United Republic of Tanzania: Executive Director - 2015

Are you passionate about promoting sustainable economic development in Africa? Do you have a strategic vision and proven leadership skills, along with an understanding of commercial forestry, and senior operational management experience in East Africa?

The Gatsby Charitable Foundation (Gatsby) is seeking an Executive Director to lead the Forestry Development Trust (FDT), which was established in 2013 to work with the public and private sectors to develop a sustainable and competitive forestry sector in Tanzania. With secured funding from Gatsby and DFID, a team of ~30 staff in place, and a platform of existing work at design and pilot phase, FDT is entering a new and exciting phase. This provides an opportunity for a suitably experienced Executive Director to refine and execute the organisation’s strategy, building on strong relationships already established within the Tanzanian forestry sector.

The ideal candidate will have excellent strategic leadership skills and experience of managing interventions to enhance competitiveness in the forestry sector or other large-scale sector development programmes. With at least 12-15 years’ experience, including some in the private sector, s/he will have a strong track record of successfully running organisations or programmes with multiple stakeholders and large, multi-layered teams, handling annual budgets of at least $2m. In-depth experience and technical understanding of commercial forestry would be a significant advantage, along with working Kiswahili.

The post is based in Iringa, which is a safe and welcoming city with an excellent climate, an International School, and an appealing place for those who like nature and the outdoor life.