Portfolio Lead – Environment

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Portfolio Lead – Environment to provide functional, technical and managerial leadership to projects and teams in the Environment thematic area. This role is offered on fixed term contract of up to 2 years’, with extension subject to availability of funding. You will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

About the Role

Reporting to the Country Director, the Portfolio Lead will be part of the Bangladesh country management team and is expected to contribute to and ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness through participation in decision making, advising on strategic programmatic areas, issues, communication and implementation of agreed decisions. The key objectives in this role will include:

• Leading the implementation of the environment strategic activities and ensuring project activities are implemented within approved plans, budget, and quality standards
• Developing and managing partnerships with local environment organisations
• Leading on the design, development and implementation of new projects linking food systems, nutrition and environment
• Providing strategic technical expertise locally

Key Responsibilities include;

• Supporting the Country Director & country management team with the sustainable development, implementation and quality management of the Bangladesh programme
• Providing strategic leadership in designing, planning and implementing environment portfolio in Bangladesh, including co-creation with partners as per the GAIN Project Management Guidelines (PMG)
• Defining portfolio and project scope, activities and objectives in line with GAIN business plans and organizational strategic priorities, as well as priorities of the country and influencing agendas
• Leading on the identification and management of new and existing donors, building and maintaining relationships through regular engagement in country and with the global team
• Providing technical guidance to support the development and implementation of programming which aims to achieve both nutrition and sustainability objectives
• Supporting the implementation of GAIN’s Environmental Screening Assessment for new projects in Bangladesh as well as follow-up actions identified
• Supporting efforts to reduce the impact of GAIN’s own environmental footprint in Bangladesh office
• Actively developing links and synergies to other programme workstreams under the Making Markets Work portfolio and other relevant initiatives within GAIN
• Preparing donors’ reports in collaboration with project teams, technical teams, funding team and support teams.

About You

The ideal candidate should have proven broad knowledge on food systems and environmental challenges and opportunities, preferably relevant to the local context in Bangladesh.

You should have an in‐depth understanding of programme issues and advocacy work at organizational, national and international levels and have substantial management experience in leading international/economic development projects in multi-cultural environments working with governments, private sector, civil society, and other partnerships. Candidates with a demonstrable track record in fundraising is desirable.

The postholder should have excellent command of written and spoken English and a strong ability to bring different stakeholders from different backgrounds together and broker new partnerships. You should have excellent communication skills, with the ability to present clear and structured arguments and strong stakeholder engagement abilities in motivating and mobilising individuals within or outside your reporting line.

You should have excellent analytical, strategic and technical competence in the areas of environment, climate change, food systems and nutrition or closely related domains. A Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Business Management, Agricultural Science or a related field is an added advantage. You should be highly flexible and willing to travel occasionally.

About our Offer

The starting salary on offer for this role is from BDT 3,434,772 – BDT 3,925,908 (gross) per annum. (A higher increment maybe available subject to an ongoing pay review, depending on experience.)

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Our Working Culture and Environment

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

Applicants must be currently based in the Dhaka, Bangladesh region to be eligible to apply for this position.

This advert closes on 6th March 2023. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.