POLICY OUTREACH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICER

The Wyss Academy for Nature, a Swiss foundation, co-designs and evaluates innovative development pathways and conservation approaches. Our initiatives, rooted in scientific knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of creative solutions, unfold within four regional stewardship hubs. These hubs are strategically positioned in East Africa (Kenya), South America (Peru), Southeast Asia (Laos), and Europe (Switzerland). Our vision is to achieve a just and sustainable world in which nature conservation and human wellbeing reinforce each other. We are a place of innovation, where research, business, policymakers, and communities come together to co-design innovative solutions to pressing, interconnected problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, and rising inequality.

To support the work of the Regional Stewardship Hub East Africa, we are seeking to hire a Policy Outreach and Entrepreneurship Officer (100%) based in Nanyuki, Kenya.

Start date: at earliest convenience
Location: Wyss Academy for Nature Office in Nanyuki, Kenya
Apply by: 29 February 2024
Contract terms: 100%

About the role
The candidate we are looking for is a great team player with a strong desire to contribute to improving the relationship between nature and people. You are an authentic, passionate and dynamic personality driven to support the East Africa Hub and the Wyss Academy for Nature. You have excellent communication skills, are comfortable working independently in a dynamic environment, and have an open, creative, curious, and culturally sensitive personality. Working closely with the Hub Director, the Head of Innovations and Impact at the EAF Hub and the Global Policy Outreach team at the Wyss Academy for Nature, you will contribute substantially to support for entrepreneurship and sharpen our policy engagement in East Africa.

Responsibilities
Entrepreneurship

• Contribute to the ideation of new solutions for identified people and nature challenges in existing and future programmes in the East African Hub
• Support the preparation of project deliverables linked with social entrepreneurship activities
• Monitor and identify suitable innovation trends and business opportunities related to the Wyss Academy’s portfolio in the East Africa Hub
• Conduct due diligence on partners’ capabilities to support execution of business ventures and evaluate the various alternative livelihood ventures.
• Map opportunities for start-up creation derived from the Hub´s programme portfolio

Policy Outreach and Engagement
• Establish mechanisms to support the knowledge-uptake by policymakers and –shapers and other stakeholders relevant for the promotion of a new social contract with nature
• Coordinate policy engagement activities and collaborate with Wyss Academy staff at the EAF Hub in their implementation, e.g. in public consultations, thematic working groups as well as with relevant actors influencing politics
• Participate in relevant policy dialogues (e.g. working groups, conferences)
• Provide advice to the Hub EAF team regarding policy outreach and engagement processes at local, national and regional scale, in line with the Global Policy Outreach and Engagement strategy
• Liaise with WA’s Global Policy Outreach and Engagement Team
• Assist the Hub Director in contributing to global initiatives led by the global Policy Outreach and Engagement Team.

Qualifications

• Graduate (Master’s) degree in business, management, public policy, social entrepreneurship, environmental entrepreneurship, innovation, environmental studies, or a related field
• At least five years’ experience in a similar position
• Proven experience in policy analysis, research, and advocacy
• Strong understanding of entrepreneurship principles and practices, particularly in the sustainability area
• Proven agile project management and organizational skills
• Experience in assessing stakeholder engagement and policy dialogues is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, both written and oral.

Desired skills and qualities

• Eager to work in an interdisciplinary, multicultural environment at the intersection of academia, policy and practice.
• Strongly committed to the Wyss Academy for Nature’s mission
• Passion for promoting sustainable development and social impact through engagement and entrepreneurship.
• High degree of professionalism and respect in dealing with diverse groups of people and cultures both individually and collectively, including local community members, community leaders, county governments and researchers
• Exceptional organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail
• Ability to maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information
• Ability to think analytically and outside the box
• Energy, drive, enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for high quality work
• Ability to work in a team, independently and under pressure
• Curious about innovation and motivated to discover new paths towards sustainable transformation

We offer:

• The chance to be part of an organization that develops, tests, and scales up innovative solutions to the most urgent problems of our times
• An intercultural, multidisciplinary, and dynamic working environment
• Open-ended local employment by a Swiss Foundation
• Flexible working hours

The Wyss Academy for Nature values diversity and equal opportunity. We welcome all applications from qualified individuals who meet the required criteria.