Manager, Strategy, Research and Advisory at Food Health Systems Advisory (FHSA)

Position Summary:

• Food Health Systems Advisory is a management consulting and business advisory firm providing top-tier advisory and technical services to philanthropic foundations, international organisations, donors, governments, non-profits, and corporations on strategy, policy, and program implementation. We specialise in topics related to food systems, nutrition, agriculture, health, and climate. Our experts work with philanthropic foundations, international organisations, donors, non-profits, investors, and food companies/ corporations focused on sustainable food systems and value addition.
• We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Manager, Strategy, Research & Advisory to lead the development and execution of FHSA’s strategy, research, technical advisory, and MEL functions. This role will be critical in shaping our direction as an organization—ensuring our research is rigorous, our advisory work is impactful, our programs are adaptive, and our strategic engagements are forward-looking.This is an exciting opportunity to join a mission-driven team at the forefront of food systems transformation in Africa.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy & Organizational Planning

• Lead and support the development of internal and client-facing strategies.
• Translate high-level goals into actionable initiatives and operational plans.
• Contribute to sectoral positioning, strategy refresh processes, and organizational growth plan

Research, MEL & Learning

• Lead the design and execution of qualitative and quantitative research, evaluations, and evidence generation.
• Oversee MEL frameworks for client projects and internal programs—ensuring alignment with global best practices and donor expectations.
• Develop learning agendas and integrate insights into strategy, program design, and policy recommendations.
• Ensure all research and MEL outputs are high-quality, policy-relevant, and actionable.

Technical Advisory & Client Engagement

• Lead multi-stakeholder advisory engagements involving donors, governments, NGOs, and private sector players.
• Facilitate strategy workshops, stakeholder consultations, and advisory sessions to co-develop solutions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in areas such as food systems, nutrition, agriculture, or health

Proposal Development & Thought Leadership

• Lead or support proposal writing, concept notes, and technical input for new funding opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams to shape fundable ideas aligned with FHSA’s thematic areas.
• Represent FHSA in high-level convenings, conferences, and publications to elevate our thought leadership.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Supervise, mentor, and support the development of junior staff across research, strategy, advisory, and MEL.
• Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams.
• Contribute to internal systems for quality assurance, knowledge management, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in international development, food systems, public health, agriculture, economics, evaluation, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in research, MEL, technical advisory, and strategy roles within development, consulting, or donor-funded organizations.
• Deep experience in designing and managing complex research projects and MEL systems.
• Proven ability to lead client engagements and provide strategic guidance.
• Strong understanding of donor expectations and development program cycles (e.g., BMGF, USAID, FCDO).

Key Skills & Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a systems perspective and problem-solving mindset.
• Strong research, MEL, Advisory and analytical skills.
• Excellent writing and communication abilities able to synthesize and communicate complex insights.
• Leadership experience and team development capacity.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• High degree of ownership, initiative, and follow-through
• Energized by complexity and thrives in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Empathetic but performance-driven leader, skilled at guiding and growing diverse teams.
• Strong communicator who connects easily across levels with a strategic approach to relationship-building.