Strategy and Research Specialist

Industry: Social Enterprise/International Development
Function: Internal Consulting Team
Employer: One Acre Fund
Job Title: Strategy & Research Specialist

Job Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: Minimum 2 years commitment, full-time job

Organization Description

Most of the world's poor are farmers, representing the largest and most uniform group of poor people in the world. One Acre Fund is a growing social enterprise in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania that is innovating a new way of helping farm families to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in farm income. We provide farmers with a "market bundle" that includes education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and market access. Our program is proven impactful – every year, we weigh thousands of harvests and measure 50-100% average gain in farm income per acre.

We are growing quickly. In eight years, we have grown to serve 200,000 farm families with more than 2,500 full-time staff, and we will triple again in the coming three years. Our approach has won widespread validation, including grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID. Website: www.oneacrefund.org.

Job Description

As a rapidly growing organization, there are constant opportunities to expand One Acre Fund’s scale and impact while improving the organization’s efficiency. Strategy & Research Specialists in the Internal Consulting Team will support managing projects to pursue these growth opportunities and operational improvements. As a Strategy & Research Specialist, you will gain exposure to many parts of One Acre Fund, as projects span across departments, such as Finance, Business Development, Product Innovations, Field Operations, Human Resources, M&E, and New Country Expansion.

Strategy & Research Specialists will own portions of projects, focusing on primary and secondary research, and quantitative analysis. This role is part of a long-term career-track at One Acre Fund, and with strong performance, the Strategy & Research Specialist will have the opportunity to grow into the Strategy & Research Analyst position.

Examples of the types of projects that the Strategy & Research Specialist could work on include:

• Operational Improvement projects designed to make us more efficient and effective. For instance, analyzing farmer repayment data then devising novel strategies to increase repayment. Such work involves quantitate analysis in software like MS Excel.
• Strategic Growth projects to evaluate and refine One Acre Fund's growth strategy. For instance, determining which districts or new countries make sense for future expansion. Strategy & Research Specialists will conduct secondary research, expert interviews, and data analysis with guidance from their manager.
• Short-Term Assignments that address immediate organizational needs through research and analytical support. For instance, consulting academic and scientific organizations to improve the design of a new crop trial. These projects require quick thinking, organization and planning skills, and strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Career Growth and Development

One Acre Fund invests heavily in building management and leadership skills. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development. We provide constant, actionable feedback delivered through mentorship and through regular management consulting-style career reviews. We also have regular one-on-one meetings, where we listen to and discuss career goals, and work collaboratively to craft roles that each person can be passionate about. Strategy & Research Specialists will have access to regular and ongoing professional development opportunities aimed at building the soft and hard skills required for quick professional growth. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have new roles opening up and opportunities in many functions. This results in fast career growth for our staff.

Qualifications

We are seeking exceptional professionals with 1 to 3 years of work experience, and a demonstrated long-term passion for development work. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Work Experience: Candidates should have 1-3 years of strong work experiences in research and data analysis. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, innovative, results-driven environment. Candidates with management consulting, finance, and strategic planning backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Leadership:We are looking for candidates with demonstrated leadership experience at work, or outside of work. Examples of demonstrated leadership experience include managing a team or initiating a new project.
• Education:Strong undergraduate background at a top Kenyan or international university. Degrees in business, management, economics, statistics, or related fields preferred.
• Quantitative skills: Demonstrated comfort learning statistics and quantitative analysis.
• Communication: Excellent written and oral communication. Able to summarize and synthesize information.
• Attitude:
• Humility. We are looking for passionate professionals who combine strong leadership skills with good humor, patience, and a humble approach to service to join our growing family of leaders.
• Flexibility: You should be comfortable with ambiguity and quickly learning new skills and subjects.
• Growth: You should be open to feedback, willing to admit mistakes
• Other Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Intermediate or better typing speed.
• Language: English required; Swahili preferred; French is a bonus.

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Preferred Start Date

Flexible

Compensation

Starts modest. However, this is a career-track role with raises for performance.

HOW TO APPLY:

To Apply

Complete this form (http://myjotform.com/form/40471746260553). You will be prompted to submit your CV and cover letter. You may also be asked to submit work samples.

East Africans Encouraged to Apply