AATF recruits 01 Executive Director

AATF recruits 01 Executive Director

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

Kenya

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Executive Director
About the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF or the Foundation) is an international not-for-profit organisation that facilitates and promotes public/private partnerships to promote food security and enhance livelihoods of smallholder farmers in SSA.  AATF works with African governments, private and public technology owners and developers, NGOs, seed companies, other value chain players and African farmers to identify and access technologies that address farmers’ key problems and empower them through availability of a choice of agricultural innovations that generate wealth and health for their families and communities.  You can find further details on AATF and their programs on the website https://www.aatf-africa.org/

Executive Director ProfileBased at Head Quarters in Nairobi, Kenya the successful candidate, working with a broad range of stakeholders, will be an inspirational and innovative leader, possessing the drive, integrity, credibility and strategic mindset to be successful in a complex and dynamic environment, and will help to enhance AATF’s position as a leader, convener and agenda setting organization.

Duties and Responsibilities
She/he will pay attention to addressing the following two critical issues:There is a real void in the current science and technology environment in Africa in terms of a serious engagement around biotechnology. This is due primarily to the absence of a strong agenda setting organization, capable of mobilizing expertise and resources to advance our understanding of challenges and opportunities in the biotechnology space and help promote a vigorous and innovative ecosystem.  The new Executive Director will be someone who has demonstrated the ability to engage and lead at the continental level to mobilize a constituency for real advances in mastering tomorrow’s technologies to fuel growth and wealth creation in Africa’s rapidly transforming agricultural value chains.
This vision of the future of the Foundation requires substantial and sustainable financial resources from African sources. Over the last 10-15 years, the Foundation has generated several products and services that African countries and organizations will be willing to invest in supporting and expanding. The new Executive Director will possess the ability to deepen existing partnerships while building new ones, and leverage AATF’s products and services to generate resources to sustain future growth. The Executive Director, in her/his role as the top management position reporting to the Board of Trustees, will seek to ensure the effective linkage between the Foundation’s strategic directions and its operations.

Specific areas of accountability are listed as follows, and detailed in subsequent sections:Strategic direction and external relations
Institutional leadershipProgrammatic implementation and operational leadershipInstitutional capacity strengtheningSupporting Board of Trustees for enhanced governance Strategic Direction and External Relations:
Work closely with the Board, provide leadership in developing the Vision, Mission and strategic direction for the FoundationArticulate and secure buy in of the Foundation’s vision, mission and strategic directions across a wide range of internal and external stakeholdersLead the development of innovative approaches to leveraging the AATF brand within the African stakeholder landscape to generate resourcesEngender credibility and legitimacy as the chief spokesperson for the Foundation on all issues.
2. Institutional Leadership:Lead the implementation of the Foundation’s strategyAs chief executive, direct and provide guidance on the Foundation’s day to day operationsOversee implementation of AATF’s risk management strategy, ensuring that institutional, programmatic and operational risks, including business continuity risk, are identified, managed and mitigatedSet the Foundation’s ethical tone and institutional commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, financial mismanagement and other forms of misconductLead and demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to inclusiveness and tolerance in its vision, program implementation and institutional operations  3.Programmatic Implementation and Operational Leadership:
Lead the effective translation of the Foundation’s strategic priorities into annual work programs that are appropriately aligned with the resource envelope, and developing strategies for any needed adjustments
Promote and actively facilitate a conducive working environment for staff and AATF stake holdersLead the development and implementation of the Foundation’s resource mobilization strategyDevelop operational plans and provide guidance for the successful implementation of AATFs social enterprise initiatives as well as any other for-profit subsidiaries
4.Institutional Capacity Strengthening:
Ensure that the Foundation’s institutional capacities are adequately designed, resourced and effectively performing to deliver both corporate and program outcomes
Provide leadership in the management of the Foundation’s financial resources to ensure a sustainable institutional financial positionEnsures that the Foundation has efficient systems for implementing and monitoring its project portfolioLead the mainstreaming of gender in both programs and operationsProvide guidance in implementing compensation of staff within the Board-approved framework of policies and programs.Ensures that the Foundation has the right talent in terms of competence and other attributes both for current and emerging needs.Champion organisational culture that is aligned with AATF’s Values and strategic direction.
5.Support the Board of Trustees for Enhanced GovernanceEnsure appropriate management support to the Board for effective discharge its oversight responsibilities
Provide leadership in the implementation of Board decisionsRegularly apprise the Board of the Foundation’s risk management efforts, including strategic and operational risks. Qualifications and Experience
The candidate will possess an advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in agricultural sciences, economics, business management or a related field.
Possess a strong record of publication in the relevant fieldAt least ten years in senior management with a reputable organisation.Demonstrated in depth understanding of issues around African agriculture.Demonstrated experience working on topical development issues across Africa, and an active network of partnerships and collaboration with the African agricultural research and development, and agribusiness commercialization sectors.Strong track record in resource mobilization for development, and excellent understanding of the typology of the RM landscape (development partners, philanthropy, the private sector, and the various stakeholders in Africa).High-level advocacy and strong negotiation skills,Excellent political and diplomatic skills and judgement.Superior communications skills to persuade, inspire and mobilize all stakeholders around AATF’s vision and mission.Demonstrated leadership in identifying organizational challenges and ability to act as change agent to address them.The candidate must have substantive, relevant and direct hands-on experience working in Africa.
Terms of AppointmentThis is a full-time position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience

How to ApplyIf you wish to be considered for this position, please forward a copy of your CV in English version and Microsoft Word format, along with any relevant documentation to AATF-ED@sri-executive.com on or before 28th August 2020. All information will be in the strictest confidence as we pride ourselves on our professional service.  We will revert to you as soon as feasible when we have reviewed your application.