Senior Director / Director – International Agriculture and Food Security

at Mathematica
Location Cambridge, Massachusetts
Date Posted August 1, 2022
Category Trades & Services
Job Type Not Specified

Description

Position Description :

Mathematica applies expertise at the intersection of data, methods, policy, and practice to address complex social challenges and improve well-being around the world. We create and use evidence to help our public and private sector partners improve programs, refine strategies, and advance knowledge. Over the past two decades, we have developed a large portfolio of international development work that spans more than 50 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Our work provides actionable learning to guide decision-making and improve outcomes in a range of policy areas, including agriculture, climate change, energy, health, education, and workforce development.

Mathematica seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial Senior Director / Director of Agriculture and Food Security to join its International Research unit. The Senior Director / Director will help grow and shape Mathematica s robust international agriculture and food portfolio. Mathematica works on the forefront of critical issues in agricultural transformation, including land rights and reform, new productive technologies, and strengthening market access.

The Senior Director / Director will lead teams of Mathematica staff, international consultants, and in-country partners to generate and distill evidence to guide our clients strategy and program improvement efforts. In addition to leading research teams, the Senior Director / Director will engage with bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, corporate philanthropies, donor collaboratives, and implementing and other organizations to identify their evidence and learning needs and craft a tailored strategy for meeting these needs that leverages Mathematica s wide-ranging capabilities and expertise. The Senior Director / Director will have an entrepreneurial spirit; a strong track record of research excellence and expertise in agriculture and food security; and deep experience using measurement, evaluation, and learning to drive strategy and decision-making for a range of partners.

The Senior Director / Director should exemplify Mathematica s mission and commitment to innovation and quality. The ideal candidate will have substantial content knowledge across a range of agriculture/food program and policy issues and a comfort level engaging with other thought leaders, clients, and decision-makers.

Responsibilities of the Senior Director / Director include:

Strategy and portfolio development

  • Develop and operationalize a strategy for advancing Mathematica s position as a leader in the generation and use of data and evidence related to agriculture and food security
  • Create a portfolio development approach that is systematic, strategic, and forward thinking in its ability to anticipate future trends and funding priorities across international agriculture/food clients
  • Deepen and cultivate relationships with key government, philanthropy, multilateral, and other actors in the agriculture/food arena
  • Create and pursue opportunities to present and discuss Mathematica s work to funders, policymakers, implementers, and other stakeholders

    • Thought leadership and capacity-building

  • Develop and oversee processes to deepen and expand staff expertise and know-how related to agriculture and food security; such processes could include targeted internal staff trainings, distinguished speaker series, and informal knowledge exchange among staff members
  • Support dissemination of Mathematica s research and work through articles in peer-reviewed journals, gray literature publications, conference papers, blog posts, social media, and other dissemination channels
  • Participate in key conferences and other forums, as well as expert groups and advisory committees, to engage with key players in the agriculture/food area, keep abreast of critical trends, and share Mathematica s work where it is most useful
  • Mentor and develop junior staff and advise leadership on talent needs

    • Project leadership and quality assurance

  • Lead large and complex research projects and serve as a trusted advisor and learning partner to clients
  • Provide thought leadership and support across Mathematica s international agriculture and food security portfolio to ensure technical excellence and responsiveness to client and other stakeholders learning and decision-making needs

    • Position Requirements :

  • Visionary leader who is strategic and passionate about Mathematica s mission and delivering the best solutions to our clients
  • Strong commitment to client-centered approaches that prioritize client needs and goals
  • Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking, relationship-building, and management skills
  • Proven capability in successfully developing and leading new areas of work and managing teams to perform that work
  • An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization
  • Powerful communicator and careful listener who effectively engages and inspires clients and colleagues
  • Deep experience and demonstrated expertise in agriculture and food security
  • At least 10 years of experience leading initiatives and projects that use measurement, evaluation, and learning to drive strategy development, program design, and decision-making for bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, and/or other organizations
  • Understanding of the international agriculture and food security funding landscape and a track record of securing contracts and/or grants from bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, and other organizations
  • Established research record (contributions to peer-reviewed journals and gray literature publications and presentations at conferences and other expert forums)
  • Stellar written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to (1) convey complex technical issues to non-expert audiences and (2) present and share research results in a way that resonates with clients, practitioners, and policymakers
  • PhD or Master s degree in economics, agricultural economics, environmental economics, public policy, international development, sustainable development, or a related discipline
  • Experience in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is preferred
  • Ability to travel internationally
  • Fluency in at least one language in addition to English preferred

    • To be considered at the Senior Director level, candidates would be expected to have twenty or more years of experience leading large and complex research projects-including experience leading large, diverse project teams-and to be regarded as a global thought leader within their area of specialization.

    Mathematica offers our employees competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, as well as the advantages of being 100 percent employee owned. As an employee stock owner, you will experience financial benefits of ESOP holdings that have increased in tandem with the company s growth and financial strength. You will also be part of an independent, employee-owned firm that is able to define and further our mission, enhance our quality and accountability, and steadily grow our financial strength. Read more about our benefits here:

    We take pride in our employees and in their commitment to excellence. We encourage staff to collaborate in developing creative solutions to difficult problems and to share the responsibility and enjoyment of carrying out complex projects. This collegial spirit has helped us earn our reputation for innovative and high-quality work. As a winner of the "Excellence in Diversity Award," we know that building an inclusive culture based on the diverse strengths of employees from different backgrounds is key to our success.

    A cover letter, CV, and writing sample must be submitted at the time of application via our online application system. If desired, letters of recommendation may be submitted directly by your references to .

    This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of. This position is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on company and individual performance.

    In accordance with Executive Order 14042 and its implementing guidelines, all Mathematica employees must provide documentation that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain an accommodation through Human Resources by providing documentation from a licensed health care provider that they are unable to be vaccinated against COVID-19 because of a disability (which would include medical conditions) or provide an attestation that they are entitled to an accommodation because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

    Available locations: Princeton, NJ; Washington, DC; Cambridge, MA; Chicago, IL; Ann Arbor, MI; Oakland, CA; Seattle, WA; Remote

    We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

    We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

    Drop files here browse files ...

    Related Jobs