Senior Advisor, Strategic Services Group (SSG)

Title:                                        Senior Advisor, Strategic Services Group (SSG)

Division:                                 Office of the CEO

Reports to:                            Chief Executive Officer

Matrix Management:          NA

Supervises:                           Internal Technical Experts

Location:                               Nairobi, Kenya

Position Summary

This newly established role will lead a team of internal experts that bring technical depth in priority domains – economics, governance, restoration ecology, conservation area management, infrastructure and geodesign / geospatial decision support to ensure AWF is equipped with best-in-class tools, approaches and skills. The role will build a team that provides support to African conservationists, policy makers and entrepreneurs to accelerate impact and respond to growing demand for thought leadership that centers nature in Africa’ development agenda with the aim of engaging Africans to choose economic pathways that conserve nature.

The role provides advisory, strategic, and technical leadership to advance AWF’s conservation mission. It will oversee the recruitment and management of the technical experts, collaborate with the relevant teams to ensure scientific rigor in complex proposal designs, support AWF field teams and partners from civil society, government and the private sector in their work to improve management capacity and operational systems of African leaders and institutions, and contribute to shaping monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems and approaches that build evidence of the impact of African-led conservation, collaborate with relevant teams to negotiate and shape support co management agreements and contracts, cultivate relationships with key donors, and shape sustainable financing frameworks for landscape-scale conservation and development programming.

Additionally, the role contributes to landscape, country, and technical strategies aligned with AWF’s business plan, position the organization as a leader in conservation innovation, drive thought leadership by authoring and presenting key conservation and development issues, contribute to AWF’s brand positioning, and represent the organization to media and at high profile events. Serving as a bridge to the different technical areas, this position plays a pivotal role in deploying relevant technical expertise to internal and external teams as needed, delivering on AWF’s Theory of Change and achieving measurable conservation results. The successful candidate is an Economist with demonstrated ability to lead multiskilled technical professionals. The role will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management

• Oversee the recruitment of the Strategic Services Group (SSG)team.
• Manage the SSG under the direction of the CEO.
• Collaborate with Division Leads to identify and deploy appropriate teams to provide technical backstopping to AWF teams.
• Ensure the technical quality of team contributions and work.

Strategy & Technical Leadership

• Develop a business plan for the SSG to ensure mission alignment and positive return on investment.
• Provide specialized technical leadership through multidisciplinary teams to advance AWF’s Theory of Change and conservation results.
• Provide technical input and reviews for complex proposal designs.
• Advise partners from civil society, private sector and government on policies, strategies and technical programs that scale effective African conservation solutions.

Thought Leadership & Advocacy

• Author and present thought leadership pieces on development and conservation issues central to AWF’s strategy.
•  Serve as a member of the scientific committee.
• Translates scientific findings into actional evidence for AWF teams, partners, and national, regional, pan-African and global policy forums.
• Ensure AWF’s conservation work, including field work, proposal design, technical support to partners and MEL approaches, are grounded in science and using up to date scientific standards for their technical area of expertise.
• Work with the Brand team to provide expert guidance and content that positions AWF on key issues.
• As requested, represent AWF to media and at events as part of its thought leadership agenda. 

Key Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in economics, finance, public finance, environmental economics strategy, public management, public policy, governance or an equivalent discipline.
• At least 20 years of professional experience in conservation finance, public policy, governance or biodiversity economies.
• Proven track record in leading highly qualified multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with capacity to align technical work to organizational goals.
• Demonstrated expertise in proposal design, MEL frameworks, and scientific standards in conservation.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills, with ability to represent the organization externally.
• Ability to work effectively across cultures, geographies, and with diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, and private sector partners.
• Demonstrated experience supporting African public or semi-public organizations.
• Confirmed experience with international donors, trust funds, blended finance and climate or environmental finance instruments.
• Significant lived experience in Africa and at least one other continent preferred.
• Fluency in French and English.

 

Deadline:May 20,2026