Director, Regenerative Agriculture, Africa

Position Overview
In March 2025, The Rockefeller Foundation approved a first-of-its-kind $100 million "Big Bet" aimed at building markets to accelerate the transition to regenerative/agroecological production while targeting vulnerable consumers—school-aged children—through school meal programs and public procurement. With a five-year runway to co-design and implement this program, which aims to reach 100 million children with school lunches increasingly sourced from regeneratively produced food, the Foundation seeks a visionary and strategic Director to lead the development and execution of this initiative in Africa, with a primary focus on Kenya, Tanzania, and likely other East African countries.

The "Regenerative School Meals" initiative will feature "place-based lighthouses"—living labs within key landscapes where producers and food systems actors are supported in transitioning to regenerative production, with a focus on orchestrating markets into school meals and public procurement. The Director will lead the strategic design, implementation, and scaling of these lighthouse efforts, ensuring measurable gains in carbon sequestration, soil health, biodiversity, water quality, farmer profitability, yield, and cultural/spiritual cohesion.

This role will be based in Nairobi and will report to the Vice President, Food Initiative. The Director will oversee grantmaking, cultivate high-impact partnerships, lead cross-functional teams, and represent the Foundation externally as a thought leader in regenerative agriculture and food systems transformation. Additionally, the Director will design and deliver convenings, meetings, research agendas, and flagship publications, each elevating the science, stories, and successes pertinent to regenerative agriculture.

Please Note

• This is an open contract.
• The position will be based in the Nairobi office.
• Submission of a cover letter is required.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Design and direct the Regenerative School Meals strategy across East Africa, with influence across additional geographies such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
• Oversee the translation of complex systems-change opportunities into actionable strategies and projects, sourcing and shaping grants and partnerships that drive impact.
• Lead cross-team integration with internal stakeholders and ensure strategic alignment with the Foundation's food and climate portfolios.
• Develop and adapt, and lead a strategic plan to deliver long-term goals, including catalyzing market shifts, policy reform, and measurable environmental and social outcomes.

Portfolio and Grantmaking Oversight

• Lead the scouting, management, and growth of a portfolio of grants and investments, ensuring alignment with initiative goals and rigorous monitoring, learning, and evaluation.
• Source new areas for investment and innovation, including financial mechanisms, policy, and advocacy approaches, including subsidy repurposing, and capturing and reporting on regenerative metrics.
• Supervise consultants and summer associates, providing mentorship and oversight to ensure high-quality execution and learning, while fluidly flexing from oversight to direct implementation tasks required for delivery on this small, agile team.

External Engagement and Thought Leadership

• Represent the Foundation at global and regional convenings (e.g., Africa Food Systems Summit, UNGA, COP, Bellagio), delivering strategic communications and thought leadership on regenerative agriculture and school meals.
• Author and disseminate strategic content (e.g., blog posts, reports, op-eds) to elevate the initiative's visibility and influence.
• Curate and engage a network of experts, funders, and practitioners to inform strategy and accelerate impact.

Partnership Development

• Cultivate and manage a wide array of partnerships with governments, multilateral institutions, private investors, and philanthropic funders, supporting with strategy alignment, concept development, and advocacy.
• Lead efforts to mobilize co-investment and build coalitions around regenerative agriculture and school meals in lighthouse geographies.
• Design and lead convenings, learning journeys, and strategic engagements that build shared vision and advocacy across stakeholders.

Education, Experience, And Skills

• Generally expected to have at least 10 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, agroecology, food systems, agricultural economics, or related fields.
• Proven leadership experience in Africa, with deep familiarity with regional food systems and stakeholder networks in regenerative agriculture in East Africa.
• Advanced degree (Master's required; PhD preferred) in Soil Science, Agronomy, Agroecology, Environmental Engineering, Agricultural Economics, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated success in leading multi-stakeholder initiatives, managing complex portfolios, and influencing policy and investment landscapes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including effective public speaking and strategic communications.
• Experience in environmental and conservation-based investing, blended finance, and private investment strategies.
• Proven ability to engage directly with farmers, landscape stewards, and investors to build trust and shared vision.
• Incredibly detail-oriented, organized, and capable of juggling competing tasks, shifting priorities, and demanding deadlines.

Qualifications And Competencies

• Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals.
• Directs Work: Provides direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives, commits to being self-aware and respectful, and seeks to learn from new and different voices.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.