Back to jobs
New

Associate Manager- Nature and Food

Nairobi, Kenya

Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.

We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.

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.

 

Diversity & Inclusion
At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work.

Click here to view our Data Policy.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Systemiq? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Systemiq’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.