio, contributing to the overall goals of the WRI Africa Food Program and its connection to the broader Food, Land and Water (F|L|W) pillar.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate's responsibilities will include:
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a completed master’s degree in food systems, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Development studies, or a related climate-focused field, preferably with an interdisciplinary focus on the food–energy–climate nexus. Additionally, candidates should have at least 6 years of full-time, relevant working experience, demonstrating a solid understanding of food loss and waste dynamics, including their drivers, measurement, and implications across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Technical expertise in areas such as food loss and waste, Greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, life cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy, agricultural value chains, or urban waste systems is essential. Experience with both private sector (agribusiness, SMEs, social enterprises) and public sector (government entities, municipalities) or development partners in Africa is also required. Candidates should have experience creating and communicating theories of change and results frameworks, linking project activities to intended outcomes and impacts, and demonstrated coordination and communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a completed master’s degree in relevant fields such as food systems, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Development studies, or a related climate-focused area. An interdisciplinary focus on the food–energy–climate nexus is preferred, indicating a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of these sectors.
Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 6 years of full-time, relevant working experience. This experience should include a demonstrated understanding of food loss and waste dynamics, technical expertise in relevant areas, and experience working with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, businesses, and government officials. Candidates should also have experience supporting multi-partner projects, preferably in an NGO setting, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Languages:
Candidates must have verbal and written proficiency in English. This is a mandatory requirement for effective communication within the role. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required for this position.
Additional Notes:
The position is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and applicants must hold existing work authorization at the time of application, as WRI is unable to sponsor this role for visa work authorization. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. The application deadline is set for 28 October 2026, and internal applicants should submit their applications through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday, while external applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal. The organization offers access to a global network, opportunities for career development, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization established to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. With over 2,000 staff members, WRI operates in more than a dozen focus countries and collaborates with partners in over 50 nations. The organization leverages data, expertise, and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across various systems, including food, land and water, energy, and cities. WRI's mission is to guide human society towards sustainable living that protects the environment and meets the needs of current and future generations. The organization values independence, integrity, impact, partnership, and care, and is committed to advancing gender and social equity in its mission, ensuring equal opportunities in employment for all qualified applicants.
Job Overview:
The Food Loss and Waste Associate will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of a multi-partner Food Loss and Waste (FLW) research project, particularly focusing on the Food Loss and Waste Action for Reducing Emissions (FLARE) initiative in South Africa. This position involves close collaboration with various stakeholders, including government ministries, city governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations, to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions through effective interventions across the food system. The Associate will be responsible for project coordination, ensuring that project objectives are met through effective engagement with partners and stakeholders. The role also emphasizes the importance of building and strengthening strategic partnerships to enhance the quality and impact of the program's initiatives. The Associate will be expected to bring innovative ideas to the food loss and waste portfolio, contributing to the overall goals of the WRI Africa Food Program and its connection to the broader Food, Land and Water (F|L|W) pillar.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate's responsibilities will include:
- Technical support and project management (60%): Coordinating and supporting the implementation of project activities across local partners and stakeholders, providing technical assistance to ensure effective delivery. Leading and overseeing workplans, deliverables, milestones, and reporting obligations across partners and technical teams. Managing strategic relationships with local partners and interest groups to implement FLARE and other related projects. Leading partner engagements, consultative meetings, and working sessions, ensuring proper planning, documentation, and follow-up actions. Supporting the preparation of project communication materials and assisting in identifying implementation challenges while contributing to mitigation and adaptive management actions. Supporting monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities related to project outcomes and indicators.
- Research, outreach, and engagement (20%): Cultivating and building relationships to generate knowledge and evidence for effective project delivery, including forming coalitions on research and policy and supporting data collection on food loss and waste. Supporting research activities through planning and coordination of stakeholder consultations and contributing to the preparation of technical outputs such as reports and presentations.
- Resource mobilization (20%): Maintaining and strengthening partnerships with government, private sector, and other key stakeholders to support resource mobilization from various sources. Collaborating with the Cities Program to integrate Food Systems work and Climate Resilient Cities portfolio. Representing WRI Africa in relevant technical, donor, and stakeholder engagements to advance resource mobilization objectives.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a completed master’s degree in food systems, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Development studies, or a related climate-focused field, preferably with an interdisciplinary focus on the food–energy–climate nexus. Additionally, candidates should have at least 6 years of full-time, relevant working experience, demonstrating a solid understanding of food loss and waste dynamics, including their drivers, measurement, and implications across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Technical expertise in areas such as food loss and waste, Greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, life cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy, agricultural value chains, or urban waste systems is essential. Experience with both private sector (agribusiness, SMEs, social enterprises) and public sector (government entities, municipalities) or development partners in Africa is also required. Candidates should have experience creating and communicating theories of change and results frameworks, linking project activities to intended outcomes and impacts, and demonstrated coordination and communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a completed master’s degree in relevant fields such as food systems, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Development studies, or a related climate-focused area. An interdisciplinary focus on the food–energy–climate nexus is preferred, indicating a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of these sectors.
Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 6 years of full-time, relevant working experience. This experience should include a demonstrated understanding of food loss and waste dynamics, technical expertise in relevant areas, and experience working with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, businesses, and government officials. Candidates should also have experience supporting multi-partner projects, preferably in an NGO setting, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Languages:
Candidates must have verbal and written proficiency in English. This is a mandatory requirement for effective communication within the role. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required for this position.
Additional Notes:
The position is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and applicants must hold existing work authorization at the time of application, as WRI is unable to sponsor this role for visa work authorization. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. The application deadline is set for 28 October 2026, and internal applicants should submit their applications through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday, while external applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal. The organization offers access to a global network, opportunities for career development, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.