Senior Officer, Livestock & Economic Opportunity, Africa

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserve the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the organization emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for community engagement among employees. The organization is committed to fostering an environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
The Senior Officer, Livestock & Economic Opportunity, Africa will play a pivotal role in leading the execution of the African Regional Office's flagship programs focused on livestock. This position is crucial for ensuring that the programs align with country priorities and drive inclusive economic transformation across key focus countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The role involves developing and executing investments that leverage livestock and aquaculture value chains, while also addressing cross-cutting issues such as animal health, genetics, and nutrition. The officer will engage with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and multilateral institutions to strengthen the enabling environment for livestock markets, advocate for policy improvements, and build strategic partnerships to unlock financing and scale sustainable solutions. The position requires a strategic mindset, results-driven approach, and the ability to collaborate across various teams to achieve the foundation's ambitious goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Senior Officer include: continuously refining the livestock strategy for Africa in collaboration with the livestock team; developing and executing a pipeline of high-impact investments to drive national-level livestock transformation; creating country dashboards to track and analyze livestock investment progress; integrating livestock priorities into the broader Economic Opportunity agenda; contributing to evidence-based policy recommendations; forging alliances with private sector actors and multilateral institutions; supporting the development of viable business models for private-sector investment; driving program monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts; and supporting other economic opportunity-related investments as required. The role demands a proactive approach to policy engagement, investment development, and cross-team collaboration to advance the livestock-focused flagship programs effectively.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should possess an MBA or an advanced degree in International Development or a related field, with a preference for candidates holding a degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or similar disciplines. A minimum of 10 years of experience in livestock development, agribusiness, or private sector development roles within the SSA context is essential. Candidates should have a strong background in livestock sector development, expertise in market-based approaches, and familiarity with policy engagement. A proven track record of leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those focused on sustainable business models and private-sector engagement, is required. Experience in integrating women and youth into agricultural value chain initiatives is also highly valued.

Educational Background:
Candidates are expected to have an advanced degree, preferably an MBA or a degree in International Development, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of livestock development and economic opportunity initiatives in the African context.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of relevant experience in livestock development, agribusiness, or private sector development roles, particularly within the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of livestock sector dynamics, market-based approaches, and the ability to engage with various stakeholders, including government officials and multilateral agencies.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the role. Additional languages relevant to the regions of focus may be advantageous but are not explicitly stated as requirements.

Additional Notes:
This is a limited-term position (LTE) for 24 months, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The role reports administratively to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director, AgDev ARO Africa, and has a technical reporting line into the AgDev Livestock team. The postholder will collaborate closely with various teams within the organization. The position may require domestic and international travel up to 25%. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Kenya without visa sponsorship. The application deadline is set for May 24, 2025.