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Head of the African Centre for Nature Restoration & Resilience at Natural State

Head of the African Centre for Nature Restoration & Resilience at Natural State

Head of the African Centre for Nature Restoration & Resilience at Natural State

Through large-scale restoration and rewilding, NATURAL STATE secures biodiversity, sequesters and stores carbon, and helps achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our goal at the NATURAL STATE research centre is to develop technology and financial systems that will catalyse large-scale restoration globally as well as help train future leaders for this…

Head of the African Centre for Nature Restoration & Resilience

Role summary

  • We are seeking a visionary and experienced leader and entrepreneur to serve as the Head of Centre for the African Centre for Nature Restoration & Resilience. This pivotal role will guide the establishment and long-term growth of the Centre, overseeing strategic development, partnerships, operational management, and training programmes. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a pioneering institution that will shape the future of nature restoration across Africa. The ideal candidate will drive the Centre’s aim to become a leader and role model in equitable nature restoration training and leadership in Africa.

Key Responsibilities

  • Centre Development & Operations: Oversee the Centre’s development, ensuring it is operational by Q4 2025, including construction, governance and policies, team recruitment, IT setup, and day-to-day management.
  • Strategic Leadership & Income Generation: Develop and implement the Centre’s long-term strategy and sustainable business model, securing diverse income streams including philanthropic funding for bursaries and scholarships.
  • Team Leadership: Lead the Centre’s team, ensuring effective recruitment, performance management, and creating a motivated, high-performing team.
  • Programme & Curriculum Development: Design and implement world-class training programmes in collaboration with internal and global partners, focusing on scalable, practical solutions for nature restoration.
  • Participant Admissions and Management: Oversee design and operations of participant admissions process, including the bursary fund, ensuring diversity, inclusion, and positive participant experiences from recruitment to programme completion.
  • Specialist hubs: Oversee the design and implementation of a Rangelands Restoration Hub and Community Hub on site and ensure close collaboration with surrounding communities for shared learning, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.
  • Governance & Reporting: Ensure compliance with governance frameworks, report regularly to the Centre’s Senior Board, Subcommittee, and NATURAL STATE team, and manage workplans, M&E, and budgets effectively.

Required Qualifications & Experience

  • Minimum Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Proven experience in successfully setting up and operating new education institutions or other capacity building-related non-profits or social enterprises.
  • Minimum of 15 years of experience in education settings and / or long-term capacity building programmes. Adult teaching experience is an advantage.
  • Minimum of 10 years of leadership in education settings and / or long-term capacity building programmes. Adult teaching experience is an advantage.
  • Strong background in strategic planning, partnership development, and income generation.
  • Strong entrepreneurial tendency with experience in business model/plan development.
  • Demonstrated experience in engaging with diverse local, national, and international partners.
  • A desire to see inclusive, diverse, and equitable education and capacity building results.
  • A passion for nature restoration/conservation and education/capacity building.
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a diverse team and partner group.
  • Fluency in English both written and spoken required, and knowledge of local languages, cultures and ecosystems are a bonus.
  • Strong skills in the use of Microsoft Apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
  • Valid driver’s license.

Compensation

  • A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
  • In addition, Natural State offers a total of 33 days holiday per year (including annual leave and public holidays) and additional office closure days in December, a pension scheme and medical cover.

Method of Application

Please send a cover letter as well as your CV to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org. Applicants submitting CVs alone will not be considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. The deadline for applications is 5pm EAT on 21st October 2024.

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