Policy and Regulatory Reform Director

Policy and Regulatory Reform Director

CNFA – Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture

Rwanda

Program Description

CNFA is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for a Policy and Regulatory Reform Director position to support a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program, Haranira Ubuziranenge, in Rwanda. Haranira Ubuziranenge, which translates to “ensuring or striving for safety” in Kinyarwanda, aims to strengthen the capacities of public and private stakeholders in Rwanda to develop, enforce, and adopt international science-based food safety standards. To achieve this goal, the Project will implement interventions across three key components: 1) Strengthening Food Safety Frameworks and Government Institutions; 2) Enhanced Laboratory Technical Capacity in Testing, Inspection, and Certification; 3) Increased Food Safety Awareness and Capacity Building of Producers.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), the Policy and Regulatory Reform Director will lead public sector engagement and liaise with government institutions, agencies, and ministries on food safety policy and institutional reform and roles. She/He will ensure that policy and regulatory reform activities are consistent with the objectives of the activity and align with the needs and priorities of the private sector and the government.

Position Roles and Responsibilities

• Oversee policy and regulatory reform activities in coordination with relevant government institutions.
• Facilitate public-private dialogues and engagement between private sector stakeholders and Government of Rwanda (GoR) actors to increase private sector representation in food safety policy frameworks.
• Manage institutional capacity needs assessments and develop action plans to address gaps and strengthen institutional frameworks.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on food safety policies, regulations, and international best practices.

Job Requirements

Key Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Food Safety, Agriculture, Plant Health or Veterinary Science or bachelor’s degree with substantial relevant experience.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of working experience in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) policy and regulatory affairs.
• Demonstrated knowledge on applying the SPS framework at national level (by both the public and private sector).
• Practical experience in developing and implementing SPS systems in the horticulture sector.
• Strong understanding of the Rwandan food safety policy landscape and relevant government institutions.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Oral and written fluency in English is required, fluency in Kinyarwanda is preferred.

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