3 Job Positions at Landesa: (Deadline 27 March 2023)

Position Title: Senior Land Tenure Specialist

Status: Regular, Full Time

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Contract Duration:  Two years, renewable subject to availability of funds  

Classification: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime Pay)

Annual Salary: $25,288-$36,000 USD

Job Summary:  The Senior/Sr. Land Tenure Specialist provides policy, analytical and implementation expertise on land tenure security, access to land, land rights formalization, land markets, land administration, land management, resolution of land disputes and related fields such as food security, agricultural productivity, responsible land-based rural investment, corporate services and partnerships, and natural resource management. The Sr. Land Tenure Specialist conducts analyses (both desk and in the field), and prepares and presents analytical reviews, research and briefing papers, advisory memos on land tenure policy and law, training modules, presentations, and other products to a variety of audiences, including high level government officials, development agencies and funders.  The Sr. Land Tenure Specialist manages relevant assignments, projects, and tasks, and helps pursue project funding through designing projects, writing technical sections of proposals, preparing budgets and projecting timelines. 

Reporting and relationships: The Sr. Land Tenure Specialist reports to the Rwanda Program Director.

Availability: The Sr. Land Tenure Specialist is expected to work a standard workweek of 40 hours, plus additional hours as may be necessary to complete work. The position requires local travel and limited regional and international travel. Due to time-zone differences between Rwanda and Landesa offices in other geographies including Seattle and Washington DC, flexibility in working hours will be required from time to time. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs research, analysis, and synthesis of topics and issues related to Landesa’ s work in Rwanda.
• Undertakes and, supervises fieldwork (rapid rural appraisal, key informant interviews, community meetings, workshops, surveys, training, field monitoring and learning opportunities) to gather information about land tenure, land administration and management issues affecting smallholder farmers and local communities, land tenure for social and environmental conservation and the prospects for policy reform in Rwanda.
• Makes policy, program and project recommendations that are useful and realistic, given Rwanda’s land realities, priorities, and resources.
• Develops plans for implementing recommendations, including ensuring that gender considerations are addressed in all program interventions at policy and practice.
• Assesses progress and results, identifies problem areas, and takes corrective steps to achieve Landesa’s program and project objectives.
• Organize and facilitate inclusive national and local stakeholders’ meetings and learning events as may be required to facilitate achievement of project objectives, influence learning and capacity strengthening.
• Support the Country Program Director in the development and implementation of the Landesa country strategy as informed by cooperation agreement and government priorities.
• Manages projects in conformity with Landesa procedures on budgeting, human resource allocation and work planning, cost monitoring and control, monitoring travel schedules, and product preparation and delivery.
• Foster collaboration with government officials at all levels, Civil Society Organizations, international aid agencies, and corporations in the work.
• Contributes to internal learning objectives by sharing research methods and findings with staff, including through presentations and reports.
• Prepares and delivers public education, advocacy and awareness presentations, policy briefs and other products consistent with Landesa’s educational and communication strategic objectives.
• Performs other management and administrative tasks as assigned by the Rwanda Program Director.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to Landesa’s mission of a better, safer future for the world’s poorest people through secure access to land. Commitment to Landesa’s core values.

• Dedication and persistence working in a mission-driven environment as a constructive, solution-oriented problem solver.

• Research, analysis, synthesis, reasoning, and writing abilities that have been developed to a level that permits the Sr. Land Tenure Specialist to work independently and offer leadership in project design and implementation, including supervision of project team performance and quality of work products.

• Familiarity with the Rwanda land sector, legal frameworks, economic and social trends, agricultural and environmental issues to inform projects interventions and stakeholders engagement.
• Ability to develop concrete work plans and manage tasks, teams, people, funds, products, and other elements so that work is performed according to agreed budgets, schedules, delivery requirements, Research Evaluation and Learning (REL) standards and staffing plans.
• Ability to manage documents and correspondence, track, and report on project labor, and carry out other administrative tasks efficiently, routinely, and in conformance to Landesa standards and procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of people at all levels, including those from the country’s governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other counterparts, clients and funders. Ability to demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity, tact, and poise.
• Ability to lead and work collaboratively as a member of teams, regardless of role within the team, through consensus building, communication, and leadership.
• Ability to apply effective and positive conflict management skills and act as a mentor to junior staff.
• Ability to engage and lead in high-level land, legal and policy advocacy with legislators, government officials, multilateral representatives, and private sector leaders.
• Exceptional ability to communicate in writing and orally in English and Kinyarwanda.

Education and Experience:

• Required: graduate or professional degree in a land related discipline, geography, agricultural economics, economics, sociology, environment, natural resources, law or related fields.
• Required: minimum of seven years of relevant land tenure work experience, engaging in broad variety of land policy analysis, related research, project design and project implementation.
• Required: minimum of five years of relevant work experience focused on design and implementation of projects related to land policy, agriculture, rural development, land administration, environment, and natural resource management.
• Required: demonstrated advocacy skills in capacity development, sensitization, and support for policy reform in the land, agriculture, environment, and related sectors.
• Preferred: experience in mainstreaming gender in the design and implementation of development projects and efforts towards securing women’s land rights.
• Preferred: Knowledge of and experience working in the land sector, environment and natural resource management and agriculture. 

Work Environment and Working Conditions:  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards that are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work.  

Other: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. Applicant must be legally eligible to work in Rwanda.

To Apply: Qualified candidates should complete an online application on

Landesa’s career page. The deadline for application is 27 March 2023. Rwanda nationals and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  No phone calls please.  Landesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position Title: Rwanda Program Director

Status: Full Time, Regular

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Contract Duration: Two years, renewable subject to availability of funds   

Classification: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime Pay)

Annual Salary: $36,090-$52,000 USD 

Job Summary: The Rwanda Program Director (RPD) collaborates with Landesa’s Global Leadership and Directors to ensure clarity of Landesa’s vision, shape strategic program objectives, develop and oversee the implementation of the country strategy, and lead the attainment, development, and management of the human and financial resources to advance those objectives. In coordination with the relevant programs, the RPD is responsible for the design and implementation oversight of Landesa projects in Rwanda. The RPD leads, directs, and coordinates country staff and consultants while collaborating with Landesa teams globally. The RPD is an active member of the Global Advisory Team, Regional Leaders Team, and participates on various global teams. The RPD is responsible, both directly and indirectly through country staff, for fostering and strengthening key partnerships with government, civil society partners, the private sector, donors, researchers, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

Reporting and relationships: The RPD reports to the Africa Region Director.  The RPD manages country staff, interns, volunteers, and consultants.

Availability: The RPD is expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary. The RPD is expected to manage risks and handle any in-country emergencies that involve Landesa staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers.  This position requires regular domestic travel and up to 60 days of travel per year for regional and occasionally international. Due to time-zone differences between Rwanda and Landesa offices in other geographies including Seattle and Washington DC, flexibility in working hours will be required from time to time. 

Essential job functions:

Strategic leadership

• Advise Landesa’s Executive Leadership as a member of Landesa’s Global Advisory Team and Landesa’s Regional Leaders Team.
• Maintain a real time view of the issues in the ecosystem in which the Rwanda Program operates and how Landesa can engage.
• Lead an inclusive process to develop the Rwanda Program’s strategic objectives and annual goals ensuring that they are consistent with Landesa’s overall organizational strategy, that they appropriately and proactively integrate with the strategies of Landesa’s geographic and global teams, and that they advance Rwanda’s priorities in line with the cooperation agreement.
• Lead development of program work plans, metrics, and milestones in timely manner.
• Approve or make the case for pursuing opportunities that align with Landesa’s and the Rwanda Program’s strategies.
• Ensure that the team is aware of and aligned with Landesa’s and the Rwanda Program’s strategies.
• Determine partnerships needed. Serve as primary point of contact with governmental authorities.  Initiate and foster relationships with key national and local government stakeholders, civil society and donors.  Support Landesa staff, as needed, with key government and partner relationships.
• Actively contribute to the design and staffing of interventions in the portfolio and approve material adjustments to these interventions as needed.
• Directly contribute to execution of project deliverables, including research, analysis, writing and briefing partners, as appropriate.
• Ensure the quality and strategic alignment of work products in the portfolio and leverage them to advance program goals. This may require conducting site visits to observe the work.
• Determine funding needed for the Rwanda Program’s portfolio and work with Program leadership and Landesa’s Revenue Development Department to cultivate relationships and to secure funding.
• In coordination with Program leadership and the Communications team, oversee the Program’s communication strategy, including external affairs, organizational image and communication of program priorities, objectives and accomplishments; and make decisions on speaking engagements – which ones to pursue, with which objectives and who will engage.

General management

• Ensure governance functions are met.
• Build and maintain an accountable, high-functioning, diverse, inclusive and collaborative team.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate corporate culture built on Landesa’s core values, leading by example in the demonstration of the core values.
• Manage direct reports by promoting their professional development including through coaching, mentoring, and delivering critical feedback on an ongoing basis; cultivate mutually supportive team dynamics; and ensure sustainable and balanced workloads.
• Manage human and financial resources to effectively meet program, project, financial and operational objectives in a timely manner, ensuring all stakeholders are appropriately informed.
• Provide high-level oversight to the implementation of projects in the program portfolio.
• Ensure that local offices comply with local laws and Landesa’s internal policies.
• Ensure that organizational deliverable benchmarks are satisfied in a timely and accurate manner that meets client expectations and budget goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities

• A deep commitment to the mission of building a better, safer future for the world’s poorest people through secure land rights.
• Strong leadership, general management and team building skills with the ability to set and communicate vision and strategy, build consensus, and operate with cross-cultural sensitivity, tact and poise.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of people at all levels, including government officials, non-governmental organizations and other counterparts, clients, and funders.
• A strong commitment to empowering women by supporting gender inclusive and gender responsive strategies and practices.
• Knowledge of public policy, legal, economic, sociological, political, institutional, geographic, and anthropological concepts necessary for managing Landesa projects.
• Strong working knowledge of budgets and financials, including ability to manage budget processes, profit and loss, expense reporting and accounting, labor reporting and accounting, correspondence, and other administrative tasks in accordance with Landesa standards and expectations.
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills to communicate clearly and persuasively in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Excellent organization, delegation, performance management, administration, analytical, negotiation and time management skills. Self-motivated with the ability to set standards and meet goals.    

Education and experience:

• Advanced Degree in land management, land administration, agriculture, rural development, economics, social science, law, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant senior level international experience required, including 8 years of experience managing people and complex projects in developing countries; experience living or working in Rwanda; and a passion for international public interest work, preferably in land tenure, agriculture, rural development, gender issues, social science research or international development projects. 

Work Environment and Working Conditions:  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards that are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work.  

Other: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. Applicant must be legally eligible to work in Rwanda.

To apply: Qualified candidates should complete an online application on Landesa’s career page.  The deadline for application is 27 March 2023. Rwanda nationals and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  No phone calls please.  Landesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer.