Program Director, Food and Land Use Coalition, WRI

In this role, you will provide strategic leadership to the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), working collaboratively across the FOLU network to advance the FOLU agenda vis-à-vis governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society. This unique opportunity involves working with some of the world’s most prominent institutions and individuals in the fields of economics, agriculture, environment, health and nutrition. You will be responsible for ensuring successful execution of the FOLU strategy and directly manage the day-to-day operations of the FOLU Programme Office. You will have a strong international focus and aim at significant impact over the next 3+ years.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Ensure successful execution of the FOLU strategy
• Lead periodic reviews of FOLU progress-to-date to maximize ability to achieve results
• Provide timely and strategic input to FOLU’s country engagement, research activities, and international engagement and communications

Programme Management

• Lead and manage the FOLU Programme Office
• Develop effective and efficient ways of working to advance FOLU’s objectives leveraging the full value of the FOLU community
• Chair weekly virtual FOLU core partners group meetings and chair quarterly in-person FOLU meetings

Communications, outreach and external relationship building

• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government, private sector, academia, civil society, farmer, and other stakeholders
• Provide strategic guidance to the FOLU communications strategy
• Represent FOLU at international and country-level meetings/events to advance strategic objectives
• Review draft publications, blogs, press releases, and other communications materials to ensure they meet FOLU’s high standards of quality

Fundraising

• Lead development and implementation of the FOLU fundraising strategy
• Develop and maintain relationships with existing and prospective donors
• Identify fundraising opportunities and prepare funding proposals for corporate donors, private foundations, government agencies, bilateral donors, and other funders

Job Qualifications

Being recognized as an expert in your field, your strong record of excellence  achievement of leading teams and initiatives in complex, fast-paced, and fluid environments are critical qualifications. You should have experience working in multi-stakeholder settings and be comfortable communicating with senior-level stakeholders from government, business, finance and civil society. Work experience in one or more of the FOLU focus countries is highly desired. You should be passionate about FOLU’s mission and have relevant academic background and work experience in one or more of FOLU’s ten critical transitions. You should be able to spot opportunities to develop integrated and inclusive multi-sectoral approach to systems change, expand and grow the FOLU network. S/he should have an excellent international network of experts and practitioners.

We are specifically looking for:

• Significant prior experience (15+ years) in relevant fields (environment, climate change, health, nutrition, development) with a minimum of 10 years in a leadership position
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and direct teams across multiple geographic locations
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including across academic, public policy and the private sector
• Proven relationship management skills, also on a very senior level and in various cultural contexts
• A highly effective communicator (with an ability to inspire and influence global leaders)
• Ability to execute large projects on schedule, on budget and in compliance with all policies and standards of donor partners
• Excellent writing skills (in English required, other languages are a plus)
• Ability to deal with large, ambiguous problems in a creative and structured way
• A commitment to coaching and developing people, with an empowering leadership style
• Flexibility to travel internationally

FOLU Coalition Overview

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed Coalition of organisations and individuals working collaboratively to achieve a shared objective: the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. FOLU supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action. 

FOLU’s Growing Better report recommends an integrated reform agenda along ten critical transitions to deliver positive outcomes for environment, health, inclusive development and food security, ensuring food and land use systems support delivery of globally agreed sustainable development, climate and biodiversity goals.  

The Coalition aims to advance these ten critical transformations with a particular focus on focus countries: China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, and Indonesia. The country work is supported by global research efforts and policy outreach. 

FOLU’s light-touch governance and adaptive management have enabled the FOLU community to grow and evolve since FOLU’s inception in 2017. The Coalition’s collective leadership is provided by a Core Partners Group comprised of: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), EAT, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), SYSTEMIQ, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Farmers Organisation (WFO), and World Resources Institute (WRI). 

FOLU is coordinated by a Programme Office housed at the WRI London office. Other FOLU partners provide human resources that contribute to the Programme Office, including the team managing the FABLE network.

WRI Overview

For the 2020-2023 period, the FOLU Programme Management Office will be hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI). WRI is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges, and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of nearly 1000 people with work spanning 50 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States.  WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.

The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI's policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from minorities, persons from developing nations, and from women of all backgrounds.