Associate Manager- Nature and Food

Systemiq is hiring an Associate Manager for their Nature & Food platform in Nairobi, Kenya. The role involves leading high-impact projects, managing client relationships, and developing sustainable solutions in agriculture and food systems. Key responsibilities include project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and utilizing AI tools for research and analysis. The position requires strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work closely with diverse partners to drive systemic change.
Associate Manager, Nature & Food


Location: Nairobi, Kenya


Contract: Full-time


Role Overview
We are seeking an Associate Manager to play a leading role in delivering high-impact projects across Systemiq’s Nature & Food platform in Kenya and the wider East African region.


This role sits at the intersection of:


Strategic problem-solving Food systems and nature expertise Stakeholder engagement and coalition-building Project and team leadership You will lead substantial workstreams, manage day-to-day client and partner relationships, and support the delivery of practical solutions that advance sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, land-use transition and nature-positive growth.
This role is designed for someone operating close to Manager level — able to lead significant parts of complex projects with confidence, while continuing to build broader project leadership, commercial and people management capability.


The role also requires curiosity and practical confidence in using AI-enabled tools to strengthen research, analysis, synthesis and communication, while applying strong judgement to ensure outputs remain robust, credible and relevant.


Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery & Workstream Leadership


Lead major project workstreams from problem definition through analysis, synthesis and delivery Structure complex problems and develop robust analytical approaches Ensure high-quality outputs are delivered on time and to a strong professional standard Contribute to project planning, resource management and quality assurance Translate complex analysis into practical recommendations for senior decision-makers Nature & Food Systems Impact
Co-create approaches with partners and clients that balance economic viability, ecosystem regeneration and social inclusion Support strategies and programmes across agriculture, food systems, land use, biodiversity, natural capital and regenerative value chains Develop practical solutions that help shift systems, markets and business models towards more sustainable outcomes Bring strong contextual understanding of Kenya’s agriculture, food systems and sustainability landscape Stakeholder Engagement
Manage day-to-day relationships with clients and partners across government, business, donors, NGOs, academia and civil society Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders Design and facilitate workshops, consultations and multi-stakeholder discussions Help align diverse perspectives around practical pathways for change Build and maintain strong networks across Kenya’s agriculture, food systems, conservation and development ecosystem AI-Enabled Working
Use AI tools to accelerate research, synthesis, drafting and insight generation Identify where AI can improve the speed, quality or scale of project delivery Apply critical judgement to validate AI-generated outputs and challenge assumptions Contribute to a team culture that uses AI thoughtfully, practically and responsibly Team & Platform Contribution
Lead and coach small project teams, providing direction, feedback and support to Associates and Senior Associates Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and entrepreneurial team culture Support business development through proposals, client discussions, market insight and thought leadership Help strengthen SYSTEMIQ’s Nature & Food platform in Kenya and the wider region Leadership
You will be part of the Nature & Food platform led by Christine Delivanis, Partner and global Platform Lead for Nature Food.


Christine advises pioneering companies, philanthropies, governments and NGOs on sustainability and systems change, with a focus on transforming food systems. Her work spans regenerative agriculture, carbon removal, Nature Positive strategies and sustainable value chains.


Candidate Profile A high-calibre, impact-driven professional with strong analytical skills, excellent stakeholder judgement and the ability to lead workstreams in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.


You will likely be someone who is close to Manager level, with the confidence to own significant parts of project delivery, manage relationships and coach junior colleagues, while continuing to develop full project leadership capability.


Essential Experience
Master’s degree or equivalent in agriculture, environmental science, economics