Palladium is a global leader in designing and delivering positive impact worldwide. Our mission is to improve lives, broaden access to essential services like health, water, power, and infrastructure, and support sustainable institutions and market systems that address global challenges. Operating in over 90 countries with a workforce of 3,200 professionals, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
About the Opportunity
We are seeking a Regional Manager, East Africa to play a crucial role in our upcoming global sustainable land-use programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This programme is set to launch in early 2025 and aims to enhance sustainable land use across East Africa.
The Regional Manager will oversee the implementation of the programme in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Madagascar, ensuring that strategic goals, deliverables, and impact targets are met. Working closely with the Regional Director, East Africa, the successful candidate will manage partnerships, engage with key stakeholders, and lead a dynamic team to drive the programme’s success.
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya at Palladium’s office and is a full-time role from programme inception to completion.
Key Responsibilities
The Regional Manager, East Africa will be responsible for:
Programme Implementation & Strategy
- Lead the scoping, identification, and development of forest partnership businesses that align with the programme strategy and objectives.
- Oversee the delivery of grants and technical assistance to project partners, leading diagnostics and implementation of recommendations.
- Manage the regional strategy, work plan, and budget, ensuring programme targets are met in collaboration with the wider programme team.
- Act as the primary representative for the programme in East Africa, building relationships with key stakeholders, including FCDO, governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
- Lead the development of key initiatives such as smallholder empowerment, supply and demand-side interventions, and gender and social inclusion (GESI) initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
- Represent the programme in relevant regional events and conferences, raising its profile.
- Engage with civil society, public and private sector partners, ensuring strong collaborations and programme alignment.
- Identify opportunities for public-private partnerships that align with programme goals.
Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance
- Provide technical guidance and quality assurance for project activities, ensuring high standards and alignment with the programme’s objectives.
- Offer regular strategy updates and insights to FCDO-SRO and internal teams.
- Oversee the preparation of project proposals for approval by internal and external stakeholders.
Team Leadership & Management
- Manage a regional team across various workstreams, ensuring effective collaboration and high-quality outputs.
- Provide mentorship and leadership, ensuring motivation, well-being, and professional growth of the team.
- Oversee staff planning, recruitment, onboarding, appraisals, and development.
Other Duties
- Frequent regional and domestic travel may be required, often on short notice.
- Carry out any additional tasks as requested by the Regional Director, East Africa or the central programme team.
Who We’re Looking For
Essential Requirements:
- Proven entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
- Extensive experience in international forestry, commercial agriculture, or commodity trade policy and investments at a senior management level.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with private sector partners in East Africa.
- Experience managing large, complex projects, including public-private partnerships (PPPs).
- Prior experience with international development agencies such as FCDO.
- Deep understanding of sustainability, markets, and supply chains for agriculture and forest commodities (e.g., coffee, cocoa, timber, non-timber forest products).
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across diverse teams and cultures.
- Demonstrated ability to lead a high-performing team, ensuring collaboration and accountability.
- High level of resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
- Must have the right to live and work in Kenya without visa sponsorship.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential.
Desirable Requirements:
- Experience in programmes focusing on smallholder empowerment, resilience-building, and livelihood development.
- Knowledge of barriers to participation and equity for marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, and people with disabilities.
- Proficiency in local languages is an advantage.
Why Join Us?
At Palladium, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We value different perspectives and experiences and actively seek to build teams that reflect the communities we work in.
We define safeguarding as ensuring that all individuals, including children and vulnerable adults, who interact with Palladium are treated with respect and protected from harm. As part of our commitment to safety, all successful candidates will undergo a rigorous selection process, including safeguarding-focused interviews and due diligence checks.
Application Details
Application Deadline: 9 March 2025
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process due to disability or other circumstances, please contact us at [email protected].
Ready to make a difference?
