Associate Manager- Nature and Food

Associate Manager, Nature & Food

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract: Full-time

Role Overview

We are seeking an Associate Manager to play a leading role in delivering high-impact projects across Systemiq’s Nature & Food platform in Kenya and the wider East African region.

This role sits at the intersection of:

• Strategic problem-solving
• Food systems and nature expertise
• Stakeholder engagement and coalition-building
• Project and team leadership

You will lead substantial workstreams, manage day-to-day client and partner relationships, and support the delivery of practical solutions that advance sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, land-use transition and nature-positive growth.

This role is designed for someone operating close to Manager level — able to lead significant parts of complex projects with confidence, while continuing to build broader project leadership, commercial and people management capability.

The role also requires curiosity and practical confidence in using AI-enabled tools to strengthen research, analysis, synthesis and communication, while applying strong judgement to ensure outputs remain robust, credible and relevant.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery & Workstream Leadership

• Lead major project workstreams from problem definition through analysis, synthesis and delivery
• Structure complex problems and develop robust analytical approaches
• Ensure high-quality outputs are delivered on time and to a strong professional standard
• Contribute to project planning, resource management and quality assurance
• Translate complex analysis into practical recommendations for senior decision-makers

Nature & Food Systems Impact

• Co-create approaches with partners and clients that balance economic viability, ecosystem regeneration and social inclusion
• Support strategies and programmes across agriculture, food systems, land use, biodiversity, natural capital and regenerative value chains
• Develop practical solutions that help shift systems, markets and business models towards more sustainable outcomes
• Bring strong contextual understanding of Kenya’s agriculture, food systems and sustainability landscape

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage day-to-day relationships with clients and partners across government, business, donors, NGOs, academia and civil society
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders
• Design and facilitate workshops, consultations and multi-stakeholder discussions
• Help align diverse perspectives around practical pathways for change
• Build and maintain strong networks across Kenya’s agriculture, food systems, conservation and development ecosystem

AI-Enabled Working

• Use AI tools to accelerate research, synthesis, drafting and insight generation
• Identify where AI can improve the speed, quality or scale of project delivery
• Apply critical judgement to validate AI-generated outputs and challenge assumptions
• Contribute to a team culture that uses AI thoughtfully, practically and responsibly

Team & Platform Contribution

• Lead and coach small project teams, providing direction, feedback and support to Associates and Senior Associates
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and entrepreneurial team culture
• Support business development through proposals, client discussions, market insight and thought leadership
• Help strengthen SYSTEMIQ’s Nature & Food platform in Kenya and the wider region

Leadership

You will be part of the Nature & Food platform led by Christine Delivanis, Partner and global Platform Lead for Nature Food.

Christine advises pioneering companies, philanthropies, governments and NGOs on sustainability and systems change, with a focus on transforming food systems. Her work spans regenerative agriculture, carbon removal, Nature Positive strategies and sustainable value chains.

Candidate Profile

A high-calibre, impact-driven professional with strong analytical skills, excellent stakeholder judgement and the ability to lead workstreams in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

You will likely be someone who is close to Manager level, with the confidence to own significant parts of project delivery, manage relationships and coach junior colleagues, while continuing to develop full project leadership capability.

Essential Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in agriculture, environmental science, economics, public policy, sustainability, development studies or another relevant discipline
• Approximately 6-8 years’ experience in strategy consulting, sustainability advisory, international development, project management or other high-performance project-based environments
• Experience leading complex workstreams with limited supervision
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders across government, private sector, NGOs, donors or development partners
• Strong understanding of agriculture, food systems, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, land use, climate or nature-related topics
• Experience coaching or managing junior team members
• Practical experience using AI tools to support research, synthesis, drafting or analysis, with a clear understanding of their strengths and limitations

Core Capabilities

• Exceptional structured problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong project management and organisational capability
• Ability to convert complex qualitative and quantitative evidence into clear recommendations
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capability
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to multidisciplinary teams
• Sound judgement, intellectual curiosity and resilience in ambiguous environments
• Collaborative leadership style and commitment to inclusive team working

Desirable

• Experience working in Kenya or across East Africa
• Established networks across Kenya’s agriculture, food systems, conservation, development or sustainability sectors
• Proven & successful background working with multi-stakeholder coalitions or partnerships
• Experience working across corporate, public sector, donor, NGO or philanthropic contexts
• Experience contributing to proposals, thought leadership or business development
  Multiple languages relevant to the region

Location and Right to Work

This role is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

We strongly encourage applications from Kenyan nationals or candidates with an existing legal right to work in Kenya and strong knowledge of Kenya’s agriculture, food systems and sustainability landscape.

Applicants should currently reside in Kenya or demonstrate significant professional experience and networks within East Africa.

Unfortunately, visa sponsorship and international relocation support cannot be provided for this role.

Applications should be submitted in English.

What This Role Offers

• A significant opportunity to help shape Systemiq’s Nature & Food work in Kenya and the wider region, working with senior stakeholders across business, government, finance and civil society to accelerate practical, nature-positive and inclusive food system transformation.