Senior Manager: Food Systems

**Job Advert Summary**:
(Based in Cape Town or Johannesburg)

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is _for nature, for you_.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

**Background**:
WWF is looking for a dynamic leader to drive engagement in the food and sustainable agriculture sector to deliver WWF’s intended conservation impact. The Food Systems team will be responsible for designing, leading and or forming part of teams who work in pursuit of WWF South Africa’s environmental outcomes. The Food Systems team is composed of highly competent and dynamic individuals working across multiple themes, value chain building, Producer support, certification standards & stepwise improvement mechanisms, sustainable market access, nutrition, climate & water smart practices, producer incentives, urban & informal markets, food waste, Agroecology & farming with biodiversity.

The Senior Manager Food Systems will function within the organization’s broader Environmental Programme and will report to the Programme Impact Lead and Programme Delivery Lead. The position will predominantly be based either at the WWF South Africa office in Newlands Cape Town or Braamfontein Johannesburg.

**Minimum Requirements**:

- At least a master’s level qualification in Food and/or Agriculture related discipline
- At least 10 years’ experience in the area of environmental issues associated with the Food and Agricultural sectors
- A practical appreciation for South Africa’s Food &Agricultural context and the spectrum of nature positive, regenerative practices (standards and their derivatives) in production and consumption.
- A demonstrated ability to network and build strong partnerships.
- In addition to a balanced understanding of land tenure in South Africa’s context, an experience of building sustainable value chains in fishing and/or farming.
- Ability to positively engage stakeholders (in government, business and society) to act on the challenges that we face together in the Food, Agriculture (including water) sector.
- An integrated understanding of Food and Agriculture policy landscape, with high level strategic relationships in government.
- A highly versatile and adaptable food and agricultural sector professional who can grasp and communicate concepts quickly and well.
- A clear understanding of the contemporary political economic imperatives to South Africa’s environmental challenges.
- Exceptional leadership skills, including the ability to contribute to teams lead by others and a willingness to innovate and drive interdisciplinary approaches.
- A good understanding of the broad range of projects undertaken by WWF and knowledge of the relevant institutional landscape in South Africa.
- Experience with budget planning, project monitoring and evaluation, and reporting to donors.
- Experience with development of funding proposals.
- Demonstrated writing, media communication and presentation skills.
- An ability to convey complex environmental issues in a powerful way to diverse audiences.
- A strong command of English as a working language is essential and ability to speak another of South Africa’s official languages, particularly relating to small producers will be an advantage.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Provide thematic leadership to WWF South Africa’s work on Food Systems, which includes the areas of sustainable agriculture and small-holder farmer support initiatives.
- In addition to understanding contemporary global developments and impact of Food and Agricultural production on natural systems, provide expertise on regenerative production and consumption practices related to food systems, including emphasis on smallholder farming practices.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams and provide strategic and technical content for policies work related to related thematic portfolios including freshwater, wildlife, climate & energy, biodiversity stewardship & land, and urban systems.
- Work with the Strategic Communications team to develop internal and external communication material regarding relevant support for the Food Systems work in order to