Associate Officer - Business Development and Diversification

ASSOCIATE

OFFICER- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION

THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International

(

www.bioversityinternational.org

) and the International Center for Tropical

Agriculture (CIAT) (

www.ciat.cgiar.org

) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural

biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives.

Alliance solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change,

biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

With novel

partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to

transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive

prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The

Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure

future.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Based in Africa and under the direct supervision of the

Senior Manager, Business Development and Diversification, the position supports

the strategic execution of innovation challenges and venture-building

initiatives across East and Southern Africa.

The role focuses on bridging the gap between scientific

research and market deployment by supporting the design and implementation of

innovation-focused projects, strengthening regional partnerships, and

supporting the scaling and commercialization of science-based innovations.

The position contributes to building a strong regional

innovation ecosystem by facilitating collaboration between researchers,

startups, corporates, investors, government institutions, and innovation

actors, while also supporting resource mobilization and the development of

knowledge products that showcase regional impact and trends.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Initiate the design and

implementation of technology transfer and innovation valorization initiatives

across the ESA region.

Coordinate the lifecycle of

research-based innovations from scouting, technical evaluation, incubation,

acceleration, to market scaling.

Facilitate operationalization

of innovation programmes including bootcamps, accelerators, and open innovation

models.

Support strategic coordination

to enable startups and researchers to reach critical milestones in product

development and market access.

Contribute to strengthening

A4IP’s positioning within the regional agri-tech and climate-tech innovation

ecosystem.

Build and manage strategic

partnerships across East and Southern Africa to create a robust pipeline for

science-based innovation scaling.

Track partner performance and

engagement to ensure alignment between research outputs and market actors.

Coordinate stakeholders across

multiple countries to align innovations with commercialization pathways.

Represent A4IP in innovation,

investment, and partnership forums in coordination with regional leadership.

Support negotiation of

high-level corporate partnerships to enable pilots, scaling, and market entry

for science-backed startups.

Facilitate collaboration

between global teams and local innovation ecosystems

.

Support the end-to-end

implementation and operational launch of innovation challenges,

venture-building initiatives, and technology transfer projects.

Coordinate stakeholder

engagement and partnership activities across ESA countries.

Identify new business

opportunities and regional trends to inform the scaling strategy.

Support resource mobilization

by contributing to proposals and project concepts.

Develop knowledge products,

research outputs, case studies, and presentations showcasing innovation

scaling, regional trends, and lessons learned.

Maintain and update regional

stakeholder databases and knowledge tools.

Support programme monitoring,

reporting, and documentation activities

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND

Master’s degree in business,

Innovation Management, Economics, International Development, Entrepreneurship,

or a related field.

Relevant professional

experience in innovation programmes, startup ecosystems, venture building, or

international development projects.

Experience working with

agri-tech, climate-tech, or science-based innovations.

Experience managing projects or

innovation initiatives in international or multi-country environments.

Experience working with

private-sector partners, investors, startups, and innovation ecosystems.

Experience supporting proposal

development, partnerships, and resource mobilization activities.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Strong understanding of the agri-tech and climate-tech

innovation ecosystem.

Knowledge of venture-building processes, innovation

acceleration programmes, and commercialization strategies.

Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-development

skills.

Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Strong organizational

skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This position is a

nationally recruited position based in Nairobi, Kenya. The initial contract

will be for one (1) year subject to a probation period of three months and is

renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is

graded at BG08, level, with a basic salary of

307,706.00

Kenya Shillings

in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the

Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary

and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan,

staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working

arrangements.

The

Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces.

We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence,

and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an

inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We

encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes,

national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations,

marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly

encouraged to apply.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

Summary by Impactpool

The Associate Officer for Business Development and Diversification will support the strategic execution of innovation challenges and venture-building initiatives across East and Southern Africa. This role aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and market deployment by facilitating collaboration among researchers, startups, and investors. The position involves managing partnerships, coordinating innovation programs, and contributing to resource mobilization efforts. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the agri-tech and climate-tech ecosystems and experience in managing innovation initiatives.

Candidate Requirements:

Master’s degree in business or related field

4-5 years of relevant experience

Experience in innovation programs and startup ecosystems

Knowledge of agri-tech and climate-tech innovations

Strong stakeholder engagement skills

Excellent communication and organizational skills

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ASSOCIATE OFFICER - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION

UNIRMCT - United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals

Nairobi

BG08 level

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