GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY 2022
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
LETTER FROM CO-CHAIRS
LETTER FROM CO-CHAIRS Dear Prospective Candidate, Thank you for your interest in the Global Alliance for the Future of Food (GA). The GA is a unique collaboration of foundations and the Executive Director position is equally unique. The GA operates on many levels as a thought leader and a co-creator, and brings a deep commitment to the seven principles that guide our food systems work. There is a great deal of complexity and challenge to this position and much opportunity as well. We act with the urgency that the planetary emergencies we are facing require and as such, we respond quickly, nimbly, and aggressively while also being careful to adhere to processes and protocols. We have accomplished a lot in the ten years since our founding and we recognize there is still so much to do. We look forward to working with a dynamic and energetic new leader to help realize the next chapter in our evolution. Thank you for your interest in the GA. Jane and Scott
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a strategic alliance of philanthropic foundations working together and with others to transform global food systems now and for future generations. We are a unique coalition where individual foundations are able to amplify their work, act together, and take a position on pressing global issues without compromising their own unique missions. The Global Alliance is not a grant-maker. Our unique contribution is to work together and with others to strengthen the evidence for global systems change, convene food systems actors in meaningful dialogue, and stimulate local and global action for transformational change. The GA exists to serve its members, which are foundations with an interest in sustainable agriculture and food systems transformation. The GA is led by the Steering Committee, comprised of elected members, and the Executive Committee, a sub-committee of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chairs lead both Committees. The Executive Director leads the secretariat team, which serves GA members in a highly collaborative culture. All secretariat team members, including the Executive Director, are consultants, employed on annually renewable contracts. The secretariat team works virtually and remotely.
THEORY OF TRANSFORMATION Genuine food systems transformation takes place when diverse actions, networks, and individuals intersect across sector and issue silos, the global and local, the macro and the micro. These intersections facilitate convergence around shared visions and values and, ultimately, build critical mass and momentum behind tipping points that lead to healthy, equitable, renewable, resilient, inclusive, and culturally diverse food systems that dynamically endure over time.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
SEVEN CALLS TO ACTION The Global Alliance for the Future of Food has developed seven bold Calls to Action that we believe are critical pathways for creating a better future of food.
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PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE
PUBLIC RESEARCH
EXTERNALITIES
Increase public research for the public good supporting ambitious, transdisciplinary, inclusive, and systems-based approaches with an emphasis on the indivisible ecological, health, social, and economic goals.
Recognize and account for the positive and negative environmental, social, and health impacts and externalities of food and agricultural systems policies and practices to inform decisionmaking.
Ensure integrated, participatory, rights-based approaches to governance and policymaking at all levels in order to address the structural inequities and power imbalances in food systems.
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PUBLIC FINANCE
FINANCIAL FLOWS
Direct public sector finance and fiscal policy across the value chain toward ecologically beneficial forms of farming, better and healthier food, and resilient livelihoods and communities.
Unlock private, philanthropic, and multilateral investment opportunities in sustainable food systems and better align those opportunities amongst actors for greater impact.
INVESTING IN AGROECOLOGY
PROMOTE NUTRIENTDENSE, SOCIOCULTURAL DIETS
Create enabling environments for agroecological and regenerative approaches where investments can flourish and benefit all.
Promote nutrient-dense, wholefood diets underpinned by diversified food production adapted to different microclimates and sociocultural contexts.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
SEVEN SHARED PRINCIPLES At the Global Alliance for the Future of Food we believe in the urgency of transforming global food systems, and in the power of working together and with others to effect positive change. Our work is guided by a set of seven shared principles, which shape our vision of the future of food, express our values, and encompass the change we want to make. These principles have helped to manifest and establish the commitment of the Global Alliance members and have provided guidance for identifying goals, strategies, priorities, and specific activities on a day-to-day basis. The principles are the “beating heart” of the Global Alliance, and they are our destination: they define our vision of food systems. They help us imagine a future of food that is full of biodiversity, that provides access to healthy food for all, that is resilient to shocks and stresses, that upholds human dignity, that is built on inclusive decision-making. We believe our food systems should be designed to account for these principles, to nurture them, and, ultimately, to realize them as the central defining features of our future of food.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
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RENEWABLE
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RESILIENT
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EQUITABLE
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DIVERSE
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HEALTHY
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INCLUSIVE
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INTERCONNECTED
Address the integrity of natural and social resources that are the foundation of a healthy planet and future generations in the face of changing global and local demands.
Support regenerative, durable, and economically adaptive systems in the face of a changing planet.
Promote sustainable livelihoods and access to nutritious and just food systems for all.
Value our rich and diverse agricultural, ecological, and cultural heritage.
Advance the health and well-being of people, animals, the environment, and the societies that depend on all three.
Ensure meaningful and authentic engagement of diverse people and organizations in transparent deliberations, shared power, democratic decisions, and collective actions affecting food systems for the public good.
Understand the implications of the interdependence of food, people, and the planet in a transition to more sustainable food systems.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
“...To be alive now when things are really dicey, whoa, I mean we are causing the unravelling of life systems, of species and ecosystems, of the vast interplay of microbial, hydrological cycles, climate that is unhinging life on earth. If you want an adventure, boy, what a time to choose to be alive, to get a chance to find out what you have inside you in terms of vitality, and alertness, and courage, what you have to discover in terms of what we can do together.” Joanna Macy
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
THE ROLE
Core Responsibilities
THE ROLE Role: Location: Salary: Reports to:
Executive Director Remote – leading a virtual team Negotiable, based on a consultant day rate and time commitment Co-Chairs
1. Strategy Leadership
4. Financial Stewardship
• Keep an eye on the big picture and maintain and advance
• Monitor / evaluate / update / implement the financial
the GA's collective vision;
model;
• Continue to monitor and advance the development of GA’s
• Work with the Steering Committee and Executive
long-range strategic framework and plan;
Committee to develop annual budgets to bring to the
• Facilitate the central functions of the GA and ensure
membership;
connectivity between Alliance "nodes";
• Implement budgetary decisions and directions;
• Lead implementation of yearly priorities and key initiatives;
• Work with and manage the Fiscal Administrator(s),
• Attend to and build consensus on issues arising; and
including reporting, foundation relations,
• Monitor / follow on-going discussions and identify
• Implement the financial model; and
emerging issues, research questions, policies, trends, and
• Oversee quarterly financial reports to the Steering
potential strategic responses.
Committee in collaboration with the Fiscal Administrator(s).
2. Governance
5. Consultant Management
• Inform and support the work of the Steering Committee
• Align capacity strategy with strategic and operational
including agenda development, identification of critical
priorities;
issues, GA oversight and functionality, implementation of
• Build a dynamic, capable, coordinated, effective consultant
plans and priorities;
team;
• Inform and support the work of the Executive Committee
• Provide effective leadership, oversight and/or supervision
including agenda development, identification of critical
to all consultants (core & occasional);
issues, GA oversight and functionality, implementation of
• Understand the diverse assets of the secretariat and have
plans and priorities;
the ability to bring all the GA’s assets into a participatory
• Maintain and advance policy development as needed; and
process, harvesting the best capacity of all team members;
• Facilitate the ongoing development of GA strategy,
and
structure, and governance.
• Be willing to create healthy feedback loops, and be comfortable with the fractiousness of democracy.
3. Stakeholder Relations • Act as chief relationship-builder to deepen, develop and
6. Strategic initiative and project oversight
expand member, funder, and partner engagement;
• Provide effective leadership, oversight and/or supervision
• Encourage and participate in collaborations particularly
of priority initiatives and projects;
those that cross sectors and represent strategic alliances
• Provide effective leadership, oversight and/or supervision
and networks;
to M&E and Communications Committees;
• Represent the GA at meetings and conferences, in
• Provide leadership in the development of Alliance-wide
international discussions and act as the public face of the
meetings and strategies such as the annual gathering; and
GA; and
• Lead early planning of key convenings, e.g., International
• Maintain strong connections with and be responsive to
Dialogue.
participating foundations, as well as keeping participants informed of what is happening and what needs to be done.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
THE ROLE
Key Competencies 1. Vision: Hold a bold and ambitious vision for what the
8. Developmental Approach: The GA follows a very
GA can be, building on a) the reputation we have been able
specific Developmental approach which is about comfort
to establish thus far as a global thought-leader, diplomat,
with ambiguity, adaptation, flexibility, and feedback loops,
and advocate, and b) the need to grow ever more into an
and it will be important for the Executive Director to be
understanding of equity, our legitimacy, accountability, and
comfortable with this context and culture.
“right relationship” with others. 9. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice: Bring a deep 2. Content: Bring a deep content knowledge and the ability
commitment and practice to equity, diversity, inclusion and
to speak meaningfully to the issues, our principles, and a
justice, demonstrated by an ability to engage individuals,
systems-perspective for Food Systems Transformation. This
form alliances/collaborations, and develop connections
is underpinned by systems thinking, and a comfort with
across diverse interests, opinions and points of view, in
adaptive action, developmental evaluation, emphasis on
keeping with the GA’s core values.
learning, and complexity. Essential Experience 3. Representation: Be comfortable building relationships with media outlets and communications professionals as a
• Experience working on a remote team across time zones,
trusted public-facing voice on key issues.
cultures, and situations.
4. Networked: Be able to leverage an extensive network
• Familiarity with philanthropy in global contexts as well as
at different scales (local & global), including philanthropic
the world of activism and advocacy outside of philanthropy,
networks and different food systems stakeholders outside
recognizing that philanthropy is one type of agent of
of North American and Europe.
change.
5. Process Driven: Be passionate about good process –
• Experience in working in different geographies, and in
the GA is a complex organisation with a diverse alliance of
organizations of different profiles (i.e. philanthropies,
members, and the strengths of the GA’s processes, including
governments, social movements, think tanks, etc.)
member engagement, are a big factor in its successes to date.
• Experience and or understanding of the complexities of leading a strategic alliance, (ideally a philanthropic alliance),
6. Strategic: Extensive experience of strategy development
recognizing its role as an agent of change in this space.
and implementation, and the ability and vision to most effectively advance the GA’s Calls to Action through global
• If you’re ready to step into this role, you’ll be able to
fora and stakeholder engagement.
demonstrate exceptional persistence and good humour in the pursuit of ambitious goals.
7. Facilitation: Strong dialogue facilitation and conflict resolution skills will be an asset, given the stakeholder convening function of the GA, and its commitment to tackling controversial issues.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
HOW TO APPLY
HOW TO APPLY All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two separate documents. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long, explaining why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document NameDate (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-052022-Global-Alliance or Pat-JonesCoverLetter-052022-Global-Alliance. Timeline Closing Date: Monday 4th July 2022 First stage interviews: Mid July 2022 Final interviews: TBC Selection Process All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder. Equity Statement Equity, diversity, inclusion and justice are at the core of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food’s values. Consultants are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected. The Global Alliance membership and secretariat are located in different geographic regions. We are committed to the principles of equity and diversity in employment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at global-alliance-for-the-future-of-food@ oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
ABOUT OXFORD HR
ABOUT OXFORD HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy. Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.
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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD
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