Location: Switzerland or Spain
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Travel: Approximately 70% international travel, primarily to Rwanda and Uganda
About the Role
We are seeking an exceptional senior expert in either Agriculture or Public Health to lead the design, implementation, and oversight of high-impact development projects across East Africa, with a strong focus on Rwanda and Uganda.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will provide strategic and technical leadership, cultivate partnerships with governments, donors, and implementing partners, and ensure the successful delivery of sustainable, measurable outcomes.
This position combines high-level technical expertise with hands-on field engagement and requires a professional who enjoys working alongside local teams to develop innovative, context-specific, sustainable and scalable solutions and fully aligned with Suyana's holistic development model.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership and strategic guidance for agriculture or health programmes.
- Lead the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects in one if this fields in Rwanda and Uganda
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with donor requirements.
- Mentor local teams and strengthen institutional capacity among project partners.
- Advise the CEO on programme strategy, emerging opportunities, and sector trends.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with government ministries, donors, NGOs, private sector partners, and local communities.
- Identify new funding opportunities and contribute to proposal development and resource mobilization.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD preferred) in Agriculture, Agronomy, Public Health, Medicine, International Development, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing international development programmes.
- Extensive hands-on experience delivering projects in Africa, particularly in Rwanda and/or Uganda.
- Demonstrated experience working with bilateral or multilateral donors (e.g., USAID, EU, World Bank, African Development Bank, Gates Foundation, UN agencies).
- Strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French is a strong advantage.
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who is:
- Strategic and visionary, with the ability to translate ideas into impactful programmes.
- Entrepreneurial and proactive, hands on ,with a strong results-oriented mindset.
- Highly adaptable and comfortable working in complex, multicultural environments.
- Resilient and willing to travel extensively (approximately 70%).
- An outstanding relationship builder with excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
- Collaborative while confident in making independent decisions.
- Culturally sensitive with a genuine commitment to sustainable development.
- Highly organized, ethical, and accountable.
- An inspiring leader who motivates teams and builds trust across diverse stakeholders.
What We Offer
- A unique opportunity to work directly with the CEO in shaping high-impact international development initiatives.
- Meaningful work that contributes to sustainable development across Africa.
- An international and collaborative working environment.
- Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.