Climate Advisory Expert

Global

• Start Date : Immediately
• Contact : Please apply using the form below

Agriculture is the key to unlocking a better future for billions of people. But while rural families sustain the world, they struggle to sustain themselves. At the same time, they face increasingly urgent challenges, from volatile crop prices to extreme weather.

Root Capital is a social impact investor that provides financing and training to agricultural enterprises so that they can transform rural communities. We work with enterprises in the “missing middle” of agricultural finance : those whose credit needs are too big for microfinance and too small or risky for commercial banks.

Since 1999, we have loaned over $2B to more than 800 businesses and we have trained more than 1,800—improving the lives of 10 million people. As these agricultural businesses succeed and scale, they become engines of impact for their local communities, raising incomes, creating jobs, uplifting women and young people, preserving vulnerable ecosystems, and building rural prosperity.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Root Capital has more than 180 employees operating in more than a dozen countries in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and has associated offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ghana, and Kenya.

Position Overview

The Climate Advisory Expert designs and oversights Root Capital’s climate advisory programs under Root Capital’s Climate Resilience Roadmap, our strategy to build farmer resilience in partnership with local agricultural businesses. The Climate Advisory Expert will join Root Capital at an important moment of evolution, as we launch our next strategy focused on growing smallholder prosperity, inclusion, and climate resilience through regenerative agriculture.

Specifically, the Climate Advisory Expert will drive program innovation by leading cross‑functional design processes on topics including regenerative agriculture, zero‑deforestation supply chains, and effective digital advisory services. The Climate Advisory Expert will also serve as the technical manager for a global team providing climate advisory services to our clients, ensuring the strategic alignment and technical excellence of programming. This new role will shape the direction of our next strategy in collaboration with colleagues across our global team and with external partners. The role reports to the Senior Director of Climate Resilience within our Programs Department and will ideally work from one of Root Capital’s offices in Africa or Latin America.

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose

Provide technical guidance for global climate advisory services (30%)

• Serve as the technical manager of Root Capital’s global climate advisory service, managing and, as needed, adapting or developing program design frameworks, global methodologies, and quality assurance and impact monitoring tools; and supporting knowledge management across regional teams.
• Create, organize, and maintain a global climate advisory curriculum for agricultural businesses, identifying priorities for new curriculum development, based on business needs and in close coordination with regional climate advisory teams.

Design new climate services and products (30%)

• Design new services or products that advance Root Capital’s climate strategy by facilitating and contributing to global, multi‑functional design and pilot teams; ensure regional teams’ input is incorporated into the design and revision of programs.
• Create and maintain internal technical guidelines, knowledge management and opportunity scoping tools, and other resources to support the implementation of new climate services and products.

Engagement

Advise internal stakeholders on climate strategy and programs (20%)

• Serve as the technical manager of regional climate advisory coordinators, in close coordination with regional people managers (Root Capital operates within a matrix management structure, where coordinators have both a people manager and a technical manager); build and manage internal knowledge‑sharing mechanisms across our climate advisory team to deepen collective learning.
• Train Root Capital colleagues on climate change, climate solutions, and climate programs; generally serve as a technical resource for colleagues on climate issues.

Build external partnerships to enhance climate programs (5%)

• Identify potential implementation partners for Root Capital’s climate strategy; co‑design climate advisory programming with prioritized external organizations.
• Represent Root Capital’s climate strategy and programming externally via participation in conferences and webinars, ongoing collaboration with technical partners, and engagement with funders.
• Support the PRMs and other Root Capital staff (e.g., senior leadership and CEO), in building and maintaining relationships with high‑level funders, including participation in meetings and providing necessary materials.
• Track internal information flows between IPP PRM, prospects / donors and program staff, ensuring accurate tracking and data integrity.
• Ensure delivery of high‑quality funder acknowledgement and stewardship letters, and ensure accurate recognition of funders in Root Capital materials.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues in the Partnership team, and program and support staff globally to enhance communication, coordination, and efficiency.

Delivery

Ensure the technical quality of climate programs (10%)

• Establish and enforce technical guidelines and standards for climate advisory programs in collaboration with colleagues providing climate advisory or financing.
• For new climate advisory programs, deliver design proposals and / or pilot plans according to Root Capital’s innovation processes, ensuring clear definition of technical guidelines, roles and responsibilities, process stage‑gates, and learning questions to inform decision‑making.

Deliver global climate advisory plans (5%)

• With guidance from the regional heads of advisory, consolidate and harmonize inputs from regional climate advisory coordinators for annual planning, focusing on advisory service alignment with climate strategy objectives
• As needed, propose mid‑term climate advisory plans, especially during periodic strategic review periods.

Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 15 years of professional experience in capacity building related to regenerative agriculture and climate action for agri‑SMEs or smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, or Latin America; or master’s degree in a related field with at least seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Expertise in climate‑smart and / or regenerative agriculture, preferably including agroforestry coffee or cocoa systems, with demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance and oversight of climate programming.
• Experience with program design and ongoing management. Proven ability to adapt or develop new program areas in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including “non‑technical” stakeholders; to onboard implementing teams; and to oversee the quality of program execution.
• Experience leading a geographically diverse team of technical experts, ideally under a matrix management structure.
• Working proficiency (ability to read and write internal communications; ability to converse with colleagues) in English and Spanish is a firm requirement.
• Preferred : Experience evaluating the economics of climate‑smart or regenerative agricultural practices, or experience in climate finance, sustainable finance, or impact investing.
• Self‑starter with ability to flexibly manage and prioritize multiple competing tasks; excellent organization and project management skills.
• Deep belief in and dedication to the mission of Root Capital, with a passion for promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development and rural resilience in low‑ and middle‑income countries.
• Enthusiasm for thriving in diverse, multicultural settings, with a strong preference for experience in global and multi‑location work environments. Skilled in effectively working and communicating within remote teams.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to build a respectful and inclusive work environment. Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work‑home life balance.
• Authorized to work in a country with a Root Capital office, preferably in Africa or Latin America.
• Flexibility to travel national and internationally throughout the year, including visits to farming communities in remote areas. Estimated at approximately 10% of work time or as required.

Applications

More information about Root Capital is available at www.rootcapital.org Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply using the form below as soon as possible, making sure to include a resume and cover letter that describes your interest, qualifications, language abilities, salary requirements, and how you learned of the position. Finalist candidates will be required to provide at least three work‑related references.

Root Capital provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, active military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding and expressing breast milk), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Root Capital is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that upholds our leadership principles of : empowerment, equity, integrity, service, and transparency.

Job Application

Note : Both a Resume and Cover Letter are required for job consideration. Do not attach the same file twice.

First Name

Last Name

Email

Preferred Language

Spanish English

Are you a former Root Capital collaborator or consultant?

How did you find out about this position?

Resume

Do you have a valid work permit at the headquarters for which you apply? Mark the location(s) by clicking on your keyboard and selecting the options that apply

If you have selected any of the countries above, but do not currently reside there, would you be able to move to that country on your own?

Yes No Does not apply

Select your oral and written proficiency in the following languages :

Spanish

English

French

How many years of experience do you have in similar positions?

How many years of experience do you have in leadership and team supervision positions?

What is your salary expectation? (annual in local currency)

If you are the person selected for this position, what would be your availability to join Root Capital?

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