Associate Manager, Nature & Food

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract: Full-time

Role Overview

We are seeking an Associate Manager to help deliver high-impact projects across SYSTEMIQ's Nature & Food platform in Kenya and the wider East African region.

Working with governments, businesses, financial institutions, development partners and civil society, you will tackle complex challenges at the intersection of sustainable development, economic growth and systems transformation. Depending on project priorities, your work may span sustainable finance, labour markets, workforce development, skills systems, food systems and nature-positive growth.

This role is suited to an experienced consultant who combines structured problem-solving with strong stakeholder management and project leadership. You will lead significant workstreams, manage senior relationships, coach junior colleagues and help translate analysis into practical recommendations that create real-world impact.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Lead complex project workstreams from problem definition through to delivery.
• Structure analyses, develop insights and deliver high-quality outputs.
• Translate evidence into practical recommendations for clients and partners.
• Contribute to project planning, quality assurance and delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with clients and partners across government, finance, business, NGOs and development organisations.
• Facilitate workshops and multi-stakeholder discussions.
• Help align diverse stakeholders around shared objectives.

Team & Platform Contribution

• Coach Associates and Senior Associates.
• Contribute to proposals, business development and thought leadership.
• Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial team culture.
• Use AI tools responsibly to enhance research, analysis and communication.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an intellectually curious, impact-driven consultant who enjoys solving complex problems and working across disciplines.

You will be comfortable leading workstreams, managing senior stakeholders and delivering high-quality analysis in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments.

Essential Experience

• Master's degree or equivalent in economics, finance, public policy, international development, sustainability, agriculture, environmental science or a related discipline.
• Approximately 6-8 years' experience in strategy consulting, sustainability, international development, finance, public policy or another project-based environment.
• Strong consulting toolkit, including structured problem-solving, analysis, synthesis and executive communication.
• Experience leading project workstreams and managing senior stakeholders.
• Experience in one or more of the following:
• Sustainable or development finance
• Labour market policy
• Workforce development, education or skills systems
• Agriculture, food systems or sustainability
• Economic development or public policy
• Experience coaching junior colleagues.
• Practical experience using AI tools to support research, analysis and drafting.

Core Capabilities

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong project management and organisational capability.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Collaborative leadership style, sound judgement and intellectual curiosity.

Desirable

• Experience working in Kenya or East Africa.
• Networks across government, development finance, sustainability, labour markets or food systems.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Experience supporting proposals or business development.

Location & 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. Candidates should have strong knowledge of Kenya or the wider East African region.

Unfortunately, visa sponsorship or relocation support cannot be provided.

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to work on complex sustainability and economic transformation challenges with leading organisations across government, business, finance and civil society. You will join a collaborative, entrepreneurial team committed to accelerating the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy.